Vagabond

The story starts in 1600, in the aftermath of the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. Two 17-year-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). Their paths separate: Takezō decides to become a vagabond and wander the world challenging strong opponents, and Matahachi chooses to stay with women. Takezō returns to his hometown, the Miyamoto village, to tell Matahachi's mother, Osugi Hon'iden, that her son is alive. However, Osugi reacts with hostility because the village detests Takezō for his extremely violent and antisocial tendencies, and because the future of the Hon'iden gentry family is compromised now that their heir Matahachi is missing. Osugi pulls strings to accuse Takezō of being a criminal. Takezō fights his pursuers but is eventually caught by the monk Takuan Sōhō, who makes him reconsider his purpose in life. Takuan frees him and, to make him start his life anew, renames after his hometown, Musashi of Miyamoto.
After a 4-year timeskip, Musashi goes to Kyōto where he fights against the Yoshioka swords. It is also here where Matahachi discovers Musashi fighting the students although neither one of them recognizes the other. Musashi takes several students but the area catches on fire due to Matahachi's carelessness, leading to the fight being postponed. Musashi is rescued by Matahachi and treated by Takuan. He decides to continue his training with a young boy, Jōtarō, wanting him to teach him. In Musashi and Jōtarō's arrival to the Hōzōin spears, Musashi's battles against the Hōzōin, escaping after being scared by Hōzōin Inshun. Its aftermath, Musashi briefly trains to prove his superiority over Inshun. Otsū's situation with the Yagyū, while Matahachi becomes famous while stealing the name of a famous samurai known as Sasaki Kojirō. Musashi and Jōtarō arrive to the Yagyū swords where the events while deliberating how to enter the Yagyū headquarters, where he meets the elder Yagyū Sekishūsai. Musashi's training, Matahachi and his family's troubles, the events directly leading to Musashi's fight against Shishido Baiken.
The story then reverts to 17 years before the story's start, featuring Kojirō's difficult upbringing with Jisai Kanemaki adopting him, standing out as a fighter despite being disabled. At his coming-of-age, Ittōsai returns dragging Kojirō to a night fight. He travels with Ittōsai and Gonnosuke with a brief encounter with Takezō at the battlefield of Sekihagara, their splitting, the situation of Sadakore's squad, the fights against the peasant groups, Kojirō's fight against Sadakore's squad. After Kojiro's arc ends, Musashi meets Kojiro again while playing with a snowman simulating a brief sword fight in the process. Musashi meets Matahachi who expresses jealousy over Musashi's achievements and apparent relationship with Otsu. This angers Musashi and leaves his old friend. Musashi then fights the 70 Yoshioka all alone. Although he kills all of them, one of them leaves him with a severe wound. The aftermath of Musashi's solo battle has him his return to wandering despite being offered the position of mentor. Meanwhile, Matahachi's mother passes away, leaving his son to tell the story of the manga. Musashi's new wandering leads him meet the orphan Iori, whom he decides to raise while dealing with a village with poor fields. Musashi, Iori and Toyozaemon's journey lead to Yūsai Hosokawa, while Otsū and Jōtarō's situation living with the Yagyū, and Kojirō deals with the Hosokawa.