During his wanderings, Zatoichi comes across a group connected with an infamous
Yakuza boss, known as "Dark Lord" Yamikubo. Yamikubo is
blind like Ichi, but he is indeed evil, and rules with an iron fist a great region of lands and towns who pay tribute to him. After Zatoichi tries to help a woman who has been bought at a "mistress auction" organized by one of Yamikubo's henchmen, the Dark Lord uses the beautiful Okiyo, his
protégé, as a spy who must seduce and take Ichi's
shikomi-zue (
cane sword) away. But shortly after meeting him, Okiyo falls in love with Ichi and refuses to carry out her mission. Yamikubo then devises another way of drawing the blind swordsman close and kill him during the famous "Fire Festival", which Zatoichi decides to attend despite the danger involved. == Cast ==