Kikuo is fifteen years old when he loses his father in a feud. Yakuza boss Hanjiro then takes him in. There, Kikuo and Hanjiro's son Shunsuke are raised as brothers. Through their good friendship and rivalry, they manage to improve each other and dedicate their youth to art. One day, their destiny is shaken up when Hanjiro, who ends up in the hospital after an accident, designates Kikuo instead of Shunsuke as his replacement.