Long ago, there was a tiny village known as Kamiki village.
Kamiki village was home to its proud and beautiful Sakura trees.
Each and every tree in the village was honored as a God.
However, many dark secrets were brewing in the village.
An eight headed beast that lives in the cave would terrorize the village.
The beast's name was none other than Orochi (おろち).
Ever year, an annual festival would be held and a young beautiful maiden would be offered to the 8 headed beast.
The beast it self, Orochi was said to have a body the size of a mountain and necks as long as tree trunks.
The eyes of the beast we're said to curse anyone, in fact, no one dared to disobey this deadly beast.
When the night of sacrifice was looming closely over the village, a white wolf seemed to appear outside the village.
The wolf had a coat said to be as bright as snow, this wolf's name was Shiranui (しらぬい).
The wolf watched over the village, making sure no one left the village, it even patrolled the village at night as well.
However, even though this wolf had good intentions in mind, people thought the wolf was a familiar of Orochi.
There was one villager though who decided to take it upon himself to face the wolf, Shiranui.
This Warrior's name was Nagi (なぎ).
Nagi tried many times to challenge the wolf, but every attempt seemed to fail due to how fast and graceful the wolf's movements were.
Eventually, the dreaded night came, the night of the festival.
A white arrow pierced the sky as it hit the home of who the sacrifice would be, Nami (なみ), the most beautiful maiden in the village.
Seeing this only enraged Nagi, he refused to let Orochi come in between the way of his secret love for Nami.
With this determination, Nagi decided to put an end to Orochi once and for all, and traveled to the cave where the beast lived, the moon cave.
As Nagi stood before the entrance, he knew he would be getting himself into a battle he may not survive, but this was for Nami, if he could, he would put a stop to the beast, no matter the costs.
Once he went in, Orochi appeared, eyes glowing red, with 8 necks, all waiting to tear Nagi to shreds.
Orochi stood highly before Nagi, eager for another sacrifice.
Nagi leapt into the air, swinging his blade at the monster ever so valiantly, slashing and slicing on into the moonless night, but to no avail.
Orochi's hide was like steel, all of Nagi's attacks didn't even put a dent in the monster.
Unfortunately, Nagi's energy was spent from the intense battle, as he dropped to his knees, gasping for air, he knew that this would be how he would die, staring death in the face.
However, it was at that moment that the wolf appeared.
Seeming to protect Nagi, the wolf stood its ground before Orochi.
Even in the darkness of the moon cave, Shiranui's white coat illuminated the cave.
Baring it's teeth and fearsome claws, Shiranui leapt at Orochi as Orochi readied itself for the battle.
The wolf and beast struggles against each other, however, the wolf was able to summon gusts of divine wind to counter Orochi's flames.
Even when Orochi tried to close in on the wolf, a tree seemed to suddenly sprout forth, protecting the wolf.
Shiranui fought with all its strength to gain the upper hand, however, Orochi, protected by a mystical power was not that easily bested.
Shiranui, covered in wounds at this point, coat dyed in blood, stood exhausted before this mighty beast.
With a chance to strike, Orochi went in for the final blow, however, with the last of Shirainui's strength, the wolf gazed up into the air, letting out a howl, making the black clouds above them leave, as the moon appeared, the light from it radiating Nagi's sword, like a beacon of hope.
Guides by the sword, Nagi came out of the shadows as he stood proudly to face Orochi.
Focusing all his strength into his wounded arms, he leapt toward Orochi, sword held high, as he chopped off the heads of the beast.
The beast's broken body collapsed in a lake of its own blood, it was in that instant that the curse that had always plagued the villagers was lifted.
As the sun once again began to shine in the sky, Shiranui sadly had already given in to Orochi's poison, struggling to breathe.
Nagi picked up the wolf, holding it in his arms as he returned to Kamiki.
Unfortunately, as they reached the village, Shiranui was no longer moving, as the village elder gently stroked the wolf's head, Shiranui let out one and its final bark before soon closing its eyes for good.
Peace had finally returned to Kamiki village, in fact, to honor the wolf that helped Nagi slay Orochi, a shrine and statue with Shiranui in it was made.
Nagi's sword, Tsukuyomi (つくよみ), was placed inside the moon cave.
The villagers looked forward to an age of endless peace, however, this isn't the end of the story just yet.
There is more this story than most people know.
After 100 years have passed after the night that Orochi was slain by the great Nagi and Shirainui, something that would change the village seemed to happen almost instantly, no one could even take notice of it either.
A man walked up the resting place of the sword, Tsukuyomi, and released it, releasing Orochi from its grave and upon this world.
The revived Orochi looked down into the mysterious man, telling him to utter the world's, 'I wish darkness upon these lands' however, the mysterious man seem to only run away, enraging the beast.
With Orochi revived, the beast got to work, destroying the beautiful land of Nippon.
However, one village was spared from the tragedy, Kamiki village.
The village was protected by the great tree that always keeps them safe.
The Goddess who lives inside the tree, protecting the village herself, Sakuya (さくや).
With the very little power that the wood sprite had, she summoned a divine instrument to revive the great wolf herself, Okami Amaterasu (おかみ あまてらす).
