Matsunaga (Mifune) is tough small-time gangster who is shot during a gang war. He makes his way into a doctor's office who treats the wound and in the process discovers that Matsunaga has tuberculosis. During the lengthy medical treatments the two form a friendship. Meanwhile, Matsunaga's gangster boss is released from prison with aspirations of rejuvenating his rough and tumble crew. However when the boss discovers that Matsunaga is ill, he throws him out of the gang. In an act of vengeance, he confronts the crime boss and a battle commences ending in fatal consequences.