Funaba was a ronin who wandered the Empire. He use to kill bandits and the pleased villagers gave him shelter. In 1172 he decided to give up his sword and to join the Brotherhood of Shinsei in the Temple of Kaze-no-Kami. The head of the temple, Shumai, had to choose between a multitude of applicants and Funaba was not selected. Funaba's sadness was replaced with joy when K'mee, the nezumi monk companion of Tanari, told him that his path was not to be a monk, but to be a hero for the villagers he used to defend.