Sixteen-year-old Tomasu lives in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual peple who have taught him only the ways of peace. But unbeknownst to him, his father was a celebreted assassin and a member of the Tribe, an ancient network of families with extraordinary, praetermatural skills. When Tomasu's village is pillaged, he is rescued and adopted by the mysterious Lord Otori Shigeru, who gives him a new name: Takeo. Under the tutelage of Shigeru, Takeo learns that he too possesses the skills of the Tribe. And, with this knowledge. he embarks on a journey that will lead him to his own unimahinable destiny....