The Takezō arc is the first of the story arcs in Vagabond, and it shows the events corresponding to the early life of Takezō Shinmen.
Summary[]
Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon'iden's perilous escape from the battlefield of Sekihagara, their hazardous housing with Okō and Akemi, the events corresponding to Takezō's unwanted return to the Miyamoto village.
Duration[]
Chapters: 1—21
Volumes: 1—2
Battlefield of Sekigahara[]
The story starts in the autumn of 1600, in the aftermath of the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. Two 17 years old teenagers who joined the losing side, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon'iden, lie wounded in the battlefield and pursued by survivor hunters. They manage to escape and swear to become Invincible Under The Heavens (天下無双, Tenka Musō). After days of fighting and not eating well, they pass out from exhaustion.
Housing with Okō and Akemi[]
However, Takezō and Matahachi are rescued by Okō and Akemi, two women thieves that sell the equipment of fallen soldiers. But their break doesn't last for long: they soon are attacked by the Tsujikaze gang. Takezō and Matahachi kill all the attacking bandits including their leader, Tenma Tsujikaze. However, the next day the Tsujikaze gang attacks again, and in the confusion of the fight their paths separate: Takezō decides to become a vagabond and wander the world challenging strong opponents, and Matahachi chooses to stay with Okō and Akemi.
The Miyamoto village[]
Takezō plans to return to his hometown, the Miyamoto village, to tell Matahachi's mother, Osugi Hon'iden, that his son is alive. However, on his way there he commits some crimes and becomes pursued by the law. He manages to return to Miyamoto and meets Osugi, but she reacts hostile: the village detests Takezō for his extremely violent and antisocial tendencies, Osugi believes that Takezō dragged Matahachi to war, and the whole Hon'iden gentry family's future is compromised now that their heir Matahachi is missing. Osugi pulls strings to accuse Takezō of being a criminal, and the local lord, Aoki, orders an attack. Takezō fights his pursuers but is eventually caught by the monk Takuan Sōhō with the help of Otsū, who is Takezō's childhood friend, Osugi's adopted daughter and Matahachi's original fiancée. Takuan hangs Takezō on a tree and makes him reconsider his purpose in life. Without Matahachi, Osugi hopes the Hon'iden line continues if Otsū marries Aoki, but Otsū renounces the Hon'iden after discovering what Matahachi did. The bandit Kōhei Tsujikaze attempts to kill Takezō, but Takuan scares him off with his enormous ki and decides to conclude Takezō's matter.
Epilogue[]
In the arc's epilogue, Takuan convinces Takezō to change, and releases him. Just then, Otsū arrives she has abandoned the Hon'iden. Takuan renames Takezō as Musashi Miyamoto to make him start his life anew. Musashi, Takuan and Otsū leave the Miyamoto village.