In medieval Japan, eight-year-old Hojo Tokiyuki is the heir to the Kamakura shogunate. But the Hojo clan is in decline, and Tokiyuki's peaceful days of playing hide-and-seek with his teachers come to an abrupt end when his clan is betrayed from within. The lone survivor of his family, Tokiyuki is the rightful heir to the throne, but to take it back, he'll have to do what he does best--run away!

At last, Tokiyuki has revealed himself to Yorishige's allies and supporters as the Hojo heir. The time has come for Suwa province to march against Ashikaga Takauji and the Mikado. Alongside Yorishige, Tokiyuki now rides at the head of the army in a move to retake Kamakura and restore the shogunate. But there is still much hard fighting ahead, and the next obstacle is the Kanto Hisashiban, a group of dazzling--and unusual--young warriors who serve Takauji!