Synopsis
During the Jinshin-no-Ran civil war of 762, a child bearing a small horn on his forehead was born. His mother, deeming him an oni, abandoned him, but an elderly shugenja woman rescued and raised him, naming him Utsunomiko, meaning 'Divine Child of the Heavens'. She explained that his horn represents the union of heaven and earth. As Miko grew in the wilderness, mastering the practices of Shugendō, he began visiting nearby villages out of curiosity. Witnessing the widespread poverty and suffering of the common people, he used his spiritual abilities to aid them. However, his rage at the selfish rulers and their petty power struggles eventually led to open conflict with the Imperial Court, launching Miko on a long journey as a defender of the oppressed.