Four hundred years ago, in the age of civil unrest in Japan, the Hokage Ninja was a strong ninja clan. When it was exterminated, a child was sent to the future using the time manipulation technique. The child appears four hundred years later in Tokyo as Hanabishi Recca. Thus starts the anime Recca no Honoo. Recca's mother, Kagero, was the one who sent him to the future. However, the time manipulation technique curses both people. Kagero is cursed by time for she cannot die and cannot touch her son. She lives through the four hundred years and finally finds Recca in the present.

She forces Recca to call out his flame, a technique inherent in Hokage leaders. She tells him that he must use his power to fight against another flame master, who will appear before him soon. She also instigates him to fight with Kirisawa Fuuko, whom she has given the Madougu, Fuujin, and Mikagami Tokiya, who has the Madougu Ensui in his possession. This was all to get the three of them stronger. Yanagi, the girl whom Recca sworn to protect as his hime, is captured by Kurei, whose father Mori Kouran wants Yanagi's power to heal. It is later revealed that Kurei is Recca's elder half brother, sent to the present with him. Kurei also can call out the flame.

The impending fight between the two brothers is held at the Ura Buto Satsujin, an underground fighting tournament. The competing teams are allowed any weapons and to kill their opponents. Kurei invites Recca and his friends to the tournament. They accept and fight many daunting opponents. The outcome of the tournament decides who the true Hokage leader is. Will it be Recca and his Karyu or Kurei and his divine flame, Kurenai?

This anime series is complete with 42 episodes. The manga has a total of 33 volumes as of now. I have up to volume 22 scanlated. The manga goes beyond the Ura Buto Satsujin, as it ends with volume 14, I think.