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Synopsis

During Japan's Nara era, a talented sculptor departs to locate the inspirational subject for his ultimate work: the fabled immortal Phoenix. Along his route he encounters Gaou, a one-eyed, one-armed outlaw whose hardened resentment toward the world leads him to assault and steal from the kindly artisan. The episode becomes a forgotten wound as years pass. Later, the sculptor must relinquish his long-held aspiration for a new commission, while Gaou suffers an abrupt reversal of fortune. These separate turns of fate steer both men into roles that set them against one another. The story examines how actions and their repercussions shape lives, following two figures who are ultimately compelled to face the consequences of their decisions without revealing future outcomes.