Thanks to the help of a mysterious wandering monk who communicates with notes, Tonbei and Kirimaru find Shintarō who has been treated by the monk. Shintarō pretends to be dead, knowing that if Kongō thinks he's dead, he will release the real Yuri as he would have no further use for her. Nagisa and her band see Tonbei returning alone to Edo in tears and that is enough to convince them Shintarō is dead and they rush off to tell Kongō, who is somewhat sceptical and would like to see a head, at least, ta ever so. Kongō fetches Yuri from a cave and Kirimaru, who has followed Nagisa, decides to rescue her alone, against Shintarō's orders. Kongō taunts him and wounds him. Shintarō arrives with Tonbei and is set on by Nagisa and her band until the monk appears and reveals himself to be her father. Kongō, finding himself among friends but none of them his, vanishes.
