Goro Majima arrives in Sapporo to find himself greeted by the Kitakata Family, led by Taizo Kitakata. They speak amicably with one another, finding some kinship in the disillusionment they feel with the Yakuza lifestyle. Majima is treated as an honored guest, enjoying himself in a high-end hotel as he prepares for the negotiations the following morning.

Negotiations begin, with Majima showing his capabilities as a dealmaker. Kitakata is a bit reluctant to pick sides in a war between the Tojo and the Omi, but knows that he's likely going to get sucked into it one way or another. Before the deal can be finalized, assassins attack in the middle of the meeting, wounding Majima as he fights them off with Kitakata.

Kitakata helps Majima fake his death after fighting through an entire building of assassins, and agrees to do whatever he can to help the Tojo Clan. Majima thanks him for their candor and sneaks out of Sapporo to try to locate Daigo to prepare for their next move.

Majima spends the night in a low-end motel in solitude, thinking about what's going on. He spots an advertisement for Haruka Sawamura's idol debut and smiles. He flashes back to a memory of himself and Mirei Park. He ultimately decides to take out a pen and start writing a letter to her, expressing interest in seeing her again. He sends the letter, brooding over what's to come next.

The next day, Majima arrives in Fukuoka (Kiryu's city) to try to take the temperature of what happened there and pinpoint where Daigo might have gone. He dons a new, more discreet outfit to make sure no one recognizes him, reminiscent of his look in Yakuza 0. In the wake of Aoyama's death, the Omi have started gearing up for war against the Yamagasa Family if they do decide to ally with the Tojo. Majima takes down a few Omi terrorizing a hostess club, and starts pressuring them for information.

Mayumi, Kiryu's "girlfriend" and the daughter of Patriarch Madarame, witnesses it and realizes that Majima is involved. She agrees to help him by bringing him to her father for information. Majima agrees, and goes to meet with her father. Madarame brings Majima up to speed on everything that Kiryu had gone through, and his subsequent departure back to Kamurocho. Unluckily, Kiryu and Majima missed each other by about an hour. Majima is clearly conflicted, but still wants to know Daigo's location.

Reluctantly, Madarame offers up Daigo's location to Majima– Nagoya. Majima asks why he didn't tell Kiryu that. Madarame says that Kiryu is constantly surrounded by vultures whom he does not recognize. Kiryu would have told Morinaga or someone else, and the jig would have been up. Majima, on the other hand, is completely alone and much more savvy. Majima doesn't try to argue with this.

Their meeting is interrupted by the arrival of Omi forces led by Masaru Watase. Majima fends them off, a bit more winded than he'd usually be thanks to his injury and general age. Watase recognizes Majima, telling him that he shouldn't go around playing the hero if he doesn't want to be recognized. Majima asks him what the plan is, and if he's in on the conspiracy.

Watase laughs off the question and says that it doesn't matter. What matters is that a war between the Omi and Tojo is brewing in Kamurocho. Kiryu's already returned to Kamurocho because he believes Majima to be dead. Watase suggests going to warn Kiryu, clearly wanting Majima to be a part of the coming conflict. Majima refuses, saying that he's caused Kiryu enough problems already. Watase understands, and says that he won't breathe a word of Majima's survival to anyone else until Majima is inevitably back in Kamurocho– ready to fight in the glorious war that Watase is very much expecting. Majima and Watase fight. After the fight ends, Watase beats Majima down as Majima is clearly exhausted. Watase is disappointed, and asks if Majima is losing it.

Majima groans and barely manages to escape, leaving Watase behind and very underwhelmed by the Mad Dog's showing. Majima flees Fukuoka, telling Madarame to prepare for war. Majima boards a train and is about to fall asleep when a television inside reports news of Mirei Park's death. Majima is shaken, and debates getting off the train to get on a train to Sotenbori. He ultimately steels himself and keeps going to Nagoya.

Majima arrives in Nagoya to find the place run-down and destitute. Majima is noticeably depressed from news of Park's death, and there's clear anger as well. Majima learns of the shadowy Nagoya Family in the city, apparently capable of keeping out both the Tojo and Omi. Majima naturally takes an interest in this, knowing Daigo would want an alliance with someone capable of taking them on.

Majima manages to locate Yoshitaka Mine, whom Daigo had sent to Nagoya to try to form an alliance with the local yakuza. Mine is currently frazzled and on the run from a group of assassins that he can't even see. Mine says that if Daigo had made it to Nagoya, he never made contact with Mine, though Mine attributes that to his own laying low.

Majima and Mine team up to track down the base of the Nagoya Family, and uncover the truth– the Nagoya Family is just a group of normal civilians led by a man named Fumiya Ushijima. The group had used their influence to get a bunch of Omi and Tojo arrested in Nagoya, getting both organizations out of the way and using their own shadowy status to keep people out. Ushijima doesn't know who Majima is, but tells them both to stand down, as he has Daigo captive. Majima and Mine refuse.

The two fight off the Nagoya Family, and also fight and beat Ushijima. One of Ushijima's subordinates is about to go too far and try to kill Majima when the fight's already over, but his gun is shot out of his hands by Daigo, who appears to have busted himself out of captivity. Both Majima and Mine are very happy to see Daigo again.

Daigo, Majima, Mine, and Ushijima all speak to one another openly. Daigo tells Ushijima the same thing he did last time; that the Tojo doesn't want to intrude anymore. They will leave the group alone if it provides fighters for them. Ushijima protests, but Mine and Daigo ultimately convince him to ally with them. Ushijima agrees to help.

Majima wants to know who the mastermind behind the plot is, and Daigo responds that he doesn't know, but he suspects that Yu Morinaga is a head figure in it. Which is why he ditched Fukuoka– he suspected that Morinaga and Aoyama were both compromised. He applauds Majima and Mine for managing to track him down. Mine is grateful and ready to figure out what happens next.

Before they can do anything further, the Nagoya Family is attacked by members of the Omi Alliance. None of them are sure why this is happening but fight off wave after wave until Ushijima agrees to hold the line. Mine stays behind with them, saying that Majima and Daigo have more important things to get to. Majima and Daigo fight their way through the town to try to get back to Kamurocho. They run into Naoki Katsuya, who reveals that he had Watase bugged without his knowledge. Majima asks about Park's death. Katsuya apologizes sincerely for it, and Majima's past with him is further revealed. Katsuya has regrets about fighting his old friend, but seems to genuinely believe that war between the Omi and Tojo is inevitable. He can see no other way for it to pan out.

Katsuya walks away as Majima and Daigo tear through his goons. The two Yakuza arrive at the train station and hurriedly board. There is a moment of calm before it's revealed that the train car is empty save for Kamon Kanai. Kanai is pissed from Katsuya putting a cigarette through his eye, and gloats to Majima about how he had Park killed. Majima relishes in the opportunity for revenge. The train starts to move as Majima and Daigo fight Kanai. During the fight, Majima and Kanai are drawn outside and on top of the train while Daigo remains indoors. Majima ultimately knocks both himself and Kanai off the train, allowing Daigo the time to escape back to Kamurocho. Majima pants tiredly, worn down but satisfied as Kanai is unconscious by his side. Majima is ultimately tranquilized by a dart to the neck.