A captured thief gang member, Kobusa no Kumehachi just could not believe when he heard that his previous leader, Chigashira no Tanbei was behind a brutal case of robbery. Tanbei that he knows is a genuine thief who lives by three rules; never kill, never steal from the poor, and never rape woman. Claimed that this could have been done by an impostor, Kumehachi get permission from Heizo to spy on Tanbei's gang activity. At the same time, yet another brutal robbery happens in Edo. ~~ Adapted from the novel series "Onihei Hankacho" (鬼平犯科帳) by Ikenami Shotaro (池波正太郎).