Utsu no Miko  

宇宙皇子, Utsunomiko: Earth Chapter

During the tumultuous period of the Jinshin-no-Ran civil war in 762, a child was born who possessed a small horn on his forehead. His mother deemed him an "oni," or demon, and abandoned him. An elderly shūgenja woman took charge of the child and named him Utsunomiko, meaning "Divine Child of the Heavens." She informed Miko that his horn symbolized the union between heaven and earth. As he grew older, Miko learned about Shugendō in the wilderness and eventually began to venture into nearby villages out of curiosity. There, he discovered that the common people lived in poverty and suffering. Compassionate by nature, Miko used his spiritual powers to aid them. However, his rage towards self-serving rulers and their petty power struggles intensified until he confronted the Imperial Court directly. This marked the beginning of a long journey for Miko as he became an advocate for the oppressed.