Legend of the Eight Samurai

The story follows Shizu-hime, her family slain and on the run from her enemies. As she escapes, she is found by the vagabond Shinbei before being rescued from her pursuers by Dosetsu. He tells her the legend of a curse on her family and of eight beads that identify eight dog warriors who can lift it, of which he and his companion are two. To defeat the evil queen Tamazusa who killed her family, they must find all eight. But Shinbei hears of Shizu-hime's identity and vows to collect the reward for capturing her.
~~ Adapted from the novel "Nansou Satomi Hakkenden" (南総里見八犬伝) by Takizawa Bakin (曲亭馬琴).