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Synopsis:
In war-torn medieval Japan, Lord Kuniharu, ruler of Spider Web Castle, faces rebellion from several factions. When Kuniharu learns that two of his commanders, Washizu and Miki, have thwarted his foes’ advances, he summons them.

En route, Washizu and Miki, lost in the fog of Spider Web Forest, encounter an old Forest Spirit who foretells that Washizu will soon be named Lord of the North Garrison, and thereafter ruler of Spider Web Castle.

As for Miki, the spirit says he will be named Lord of the First Fortress—but that one day his own son, Yoshiteru, will inherit Spider Web Castle. Indeed, when Washizu and Miki arrive at the castle, Lord Kuniharu grants them the first round of honors predicted by the spirit.

At Washizu’s new post, the North Garrison, his wife, Asaji, argues that the Forest Spirit’s prophecies must be heeded, and that to secure his destiny in treacherous times, Washizu must act preemptively against Kuniharu (and even possibly his old friend, Miki). Washizu protests that he’s a loyal subject with no treasonous ambitions. Suddenly, they learn that Lord Kuniharu and his men are approaching.

Kuniharu tells Washizu that, as part of a maneuver against a rival lord, he plans to stay at the North Garrison for the night. He orders Miki to watch over Spider Web Castle in the meantime.

That night, Asaji gives Lord Kuniharu’s guards drugged sake, and Washizu slays him. Despite attempts to conceal the murder, there is no question about the perpetrator. Kuniharu’s son, the Prince, wants to stay and avenge his father’s death immediately, but he’s convinced by the old general, Noriyasu, to flee and bide his time.

Washizu brings Lord Kuniharu’s body to Spider Web Castle for a state funeral, and Miki, anticipating an attack from rival lords, backs Washizu as Kuniharu’s successor. In turn, Washizu announces plans to adopt Miki’s son as his heir, in accordance with the spirit’s prophecies. Asaji, who is opposed to this plan, also reports that she’s pregnant.

Miki departs for a banquet in honor of Washizu’s succession, but never arrives—except as a ghost, which haunts only the guilt-crazed Washizu. After the banquet, the guests disperse in discomfort, and an assassin arrives with good news and bad news: He successfully killed Miki, but young Yoshiteru escaped.

The bad news keeps coming: Asaji’s child is stillborn. And Washizu’s enemies—Yoshiteru, Noriyasu, and Kuniharu’s son, the Prince—have joined forces with a rival lord, and together they’re all closing in on the castle. Washizu rides out to consult with the Forest Spirit, who tells him that until the forest itself advances on him, he will be safe.

Back at the besieged castle, Washizu bolsters his troops’ morale by boasting of the spirit’s fortuitous prophecies, including the absurd image of trees advancing on the castle. When the trees do advance—borne as moving camouflage by enemy troops—Washizu’s men unleash a flood of arrows on him.