Set in Kyoto during the final years of the Edo period, the series follows the turbulent lives of the Shinsengumi, the samurai force protecting the city. Toshizo Hijikata finds a new family in Isami Kondo and Soji Okita, forming a strong bond with his fellow warriors. Together, they face betrayal, illness, war, and their own conflicting ideals while fighting to protect their loyalty and beliefs.