Fight, Zatoichi, Fight

A group of assassins stops a traveling blind pilgrimage and claims to be looking for Ichi. They lineup the travelers to study their faces, but no match is found and the group departs. The encounter sets the tone for Ichi's elusive presence on the road.

One of the blind men pulls Ichi from hiding in a building, and the group laughs at pulling a prank on sighted people. Ichi continues on his way, quietly accepting the joke as the world tests him.

A pair of kago bearers persuade Ichi to carry them so they won't return with an empty fare. The assassins see him enter and head up the road to ambush him, shadowing his movements as he travels with the baby carriage.

The bearers stop for a woman who collapses with an infant. Ichi insists she takes the carriage to safety, but the assassins ambush and kill the mother. The bearers hurry back to Ichi and the group continues under threat.

In a nearby city, travel documents reveal Otoyo was traveling to meet her husband Unosuke in Miyagi Village. A promissory note shows Unosuke's debt, and Ichi, feeling responsible for the woman's death, volunteers to take the baby to him, with two villagers accompanying him.

The Monju clan's five assassins catch up to Ichi in a town. He confronts them, offers to fight after delivering the baby, and kills one attacker; the remaining three retreat, and Waheiji slips away as the confrontation intensifies.

In another development, Hangoro agrees to help the Monju clan, and the two groups join forces to pursue Ichi. The alliance increases the danger as they close in on the party.

Ichi raises money by gambling, hoping to buy softer diapers for the journey. He outplays a rigged boss in a one-on-one game, wins a substantial sum, and dispatches the boss's guards to keep the baby safe while he sleeps.

The next day, a woman of the evening named Oko offers to watch the baby. She initially finds it odd but agrees to stay, then later steals Ichi's nightingale whistle and leaves in a huff, causing a tense rift that Ichi later mends using the child.

A thief named Oko tries to use Ichi as cover from a victim, but Ichi foils the attempt and exposes the deception. Impressed by Ichi's resolve and money, Oko offers to accompany him and help with the child, and he agrees.

Arriving at Miyagi Village, Ichi presents the baby to Unosuke after the documents reveal the backstory. Unosuke tears up the documents and denies ever having been married, even planning to marry another boss's daughter. Ichi decides he will take the child and raise him himself.

Waheiji promises help in exchange for Unosuke's future fame, and the temple becomes a focal point of pursuit. Ichi leaves the child at the temple to face the pursuers, fights the attackers, and ultimately kills Unosuke when he tries to strike at him. Ichi walks away with the baby left at the temple, and the blind pilgrimage passes by as he continues on his own path.