In war-torn Hiroshima during World War II, young Gen Nakaoka and his family face ostracism for opposing the emperor amidst the fervent support for the nation's cause. When the US drops an atomic bomb on the city, Gen survives but must endure the harsh aftermath of destruction, starvation, and societal scorn. Drawing from Keiji Nakazawa's own history, Hadashi no Gen chronicles Gen's resilience and defiance as he navigates the challenges of post-war survival, vowing never to forgive the perpetrators or forget the horrors of the bomb.