Kuji

Kakita Hachi was a bushi of the Crane Clan who after he killed his lover shaved his head and became the monk Kuji.

Lion court
Hachi was sent to Matsu Ino's court, an ally of his lord Kakita Hojin. There he met the newcomer Shosuro Kujiko, a young beautiful Scorpion shugenja. Between all the samurai who begged her favor Hachi was the one selected, and they became lovers.

Ino's treachery exposed
Kujiko had been sent to find any way to gain influence over Ino. She run into the old strategy plans for a famous battle where died Ino's brother, Matsu Chonoku. There were significant discrepancies between the published report and the battle plans she had found, that had been written by Ino himself. It looked as if Ino sent his brother with erroneus information against Crane forces. She came to Hachi to substantiated her fears. Hachi told it to his lord, who had been the Crane daimyo who had won the battle against Chonoku. Hojin panicked commanded Hachi to kill Kujiko, because he had secretely bargained with Ino to kill Chonoku through treason.

Tragedy
Hachi took a venom from her secret compartment and poured it in the tea. After Kujiko drank it she fell and the corpse was passed to two eta, Norii and Tujii, who had to bury her. Hachi came to the temple where he and Kujiko used to meet, but he was surprised when his lover appeared bloody and wounded asking why he had killed her. Somehow Kujiko had not died and she confronted Hachi with her magic, but died pierced by Hachi's blade.

Monk
The events had trashed Hachi's will, who decided to shave his hair to enter in the local monastery as Kuji, to honor the lover he had murdered.