In 1170, Kiyomori invites the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa to Fukuhara where he arranges a meeting between Go-Shirakawa and the people from Sung. Meanwhile, Sukemori, Shigemori's son, gets insulted by Fujiwara no Motofusa from a prominent family in the Imperial Court. Although Shigemori attempts to logically settle the situation, the members of the Taira family are unable to hold back their anger. Going over Shigemori's head, Tokitada, Kiyomori's brother-in-law, acts independently and retaliates against Motofusa.