Murakami Harutomo, the protagonist of the novel, is the youngest son of a samurai who owns an estate but is poor enough that he helps farm it. Harutomo, less than five years old, is spared because of his bravery when his family is killed by warlord Takeda Shingen. He is pressed into service of Lord Akiyama, one of Takeda’s officers, who names him Taro. Over the course of the novel, Taro strives to recover his status and become a samurai. While he is arrogant and impatient at the beginning of the book, he develops into a thoughtful and caring leader through the help of many mentors. Taro earns the name Murakami Harutomo as a sign of his coming of age.

As a youth, this dynamic character has an idealized perspective on being a samurai, and he can’t wait to show his mettle on the battlefield. As he matures, he develops a deeper understanding of the realities of war. Though he is brave, he is also creative. Some of his biggest successes, such as saving his men during the siege of Iwamura Castle and delivering the message to Lord Katsuyori, owe more to strategy than physical strength.