隠して(かくして)いる菅丞相(かんしょうじょう)の息子(むすこ)・菅秀才(かんしゅうさい)の首(くび)を斬って(きって)差し出す(さしだす)こと

In the climax of the story, 'The Temple School' (Terakoya) scene, Matsuomaru, another of the triplets, appears as a vassal of their enemy Shihei. Kan Shojo's young son, Kanshusai, was hiding in a village temple school run by Takebe Genzo. Under Shihei's orders, Genzo is commanded to cut off Kanshusai's head and present it, putting him in a desperate dilemma.