Chuji Kunisada returns to his home village to find that Jubei Matsui, the corrupt magistrate, has been responsible for virtually destroying Kunisada's family. A final tragedy leads Kunisada to join with a band of rogues living in the forest in robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, always with an eye toward avenging himself on Magistrate Matsui.

Chuji, a gambling samurai, returns to his village after a 2-year absence to find his people living under government oppression and suffering from a year of bad crops. He is particularly angered when he hears that his sister has gone insane as a result of an assault by a magistrate; the girl eventually commits suicide and her fiancé is killed by officials. Unable to gain revenge directly, Chuji breaks into the government warehouse and distributes rice to the needy farmers. He continues to rob from the rich and give to the poor, and he and his followers hide in the forests of Mount Akagi when the government pursues him. After 3 years of scheming and waiting for the right time, he gains revenge for the deaths of his sister and her fiancé. He leaves the village, promising those who love him to return some day.