Genbanojō leads the Natsugawa Genzaemon Troupe, a traveling entertainment group performing in Kikyōgahara within Shin Province. During one show, a local girl named Hana offers him oyaki, his favorite food. His enthusiastic reaction triggers an involuntary transformation into a fox, exposing his true nature and revealing that his companions O-Natsu and Shinzaemon are also foxes disguised as humans.

After this revelation, Genbanojō bargains with Hana for her silence, promising one wish in return. Hana requests that her great-grandmother Chiyo, whom she calls Granny, see cherry blossoms. Genbanojō accepts and fulfills this wish.