In 16th-century Japan, Shinmen Takezou, a rebellious and untamed youth, departs his scornful village with his companion Matahachi in pursuit of a more significant existence. Joining the Toyotomi army to seek glory, their ambitions shatter with a brutal defeat at Sekigahara. Amid chaos, Shinmen faces betrayal and a wrongful accusation, marked as a criminal for a crime he did not commit. Saved from death by a compassionate monk, Takuan Soho renames him Musashi Miyamoto to elude authorities. Vagabond recounts the legendary journey of Musashi Miyamoto, once a seeker of unmatched skill in swordsmanship, who evolves into a wise warrior discovering the value of companionship, introspection, and life itself.