He is a friend of Hikage's but is sent after him when Hikage turns against the wishes of the Takeda lord. Two ninjas are standing on a battlefield littered with corpses. One collapses, his body convulsing. He runs his hands through the bloodsoaked mud on the ground and suddenly lashes out at his brother, Hikage, who is standing next to him. Hikage pauses to ask the first, a redhead named Maro, if he is alright, then leaves.
Some time passes.
Hikage is told to go after Maro, who has disappeared, to keep him from revealing the truth about the Takeda Katsuyori's death. He is told to show Maro no mercy. Hikage accepts his assignment and leaves. Hikage is sitting on top of a mountain, eating. His eye is patched up.