After parting from Shizuka at Yoshino, Yoshitsune proceeds to Kumano worrying about her. His concern proves right as Shizuka is found and captured by chasers. In Kamakura, Yoritomo dismisses the nobles who have disobeyed him and executes his policies in which warriors dominate politics. Alarmed by Yoritomo’s such strong attitude, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa plots to make use of Yoshitsune again. The ex-emperor secretly gives a notice to temples and shrines to shelter Yoshitsune. Learning the ex-emperor’s move, Yoshitsune sends the ex-emperor a letter and asks him to withdraw the order of hunting Yoshitsune down. At Ohmi, Yoshitsune is reunited with some of his retainers who have been separated from him in the shipwreck. They tell him that Shizuka is taken captive in Kyoto. In the capital, Tokimasa, Yoritomo’s father-in-law, locates and beheads Yukiie and questions Shizuka about Yoshitsune’s whereabouts.
義経（滝沢秀明）と別れ、吉野山を下る静（石原さとみ）が途中で捕らわれる。一方、頼朝（中井貴一）の強硬な政策に危機感を抱いた後白河法皇（平幹二朗）は、義経をかくまうよう諸国の寺社に伝える。熊野でそれを知った義経は、法皇が自分を見捨てていないと確信、苦難の末、再び京へ向かう。しかし鎌倉方の探索は厳しさを増し、北条時政（小林稔侍）は静を詰問する一方、行家（大杉漣）を捕らえ斬（ざん）首する。
