In the ancient age of the gods, before the boundaries between the heavens and the earthly realm of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni were permanently sealed, there lived a benevolent deity named Okuninushi, then known as Onamuji. He was a gentle soul, but his life was filled with immense suffering due to the intense malice of his eighty brothers, collectively known as the Yasogami. The Yasogami were fiercely jealous of Onamuji, particularly after he won the hand of Princess Yakami of Inaba by demonstrating true compassion to the Hare of Inaba. Driven by resentment, the jealous brothers plotted against him multiple times, successfully engineering his death through elaborate traps, including forcing him to catch a red-hot boulder disguised as a boar. Although Onamuji was resurrected each time through the healing interventions of his loving mother, Kami-Musubi, and the goddess of the hearth, his mother realized that his life would never be safe on the surface world as long as the Yasogami hunted him. She advised her beloved son to flee the earthly realm and seek sanctuary in Ne-no-kuni, the distant and mysterious subterranean land of roots, where the powerful and tempestuous god Susanoo-no-Mikoto ruled after his banishment from the High Celestial Plain.
Following his mother's advice, Onamuji descended into the depths of Ne-no-kuni, journeying through shadowed valleys, misty ravines, and damp caverns until he arrived at the imposing palace of Susanoo. The architecture of the palace was vast, built of heavy timbers that seemed rooted in the very bedrock of the world. As Onamuji approached the grand entrance, he did not find the fearsome Susanoo waiting, but instead encountered Susanoo’s beautiful daughter, Princess Suserihime. The moment their eyes met, a profound connection washed over them, transcending the dark and somber atmosphere of the netherworld. Suserihime was struck by Onamuji's gentle demeanor, noble bearing, and the sorrowful experiences etched upon his face, while Onamuji was instantly captivated by her grace, determination, and radiant beauty. They fell deeply in love at first sight, exchanging vows of devotion right then and there. Knowing the difficult nature of her father, Suserihime quickly ushered Onamuji inside and went to announce his arrival to Susanoo, introducing him proudly as a handsome and noble deity from the land above.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, however, was not easily impressed by the young visitor. He looked upon Onamuji with a critical and cynical eye, dismissively referring to him as 'Ashihara-shiko-o', meaning the ugly or rustic youth of the reed plains. Rather than welcoming his daughter’s beloved, Susanoo decided to test the young god's worthiness through a series of deadly trials, fully expecting him to perish in the process. For the first night, Susanoo commanded Onamuji to sleep in a chamber entirely filled with venomous snakes. Appalled and terrified for her lover’s life, Suserihime secretly handed Onamuji a magical scarf that she had woven. She instructed him to wave the scarf three times whenever the snakes threatened to strike. When Onamuji entered the dark chamber, the serpents hissed and bared their fangs, preparing to tear him apart. Onamuji did exactly as the princess had instructed, waving the enchanted scarf three times. The magical vibrations of the scarf instantly pacified the serpents, causing them to lower their heads and fall into a peaceful slumber. Onamuji slept soundly through the night, and when Susanoo opened the chamber door the next morning, expecting to find a lifeless corpse, he was shocked to see Onamuji standing unharmed and refreshed.
Furious at this survival, Susanoo immediately prepared a second, more dangerous trial. He ordered Onamuji to spend the following night in a chamber swarming with centipedes and venomous wasps. Once again, Suserihime came to Onamuji’s aid, slipping him another enchanted scarf specifically designed to repel stinging insects and crawling pests. When the centipedes crawled from the shadows and the wasps swarmed in the air, Onamuji waved the second scarf three times. Just as before, the magic worked instantly; the wasps dispersed to the corners of the room, and the centipedes retreated back into the cracks of the walls. Onamuji emerged from the chamber the next morning completely untouched, further frustrating the formidable ruler of Ne-no-kuni.