Yoshitsune tries to recruit new soldiers in Kyoto but finds it difficult as he has no official rank. Meanwhile, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa receives a letter from Yoritomo. In the letter, Yoritomo recommends his retainers for official positions but the list does not include Yoshitsune’s name. Learning that Yoritomo has something against Yoshitsune, the ex-emperor comes up with an idea of exploiting Yoritomo’s feelings against Yoshitsune. The ex-emperor appoints Yoshitsune an official in charge of police affairs. Though he hesitates to accept the appointment without recommendation by Yoritomo, Yoshitsune gives in to the ex-emperor’s persuasion. Yoshitsune’s act makes Yoritomo indignant and Yoritomo excludes Yoshitsune from the operation of chasing after the Heike family. In addition, Yoritomo sends a woman to Yoshitsune and tell him to marry her. To show his allegiance to Yoritomo, Yoshitsune makes up his mind to take the woman for his wife. One day, Tokiwa, Yoshitsune’s mother, comes to see him though she is in poor health.
一の谷の戦いで目覚ましい功績を収めた義経（滝沢秀明）だったが、いまだ頼朝（中井貴一）から恩賞を受けることなく日々が過ぎていた。そんな折、義経は法皇（平幹二朗）から直接、検非違使（けびいし）に任官される。それを知った頼朝は激怒。義経を出陣から外し、鎌倉から妻を送りつける。頼朝の真意がわからず困惑する義経だったが、そんな義経のもとに病の体をおして母・常磐（稲森いずみ）が現れる。
