Once in the highlands and amongst Jinto's home lands, Jinto decides to make himself a sword and after meeting his father's old assistant makes a sword of such power it seems to have a life of its own, which he calls 'Well Drinker'. In the first battle after making the sword Jinto feels as though the weapon has a life of its own. Jinto then decides to travel to the castle of the Minamoto, his lord. On the way they meet and defeat one of the Taira warlords and his retainers before reaching a small town where they had to cross a stretch of water to Honshu, home of the Minamoto. They are challenged as they begin to cross and rescue a lady and her servant from the Taira just in time.
After the crossing they learn that the lady is called Yoshiko and her family are allies of the Minamoto. They decide to travel together to their lords' castle. However, they still have to pass through enemy territory and disguise themselves. But when they are next stopped the lady Yoshiko's servant panics, revealing their identity. Yoshiko executes her servant while Casca and Jinto take care of the Taira soldiers. A few days later they arrive at an allied castle and come fact to face with the leader of the Minamoto, Yoritomo. The two are accepted into the ranks of the Minamoto army and march into battle. After weeks of campaiging the final battle is chosen, close to the sea. As they march on the Taira determined to settle the war once and for all, Jinto and Casca sadly learn of Yoshika's death by suicide, performed to dupe the enemy into thinking the Minamoto would attack by a different route.
In the great battle that follows, Jinto and Casca are promoted to Samurai on the field and partake in great slaughter, until Casca notices the captive emperor being drowned by swimmers that appeared to originate from Minamoto ranks. When challenging this he is falsely accused of killing the emperor himself and is sentenced to death, but the wily Jinto, realizing something is amiss, and knowing of Casca's unique condition, suggests tying him to a piece of mast and sending him out to sea.
Casca is wished well on his way by Jinto who surreptitiously cuts the bindings and Casca is left to drift towards China.