Chōjirō escapes from Sado Island, a place known as inescapable, and continues his journey to find the fiancée he parted with 12 years ago. When he finally finds her, she doesn’t recognize him—perhaps the 12 years of hard labor on Sado have changed his appearance. Now married to a merchant, she pleads with Chōjirō to help free her husband, who is about to be sent to Sado on false charges. Suspicious of her motives, Chōjirō nonetheless agrees, only to discover that she is part of a band of thieves. Despite this, he helps her husband escape, but when Chōjirō reveals his feelings to her, he realizes the 12 years have changed her heart as well.

Jōhachi, a vagabond of Shinshū, accidentally severs a woman’s right arm during a brawl. Wracked with guilt, he vows never to draw his sword again, declaring that if he ever unsheathes it, he will cut off his own right arm. Three years later, he is known in the underworld as "Jōhachi Who Never Draws," known for resolving conflicts with his bare hands. After being sent to prison due to an unfortunate turn of events, Jōhachi accompanies an old man, Gisaburō the Sharpshooter, to reunite with his daughter, Okyo. However, they discover that the once-happy Okyo has met with a tragic fate. Her enemy turns out to be the very man who brutally assaulted Jōhachi in prison. As the old man dies, Jōhachi takes up his sword, prepared to lose his arm, and confronts the villain for vengeance.

Ginji is offered a fortune to steal the severed head of the infamous bandit Chūji Kunisada from its display and bury it. He refuses, but when moved by a young woman’s determination to retrieve the head herself, Ginji decides to steal it for her. However, when he delivers the head, Ginji discovers that the men who had earlier tried to bribe him are acquaintances of the woman. Realizing the betrayal, Ginji slays the men, but the woman’s sincerity ultimately convinces him of her true intentions. He entrusts Chūji’s head to her, acknowledging her unwavering resolve.

Isaburō, chasing a gang member who killed one of his comrades, gains the admiration of a young girl. However, the gang member has the support of a skilled rōnin. Isaburō receives a challenge to duel the rōnin and emerges victorious. From a bell tied to Isaburō’s wrist, the truth emerges: his sister is the gang member’s mistress. To sever ties with the painful past, Isaburō kills the gang member, bids farewell to his sister in his heart, and gives the bell to the girl before continuing his solitary journey.