Fist of the North Star

In the aftermath of World War III, the world falls into chaos and water becomes scarce. Two martial arts schools, North Star and Southern Cross, seek to impose order, but Shin betrays the regime and kills North Star master Ryuken, leaving Kenshiro as the sole heir. Shin then begins to rule the wasteland through the Crossmen.

Shin abducts Kenshiro's fiancée Julia and imprisons her in his tower. Jackal leads the ruthless Crossmen, enforcing Shin's iron rule across the land.

Kenshiro escapes Shin's aggression and drifts through the desolate world. He fights through hostile territory, keeping to his solitary path and avoiding the Crossmen's harsh rule.

Kenshiro slaughters a gang led by Zeed that attacks the homestead where he had found shelter for the night. The violent confrontation confirms the brutality of the wasteland. He then heads toward Paradise Valley, one of the few remaining sources of pure water.

Kenshiro arrives in Paradise Valley and meets orphan siblings Bat and Lynn. He uses a pressure point technique to restore Lynn's sight, which she lost when her parents were murdered by Crossmen, then departs despite Lynn's pleas for him to stay and protect them.

Bat follows Kenshiro and pleads for him to join the organized resistance against the Crossmen. Kenshiro refuses to commit, continuing his solitary quest.

The Crossmen attack Paradise Valley, occupy the town, and commandeer the few remaining water sources. Lynn is captured and used to pressure Kenshiro into revealing himself.

Lynn is ordered to be executed for sedition, but her defiance mentioning Kenshiro leads Jackal to spare her and imprison her instead. Her kidnapping becomes a tool to lure Kenshiro back into the conflict.

Kenshiro and Bat infiltrate the occupied town to rescue Lynn, and a fierce fight costs Bat his life. Lynn is freed, but the victory is costly and underscores the stakes of resisting the Crossmen.

Kenshiro defeats Jackal but spares him, sending him back to Shin to announce Kenshiro's imminent arrival. The gesture turns a potential trap into a warning for Shin.

By Shin's orders, Jackal escorts Julia to the tower basement to hide her from Kenshiro. A tense cat and mouse game unfolds as Kenshiro closes in on the tower.

Kenshiro breaks into Shin's tower and confronts him in the throne room. Shin deceives him by hiding Julia's fate and exploiting Kenshiro's shock, but an awakening of hope when he notices a bud sprouting from a seed he gave Julia allows Kenshiro to overpower and kill Shin.

Julia frees herself from Jackal by removing his bandages, causing his head to swell and explode. She rejoins Kenshiro, strengthening their shared resolve to rebuild.

With Shin defeated, the surviving Crossmen bow to Kenshiro and Julia in deference. The pair become symbols of hope and resistance for the wasteland's remaining survivors.