Tom Laughlin later bastardized this masterpiece as "The Master Gunfighter", but it cannot be understood or transplanted outside of its own environment. A member of a samurai clan has abandoned his family and friends after the clan stole government gold and massacred a village to cover its tracks. Bereft of his property and status, he makes his living as a carnival trick swordsman, but he is made aware that there is more government gold on the horizon, and that his former clan intends to repeat its previous outrages. Previously he identified himself as part of the clan; He has recreated his life as a low class bum but never specifically opposed his former clan. Now he finds he must again recreate himself--as a man of conscience who fights for justice, rather than clan loyalty or greed.

This is one of the handful of Hideo Gosha's masterpieces and a clear statement of his philosophy.