Synopsis
The Iga and Kouga ninja clans have been locked in a fierce conflict for generations. However, a ceasefire is imposed by the powerful warlord Ieyasu Tokugawa, forcing the two clans to lay down their weapons. As time passes, Gennosuke Kouga, the heir of the Kouga clan, and Oboro Iga, the heir of the Iga clan, fall in love. They hope that their marriage will bring lasting peace between their clans. Yet their dreams are shattered when old rivalries are rekindled, pulling them back into war. Ieyasu's two grandsons each lay claim to the next shogunate succession. To settle the dispute, the Kouga and Iga are each ordered to send their ten finest warriors into a deadly battle royale, with each clan backing one of the rival heirs. Two scrolls listing the fighters are provided, to be marked in blood as each warrior falls. The victor will earn the Tokugawa shogunate's favor for a thousand years. Caught between love and clan loyalty, Gennosuke and Oboro must ultimately decide their clans' destiny.