The Heike gets increasingly alarmed to see Shanaou often visiting Kyoto instead of becoming a priest in a temple. One day, Shanaou is attacked by Utsubo’s brother and his follower Kisanta who seek to receive a reward from the Heike. Kisanta who is caught by Shanaou tells him that the Heike family is trying to kill him. Hearing that the Heike family is pressuring Kakunichi Risshi to make Shanaou a priest, Shanaou realizes that as long as he stays at the temple without becoming a priest he would cause difficulty for the people surrounding him. Being troubled about his future and feeling that he still cannot hate Kiyomori, Shanaou visits Otoku, a mysterious braid merchant, and asks her if she can arrange a meeting with Kiyomori. Kichiji, a gold merchant from Oushu recommends Shanaou to escape Kyoto and head for Hiraizumi, the city in Oushu where the Fujiwara clan rules. Around that time in Izu, Yoritomo spends his time leisurely though keeping an eye on movements in Kyoto. One day, Yoritomo meets Hojo Masako, daughter of Hojo Tokimasa who has watched Yoritomo by the order of the Heike.
いつまでも出家せず、たびたび都に降りてくる遮那王（滝沢秀明）に、平家の警戒は強まっていた。周囲に迷惑をかけると知った遮那王は、自分の行く末について悩み始める。一方、伊豆では遮那王の兄・源頼朝（中井貴一）が、恋人・亀の前（松嶋尚美）とともに、安穏とした日々を過ごしていた。偶然頼朝と出会い、行く手を邪魔された北条政子（財前直見）は、父・北条時政（小林稔侍）に頼朝を殺してくれと迫る。
