Amid the chaos of revolutionary Kyoto at the close of the Tokugawa period, a hidden directive compels three elite female ninjas to confront their loyalties. Kaede, Kikyoo, and Ayame grapple with the ninja code that demands they sacrifice everything, even as thoughts of escape to safety tempt them. Their deep connections to each other and to the men whose trust they must break ignite a mix of conflicting desires and affections. This initial chapter reveals the personal stakes that will shape their fates in a world on the brink of transformation.