During the Jinshin-no-Ran civil war of 762, a child was born with a tiny horn on his forehead amidst the chaos. Regarded as an oni, his mother abandoned him. But a wise shūgenja woman took him in and named him Utsunomiko, meaning 'Heavenly Divine Child' and explained that his horn symbolizes the merging of earth and sky. Utsunomiko grew up in the wilderness, studying Shugendō practices and eventually ventured into the nearby villages, only to discover their desolation and hardship. Using his spiritual abilities, Utsunomiko sought to alleviate their pain. Motivated by contempt for the self-centered ruling class and their petty machinations, Utsunomiko emerged as an inspirational figure to the oppressed, but this drew the ire of the Imperial Court, compelling him to become their sole defender.