As Toyotomi Hideyoshi prepares to take Odawara Castle, Date Masamune rides to stop him from taking over the country. And Tokugawa Ieyasu takes matters into his own hands when his plans are thwarted.

Ishida Mitsunari mourns Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death. Tokugawa Ieyasu, now free to seek to rule the country on his own terms, faces off against Takeda Shingen. Meanwhile, Katakura Kojuro desperately seeks to return to Oshu.

Tokugawa Ieyasu sets out to forge new bonds and alliances, which enrages Ishida Mitsunari and spurs him to take action. And one of the key players that everyone wants on their side is Saika Magoichi and her band of mercenaries.

Striving to be the best commander of the Takeda that he can be, Sanada Yukimura goes on the warpath to confront Uesugi Kenshin, his lord's archrival. And Mori Motonari and Otani Yoshitsugu's plotting takes an interesting turn.

The confrontation over Ishida Mitsunari send Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune in different directions. Meanwhile, Otani Yoshitsugu sends Chosokabe Motochika south on a recruiting mission.

Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune both do some soul-searching and consider the alliances they are respectively about to join. Chosokabe Motochika and Maeda Keiji find their assumptions about Tokugawa Ieyasu challenged.

Sanada Yukimura is asked to aid Tenkai and the Oda to rescue O-Ichi from Tokugawa Ieyasu's clutches. Meanwhile, Ishida Mitsunari begins to get a hint of Otani Yoshitsugu's duplicitous scheming.

The Eastern and Western forces gear up for an epic showdown at Sekigahara. Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura reaffirm their rivalry. Ishida Mitsunari struggles with his responsibilities and the news of Tenkai's betrayal.

With a third party on the field of Sekigahara, East and West both turn their attentions to eliminating this distraction first.

The preliminary duels play out at Sekigahara: Otani Yoshitsugu vs Katakura Kojuro, Date Masamune vs Ishida Mitsunari, Shimazu Yoshihiro vs Honda Tadakatsu, and Mori Motonari vs Chosokabe Motochika.

The long-brewing showdown between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari finally takes place. And when it ends, everyone must work out where to go from there.