In the late 60s groups of disaffected youth hung around the Minami and Kita districts of Osaka, the two largest entertainment areas of the city. While struggling for power, several major groups gradually emerged and combined, but they in turn began to be controlled by professional gangsters.
Three young men, however, refused to join any group and would fight to retain their independence. They are Ryu, Chabo and Ken, who is of Korean descent. One group in particular manages to gain dominance over the others, and in that group, 'Tomorrow Jo', also of Korean descent, singlemindedly claws and fights his way to the top to become the most powerful force in the districts next to the professional gangsters themselves. But Ryu, Chabo and Ken still refuse to knuckle under and are proud that they are different from all the others who gave in and let themselves get involved in any kind of violence, as well as becoming blackmailers and pimps for prostitution.
Eventually, though, they are forced to engage in a showdown, as Tomorrow Jo will not tolerate anyone who ignores his rule. At the waterfront, a fierce fight ensues, and although the three friends manage to kill Tomorrow Jo, it is at a cost, because Chabo is also killed by the gang.
One year later, Ken, who has become a longshoreman, comes across a group of riot police. Ironically, one of them had been one of gang leader, and Ken can't resist the opportunity to hit him - with great satisfaction - and then escape.