SAMURAI 7

Kirara's Dowsing Crystal found a samurai strong enough to lead them, but he refuses to help. Volunteering instead is the untried Katsushiro, but the Crystal does not point to him. Could Kirara's tool of divination be wrong? The answer must come quickly, when the Magistrates pleasure-loving son kidnaps Kirara, and the young samurai faces his first real test.

After Kirara is rescued from Ukyo's abduction, Kambei decides to help them, being the first samurai recruited. Meanwhile, Katsushiro and Kikuchiyo start heading back to the base. They come across Gorobei, a street entertainer. He tells Katsushiro that he should play his game of arrows. If Katsushiro wins, then Gorobei will wind up dead. Is Gorobei more than just talk? And what will happen when Ayamaro, Ukyo's father, sends assassins after the samurai?

Kambei and Gorobei easily dispatch of the assassins sent by Ayamaro. Angered, Ayamaro sends his two bodyguards, fellow samurai, after them. Will Kambei be able to defeat the two-sword wielding Kyuzo?

Kirara and the samurai continue looking for more help. After long days of finding no one, they come across a samurai who chops wood. The samurai is very skilled with both the sword and machines, but he has never killed a man. Will he join them? And, can he stand strong in the face of battle?

A man who was part of the Imperial Envoy is murdered and the Samurai are being blamed. The emperor wants all the Samurai and their companions captured - dead or alive. Kambei and the others find a way to escape. Can they succeed? And if so, will they be able to without a casualty...

With Ukyo hot on their trail, Kambei and the others visit his old friend, Shichiroji, at an inn in the city of Kougakyo. Shichiroji tells them of a secret passage they can use to escape. Will they be able to loose Ukyo? Will Shichiroji join them or will he stay behind with Yukino? And, what has happened to Kikuchiyo?

The group rests up in Honoka's, a girl they met who works for the guardians, house. But, when the Nobuseri arrive and the samurai decide to not interfere in their trading with the guardians, Rikichi won't stand idle by. And neither will Kikuchiyo.

With Kikuchiyo captured by the Nobuseri, Kambei devises a way to rescue the would-be hero. Unfortunately for the remaining samurai, the Nobuseri have laid an ambush for them...

With the Nobuseri on their trail, Kambei splits everyone up into three groups. Each group takes a different route to Kanna Village. He takes Kikuchiyo, Katsushiro, and Komachi, while Gorobei, Heihachi, and Rikichi take another route. Shichiroji, Kyuzo, and Kirara take a third route. But, Kirara still doesn’t fully trust Kyuzo and his intentions...

The samurai arrive at Kanna Village, but find that many of the inhabitants seem to be missing. While Kambei meets with the village elder, Kikuchiyo discovers that the women of the village have gone into hiding along with the rice. He reveals this to the other samurai and they begin the work of preparing the village for the coming battle with the Nobuseri. But, a traitor lurks in the village's midst...

With the traitor discovered, the samurai are at odds over what should be done with him. Meanwhile, Katsushiro tries to come to terms with his feelings over the first life he has taken. And, later, Kikuchiyo reveals a startling secret.