Having been excepted from the Genji’s army, Yoshitsune spends days in Kyoto busy in cracking down burglars. To stop their violence, Yoshitsune asks for help to one of his old acquaintances who holds control of the underworld. With his aid, Yoshitsune persuades the leaders of thieves out of burglaries. The ex-emperor Goshirakawa, who is pleased to see the town of Kyoto regain peace, proposes further promotion for Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune writes to Yoritomo and asks him for approval. Sensing the ex-emperor’s real intention and feeling angry at Yoshitsune for being blind to the ex-emperor’s trick, Yoritomo gives back no reply. Meanwhile, Yoshitsune is summoned by the ex-emperor for a talk and feels an affinity with him, which is all the ex-emperor’s plot to get Yoshitsune on his side. Without Yoritomo’s agreement, the ex-emperor pushes through Yoshitsune’s promotion. Yoritomo is further irritated with Yoshitsune for having accepted the position. However, hearing that Noriyori is putting up a hard fight, Yoritomo orders Yoshitsune to rejoin the army to fight against the Heike family.
平家追討軍から外され京に残った義経（滝沢秀明）は、横行する夜盗の取り締まりを命じられる。朱雀の翁（おきな／役：梅津栄）の力を借り、無事に夜盗を収める義経。このことに喜んだ後白河法皇（平幹二朗）が、頼朝（中井貴一）の承諾も得ないまま義経のさらなる昇格を決めたため、頼朝と義経の溝はさらに深まる。そんな中、頼朝は源範頼（石原良純）の苦戦の知らせを受ける。そしてついに、義経に出陣の命が下る。
