During feudal Japan, a mysterious plague strikes a village, killing all of its inhabitants. When a team of ninjas goes to investigate, a hideous (I do mean hideous; he makes Cologne look like a beauty queen) monster slaughters every member, save one female ninja.Enter Jubei, a ninja without a master who offers his services for hire to those with money or a noble cause. When he stumbles upon the female ninja being raped by the monster, he intervenes, saving her life. Jubei is quickly drawn into a complex web of intrigue (I've always wanted to say that) involving an ambitious overlord, the Japanese government, and his own past. Of course, there's always the Eight Demons who want to see him dead before he discovers their plans.<br />