 Hikita Bungoro was the nephew of the famous swordsman Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, in which they were both very well versed in the ways of bujutsu.Another famous swordsman by the name of Yagyū Muneyoshi (the father of Yagyū Munenori) had seen the superb skills set by Hidetsuna.Following this Hōzōin In'ei, the head monk of the Hōzōin temple in Nara, arranged for a duel between Muneyoshi and Hidetsuna.