With divine light, beauty, and grace, Amaterasu awoke from her 100 year slumber, the mother and origin of all that is, Amaterasu, had awaken.
Sakura was pleased to see that the wolf was standing before her once again, it brought happiness to her as well, however, as Sakuya showed Amaterasu what has happened to Nippon while she has been asleep, something seems to interrupt their conversation.
Whatever it was found it's way in Sakuya's robe, tickling her as well, but she eventually managed to get it out.
"Ow, are you nuts?!"
The strange bug shouted, "Boy for a little thing you sure do make quite the fuss, I was just trying to make the conversation more interesting, that's all!"
Sakuya looked down at the little bug before soon asking, "Were you sleeping in my robe again, bug?"
"Bug, I told you a thousand times not to call me that, I'm a wandering artist, the name's Issun"
The wandering artist Issun was no bigger than a thumb, in fact, he seemed to continue on with his rant.
"I'll show you just great I am and it won't be long till your bowing before my great brush!"
As Issun three a drawing toward Amaterasu, the drawing covered her face, but she was still able to see the whole thing nonetheless.
"What do you think, even cuter than the real thing, no?"
Issun asked.
As Issun bounced his way onto Amaterasu, he landed on his nose before talking again.
"What's with you furball?"
He asked, "You look kinda in the dumps, actually, you look kinda familiar, oh I know, you look just like that statue of Shiranui"
Amaterasu only slobbered Issun with drool, but he broke free from her mouth as he jumped out, looking back at her infuriated.
"Whoa, what do you think your doing?!"
He yelled, "Are you crazy, a handsome guy like me should never be covered in wolf slobber, you'll regret messing with the great Issun, now don't make me use my prized sword against you, Denkomaru (でんこまる)!"
It was at that moment that a loud roar echoed throughout the place.
"W-Whats that growling sound and why is it so dark anyway?"
Issue was quite worried himself, but Sakuya had used all the power she could, but with the little amount she had remaining, she protected the village of Kamiki in a peach.
If the fruit were cut down from the tree, the village would be restored, but there was only one problem, the fruit was very high up, you'd need a special power to cut it down.
With saving the village being of a high priority, the only place Amaterasu could go was to the cave of Nagi.
If she could get there, maybe, just maybe, there'd be something there to help her learn how to cut down the fruit.
As the journey to the cave of Nagi began, the pair came across an Origin Mirror.
It is said that once your reflection appears on its surface, your memories will be stored in the mirror for all eternity.
As Amaterasu stored her memories in the mirror, she continued on her journey to the cave of Nagi.
However, an obstacle appeared in front of them, the bridge was destroyed, it was at this moment though that Issun explained to Amaterasu the spirits of the brush or rather showed it to her by painting in missing part of the broken bridge.
"Pretty cool don't you think, it's just a technique I've mastered called Rejuvenation"
Amaterasu listened to what Issun told her carefully, but it seemed though that these 13 brush gods were all part of the great deity, Shiranui, however, when Shiranui died, the power of the wolf was split into 13 brush Gods.
Even so with the bridge fixed, the highest priority right now is saving the village.
When they reached the river of the heavens, it seemed to only be such a small puddle, but upon checking the hill, as they look up in the night sky, there appears to be a constellation.
As Issun attempts to draw in the missing star of the constellation, it seems to fail, so instead, Amaterasu tries.
Seeming drawing the star on perfectly, a dragon emerges from the constellation to greet Amaterasu.
"Ah, why if it isn't Mother Amaterasu, I apologize for not contacting you sooner during these long years, having never forgotten you, I, Yomigami (よみがみ), god of restoration, have eagerly awaited this when we could again meet, while you were away, however, the 13 spirits of the brush that you used to posses, including myself, were scattered across this land and now lie in disarray, I became a constellation and have managed to survive until now, the time is here, it it is time for you to reunite all 13 techniques, your power is what is needed to restored the dried up riverbed of the heavens and renew the flow of glistening stardust."
As Yomigami's power was given to Amaterasu, she had now relearned rejuvenation.
As Amaterasu drew in the missing part of the riverbed, it suddenly appeared before her and Issun, a river of stardust, just like the original river of the heavens.
Before venturing on to the Cave of Nagi, Amaterasu came across an astral pouch.
It is said to eat anything and once it's full, if it's owner dies, the astral pouch will be emptied to revive its owner.
Amaterasu took it upon herself to feed the astral pouch, so in case if she were to ever die, it'd be there to revive her.
Once Amaterasu finally made it to the cave of Nagi, the statue's sword was completely destroyed, however, with her now found power, Amaterasu restored the sword.
With the sword restored, another constellation appeared before her, and as she did before, she drew in the missing star and summoned a rat from the constellation that wields a sword.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't mother Amaterasu, it's been a long time, but with all these monsters around, the only place I could hide at and be safe was in this shrine that was made to honor ancient heroes, if there is anything I may do to assist you in your endeavors, then I am at your service, please, as Tachigami (たちがみ) god of power slash, make good use of my sword, as it was designed to vanquish evil."
With the power slash technique, Amaterasu knew where she needed to go.
As she cut her way out of the cave of Nagi, she quickly ran down to where the peach was to cut it down.
As she finally made it back to the peach, with one stroke of her celestial brush, she cut down the peach, restoring the village.