Ken Takakura stars as Ryoji one of the Aramasa family's loyal lieutenants whao takes the burden of his family being insulted by the Tanuma's family goons, by retaliating on his own. After injuring the head of Tanuma's family, and slaying others along the way, he then surrenders to the law and serves time.

Before his last year to serve, the head of the Aramasa family falls ill and decides to retire, Ryoji miss chance to be successor, his old friend is reluctant but accepts. Now this gives the Tanuma family a chance for revenge! But with Tomisaburo Wakayama (Sekine) always having your back, how can you go wrong?

明治40年の賭博禁止令施行の頃、浅草荒政一家の親分・政五郎はこの機会に引退を表明、跡目を一家の三羽烏の一人に譲り、あとの二人を分家させて縄張りを分け与えた。だが、一家を思う気持ちは三者三様。各々の生き方の相違により次第に離反し、荒政一家の縄張りを狙う他の一家との闘いも絡んで、血で血を洗う凄まじい争いに発展していく。