In the early summer of 1568, Ichi marries into the Azai family, the ruler of northern Omi Province, under Nobunaga's command who plots to advance to Kyoto. Despite the political marriage, Ichi is attracted to Azai Nagamasa, the heir of the Azai family, and later gives birth to baby girls, Chacha and Hatsu. But Nobunaga and the Azai family declare an all-out war. Amid the prolonged battle between the two, Gou is born as the youngest of the three sisters to Ichi and Nagamasa. Soon after her birth, Nagamasa is defeated by Nobunaga and dies.
織田信長（豊川悦司）の妹・市（鈴木保奈美）の娘は三姉妹。三女・江（ごう・上野樹里）は父の記憶がない。永禄１１年、京へ上洛（らく）をもくろむ信長の命で、市は北近江の浅井家に嫁ぐ。望まぬ婚姻だが、浅井長政（時任三郎）と出会い、市は恋に落ちる。やがて茶々（芦田愛菜）、初（奥田いろは）が生まれるが、両家は全面戦争へ。戦の果て、信長軍に包囲された小谷城に湖国の姫・江が誕生するが、それは父との別れの時だった。
