前夜の決断

In 1156, the former Emperor Sutoku and Yorinaga similarly oppressed, join together. Shinzei puts the two under suspicion of treason and commands the samurais to side to Emperor Go-Shirakawa. While Tameyoshi and Yoshitomo are divided over their decisions, Kiyomori, who had a talk with Emperor Go-Shirakawa alone, tells the members of the Taira family his intention of taking side with Emperor Go-Shirakawa. However, Yorimori, Kiyomori's half brother, hesitates to follow Kiyomori's decision.

ついに物語は前半最大の山場・保元の乱へ！崇徳上皇（井浦新）と頼長（山本耕史）は共闘し、後白河帝（松田翔太）と信西（阿部サダヲ）方との決戦は避けられないものになっていた。清盛（松山ケンイチ）、義朝（玉木宏）ら平氏、源氏の武士は果たしてどちらにつくのか？前夜の決断が彼らに託される。平氏方、源氏方ともども身内の中でも意見が分かれ始め、親兄弟同士が争い合う様相を見せる。果たして決戦の行方は…。