Webafter yaichiro escapes, munezo is ordered to prove his innocence from complicity by killing his old friend, and he seeks the help of his old teacher, the sword master kansai toda. Nagase masatoshi stars as a samurai, whose adherence to his code of honor is tested by the forces around him. Webhis old friend, yaichiro hazama, has been fomenting rebellion against the government, and katagiri must hunt him down and kill him. A slow and steady samurai flick a la john ford. Webthe hidden blade moves at a glacial pace but tells a rich story with fully developed ideas and characters. The film uses humor throughout to balance the tone of the. Webrequired to master western military strategies, particularly the art of artillery, munezo is ordered to find and kill yaichiro, a former friend, samurai, and brilliant.