The heads of the Taira killed at Ichi-no-tani are paraded through the capital for everyone to see. Most were killed, however, Shigehira, one of Kiyomori's sons, was captured alive. Yoshitsune and Noriyori press to have a parade of heads over the objections of the courtiers; they win out.
Koremori's wife learns that he is still alive from one of the servants, who went to see the parade of heads and learned that Koremori had crossed to Yashima with the retreating forces. Koremori writes letters home to wife and children and they responded. The exchange causes anguish for both Koremori and his family. Koremori decides to leave the battlefield, say farewell to his family, and then kill himself.
Lord Shigehira is paraded into the city in an open carriage. Go-Shirakawa offers to return Shigehira in exchange for the three regalia, and Shigehira conveys this message to the Taira at Yashima, although he has no doubt they will refuse. Along with the request, he sends a loving message to his wife, Lady Dainagon-no-suke, who is at Yashima. He also writes to another gentlewoman he loved dearly but didn't bid farewell as he fled the city. The two are permitted to meet, and exchange vows of love. We learn that later, the gentlewoman will become a nun to pray for Shigehira's soul in the afterlife.
Shigekuni and Hanakata deliver Go-Shirakawa's proposition of trading Shigehira for the three regalia to the Munemori and the Heike.
Upon receiving Go-Shirakawa's letter, the Taira meet in council. Shigehira has written privately to his mother, Lady Nii, urging her to convince Munemori to return the regalia, but she is unsuccessful in her attempt. The Taira respond in a letter declining Go-Shirakawa's proposal and send it back with the messenger, after branding him on the face.
With all hope of freedom lost, Shigehira wishes to take the tonsure, but no one in the capital is able to give permission for him to do so without Yoritomo's approval. He then asks permission to visit the holy man S Hōnen, and permission is granted for a meeting. Shigehira's plight moves Hōnen to tears, and the holy man explains that Shigehira must call the Name and keep the precepts in order to be accepted to the Pure Land. He then goes through the motions of tonsuring Shigehira, and in return, Shigehira gifts him an inkstone that was given to his father Kiyomori by the emperor of Song China.
Yoritomo demands that Shigehira be brought before him, so he departs the capital in the care of Kagetoki. A lyrical travel song describing the route along the Tōkaidō follows his journey, pausing briefly at Ikeda, where he exchanges poems with the innkeeper's daughter, Jijū. He learns she served Munemori in the capital until she gained the right to return home to Ikeda by composing a moving poem. The party eventually reaches Kamakura.
Shigehira finally makes his way to Yoritomo, where he takes responsibilty for the burning of Nara. He is treated graciously by his captors, and he is entertained one evening by Senju-no-mae, a talented singer and koto player, who serves under Yoritomo. They spend a melancholy evening of music. This story depicts Shigehira as both cultured and sensitive, qualities that impress Yoritomo. After Shigehira's execution, Senju-no-mae will become a nun to pray for him.
The next several episodes shift focus to Koremori, who sneaks away from Yashima to make his way to Mount Kōya. Episode 8 contains a short tale of a holy man Koremori revers named Saitō Takiguchi Tokiyori and his love with a servant girl named Yokobue. Instead of disappointing his father and running off with her, Takiguchi renounces the world and becomes a monk. This tale is included because it showcases the difficulty of leaving a lover, which is what Koremori is experiencing. Additionally, it is used to give evidence as to why Koremori reveres the Takiguchi novice so much.
Koremori meets Takiguchi and expresses his desire to renounce the world and then commit suicide. Takiguchi takes Koremori through the complex to the Oku-no-in, and the narrator tells the story of Kukai, founder of Mt. Kōya, enduring in a state of eternal mediation there.
Koremori takes the tonsure, and his two companions, Shigekage and Ishidōmaru soon follow. Koremori instructs Takesato, his servant, to deliver a message to the forces at Yashima that Karakawa, an heirloom suit of armor, and a sword named Kogarasu should go to his son Rokudai if the Taira ever regain their power. He instructs Takesato not to return to the capital and reveal his tonsuring (and suicide) to his wife and children.
Koremori and his party progress to Shingū and finally Nachi. One of the monks on retreat at Nachi recognizes him and recalls his glory days as a young man at court; all are moved by the pitiful circumstances into which he has now fallen.
Koremori plans to drown himself off the coast of Nachi. He first carves his name and lineage on a tree on a small island off of the coast near Nachi, receives instruction from Takiguchi to bolster his faltering resolve, and finally he jumps in the sea, followed by his attendants Shigekage and Ishidōmaru.
The news of Koremori's death reaches Yashima, where is is first deliverd to his brother Sukemori. With the report that he has drowned, all doubt about his loyalties (Munemori and Lady Nii were suspicious of him), fade, and everyone mourns. Eventually, Koremori's wife learns of his fate. Grief-stricken, she becomes a nun and prays for him.
The news of Koremori's death reaches Yoritomo, who says he would have spared Koremori if he'd had the chance. Go-Toba’s enthronement occurs, and shortly thereafter Noriyori and Yoshitsune head west from the capital to engage the Taira. The two armies meet in Bizen, but the Minamoto possess no boats and are unable to engage, as the Taira are camped on an island. Sasaki Moritsuna learns of a shallows between land and island from a local fisherman, whom he then kills so that he alone will learn this secret. He then rides across the shallows, and the rest of Noriyori’s army join him; they drive the Taira from Kojima and back to Yashima (on Shikoku). However, without boats, they are unable to pursue them further..
Yoshitsune, still in the capital, is promoted, and the enthronement festival takes place, albeit in poor form compared to that of Emperor Antoku. Noriyori remains camped at Muro and Takasago (Harima province xx), unable, and apparently uninterested in preparing, to pursue the Taira.