Yoshitsune is appointed as commander of the Genji troops to pursue the Heike clan which has fled to Yashima after losing in the battle of Ichinotani. On the day the Genji’s army leaves Kyoto, the hunter who helped Yoshitsune at Ichinotani comes to ask Yoshitsune to make him one of the retainers. Learning that Yoshitsune and his troops have left for Yashima, the members of the Heike family suspects that Yoshiko, Yoshitsune’s younger half-sister who was raised by the Heike family, is in secret touch with Yoshitsune. At Settsu, which is located on the shore across the Seto Inland Sea from Yashima, Yoshitsune’s army is joined by the Genji troops led by Kajiwarano Kagetoki. Since they lack enough boats to sail to Yashima, Yoshitsune have his retainers go scouting, trying to find a way to approach Yashima as soon as possible. Using the information brought back by the scouts, Yoshitsune works out tactics and sounds Kagetoki out on his plan. Kagetoki, who is in a supervisory position, tells Yoshitsune to wait for their fleet of boats to arrive. For Kagetoki, Yoshitsune’s strategy of going forward and forward regardless of the risk of losing forces seems reckless and incomprehensible. The two are sharply-divided on how to win the battle against the Heike family. Yoshitsune decides to set sail immediately for Yashima despite Kagetoki’s opposition.
ついに平家追討の総大将を命じられた義経（滝沢秀明）。勇み立つ義経を弁慶（松平健）ら郎党は喜ぶが、義経を戦に送り出す静（石原さとみ）の心中は複雑だった。一方、義経が屋島に向っていると知った平家は、義経の妹・能子（後藤真希）が義経と通じているのではないかと疑いをかける。摂津で梶原景時（中尾彬）と合流した義経は、その戦略をめぐり景時と対立。義経は景時の反対を押し切り、嵐の中の船出を決意する。
