Akanemaru, a master stonecarver, leaves home to seek the spark for his greatest work—the immortal Phoenix. On his path he encounters Gaou, a one-eyed, one-armed brigand. Though Akanemaru greets him kindly, Gaou—who harbors a deep hatred for the world as a ruthless outlaw—attacks and robs him. The clash fades into memory, yet the scar remains. Years later Akanemaru is forced to accept a new commission and abandon his dream, while Gaou suffers sudden misfortune—a twist of fate that reshapes both their destinies. Neither realizes that destiny will bring them together again, this time as rivals. Their paths, once divergent, now intertwine in a dance of ambition and vengeance. In the quiet villages of Nara, whispers of their deeds echo through generations in the twilight. Set in Japan"s Nara era, Hi no Tori: Houou-hen examines the fragile balance between action and consequence as it follows two men confronting the weight of their choices.
Madhouse Studios 
Tezuka Productions Japan