Decades ago, the fascist government of the Republic of Greater East Asia seized control of Japan. In order to terrorize its citizens and crush any possibility of rebellion, the government established Program 68—a savage military program where teenage students were sent to a remote island and forced to kill each other—also known as the Battle Royale.

As day breaks over Academy Island, the squads are out scouting for information. Sakamoto’s search for Kunimitsu leads him into a confrontation with Squad 1, who want his help figuring out the chips everyone has been implanted with. Meanwhile, the dark secrets of the students in the other squads begin to come to light, starting with Sudo and Hamada. Hosoya, the psychotic leader of Squad 2, learns that he’s not the only one on the island who’s been trained as an assassin…