Legendary swordsmith Shikizaki Kiki made over 1000 swords in his career but his 12 greatest weapons each hold a power so extraordinary that one man could defeat small armies. Shogunate strategist Togame has been ordered to recover all 12 swords but anyone she hires will want to keep the weapons for themselves. As such she hires Shichika, the only man in Japan who has no use for the wepons because he is the last practitioner of the Kyotoryuu - the No Sword School.