Hokuriku Proxy War

Kawada Noboru, a peasant from Mikuni, rises to become a yakuza member of the Tomiyasu Group in Fukui. He holds a letter from his boss promising control of the security business for the local speedboat and bike races in exchange for killing Yamada. The arrangement hints at the wider ambition of the Tomiyasu Group and Yamada.

After his 1968 prison release, Yasuhara refuses to fulfill his promise. Kawada retaliates by burying Yasuhara up to his neck and forcing him to relinquish control over the security operations of the bike and speedboat races.

At the branch office in Tsuruga, Yasuhara seeks help from the Kanai Group, led by Kanai Hachiro; Kanai responds by sending 50 assassins to kill Kawada. Mantani warns that this is part of Kanai's plan to invade Fukui.

Kawada hides with his lover Kiku at the Shiranami House. Mr. Yoshitama from Kyoto arranges a meeting with Mr. Kubo of the Asada Group to offer support to Kawada, but Kawada remains unreceptive.

Kawada is attacked in a diner, and the fight is interrupted when the police arrive, leaving him seriously injured. The assault intensifies the power struggle between the factions.

Yasuhara appoints Mantani as underboss of the Tomiyasu Group. Mantani is Kanai's sworn brother, which leads Kawada to suspect that Osaka intends to pull Fukui’s strings.

Kawada is taken to Wajima by Nobuko and Takashi of the Yanaka Group to recover. Oya fears Kanai invasion and orders Kawada to be moved again. Mantani visits, and Kiku agrees to be his woman if Kawada keeps his location secret.

During his stay in Wajima, Kawada begins a relationship with Nobuko, strengthening ties with the Yanaka faction and complicating loyalties within Fukui’s power structure.

Kawada learns Mantani's location at a Kyoto gambling house run by the Yoshitane Group. He sneaks in, damages Mantani's circle by severing Mantani's hand, and kills a Kanai Group member who mocks him.

While serving time in Hamamatsu Prison for the murder, Kawada is stabbed by Toshimoto of the Kanai Group. Takii of the Yanaka Group saves him and informs that Oya has been stabbed and Takashi has become head of the Kanai branch in Kanazawa.

Kawada is released from prison in 1973. Takashi's superiors demand Kawada's killing to secure Mikuni and Kanazawa, but Kawada evades them and returns to his old office, where Nobuko awaits. Mantani beats him, and Kawada confesses to Kiku that he and Nobuko are getting married.

The Asada Group fears Kanai's rogue behavior. Kiku arranges a secret meeting between Kawada and Okano Nobuyasu, who agrees to secretly assist Kawada. Kawada and Yanaka Group members rob a Kanai office safe, then Kawada secures weapons from Ryugasaki in Nagoya; Mantani calls for reinforcements from Osaka.

Mr. Yobu calls police to raid the Kanai Group's Osaka office, leading to Kanai Hachiro's arrest for illegal weapons possession. Kawada and Okano officially swear loyalty to each other and become bonded brothers.

Takashi's abuse prompts Nobuko to take drastic action; Kawada and his allies rescue Nobuko, who then kills Takashi and turns herself in to the police.