Sword of the Stranger

In Japan's Sengoku period, a young orphan named Kotarou and his dog Tobimaru survive by stealing from villagers. But when assassins from China's Ming Dynasty start hunting Kotarou for unknown reasons-unrelated to his thefts-he and Tobimaru are forced to flee. During their escape, Kotarou is ambushed, and Tobimaru is poisoned. They stumble upon Nanashi, a ronin living quietly in a temple. Though Nanashi rescues them from their attackers, he sees no reason to stay involved-until Kotarou offers him a precious gem in exchange for protection. Reluctantly, Nanashi agrees to guard them, but only until Tobimaru recovers and they reach their destination. As the three travel together, the danger grows. The Ming Dynasty sends a fearsome swordsman after Kotarou, determined to fulfill a dark prophecy. Their journey becomes a desperate struggle for survival.