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!

As the new year of 1334 begins, Yorishige is concerned about enemies closing in on Suwa territory. He needs information about their moves and motives and decides to send Tokiyuki and his growing band of retainers, the Elusive Warriors, to scout things out. Then, in an isolated village on the northern edge of the province, Tokiyuki encounters a dangerous stranger...