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13 fearless swordsmen embark on a bloody suicide mission to seek justice for a heinous crime that was covered up by the shogun in this samurai classic from director Eiichi Kudo (The Great Killing, The Fort of Death). A vicious Daimyo (feudal lord) has just committed an unspeakable act of evil. After raping a woman, he ruthless slaughters both his victim and her horrified husband. Determined to draw attention to the crime, the Daimyo's vassal commits Seppuku but the incident is hastily swept under the rug. Meanwhile, thanks to his status as the Shogun's younger brother, the Daimyo will soon be honored with a powerful political position that will allow him to kill with impunity. Concerned that this could be the final straw that breaks the Shogunate's back, a small group of officials recruit one of their country's most respected strategists to assassinate the Daimyo before he can do any more damage. But the Daimyo, too, has a brilliant tactician on his side, and an army of soldiers who will defend their leader to the death. Later, after assembling 12 of the best swordsmen he can find, the rebel leader plans an attack that the Daimyo will never sees coming, and awaits the perfect moment to strike.