Hironori Nagao was a samurai of Clan Nagao. He was a student of the master archer Sensei Ishikawa, whom he learned the "Way of the Bow" from. Disaster struck when Hironori used the technique for malice and attempted to take over the clan. Despite the advantage the Way of the Bow had given Hironori, his rebellion was ultimately crushed and he was slain by the other Nagao samurai, but not before he had killed many of the clan's finest warriors.
After Hironori's death, Clan Nagao decided to fabricate a story in which Hironori died honorably fighting bandits, aiming to preserve the clan's legacy. Ishikawa, having been Hironori's master, was blamed by Clan Nagao for his student's treachery, though allowed him to peacefully resign from their service.