Takeo was a boy who just passed his gempukku when he went to fly kites with his sister during an Iris Festival. When running the kite along, Takeo struck a man, who exposed as a tsuru, a crane spirit, proud and boastful. He was angry at Takeo for running into him, and he threatened to cut him down. His sister cried, and a young samurai named Konatsu shouted that the tsuru was a coward for threatening a boy. The Tsuru challenged him to a duel, and demonstrated its skill as duelist killing the samurai with ease.