Sword of the Stranger

Sword of the Stranger Japanese , Hepburn Sutorenjia Mukhadan? , Stranja Mukhadan is a 2007 Japanese anime film directed by Masahiro And and produced by animation studio Bones. The film follows Kotaro, a young boy who is hunted by a group of swordsmen from Ming Dynasty China for mysterious reasons. Among the group is a fearsome Western fighter named LuoLang, whose only desire is to find a worthy opponent. Kotaro and his dog meet Nanashi, a nameless ronin who is haunted by memories of his past which have led him to avoid drawing his sword ever again. When the Ming clash with a Sengokuera feudal lord, a proud general, and monks torn between faith and survival, the reason behind the Ming groups pursuit tests the bond between Kotaro and Nanashi.

Shortly after, in the province of Akaike, a group of Ming foreigners under the command of the elderly Lord Byakuran are escorted by Akaike liaisons through a mountain passage. They are ambushed by bandits, but are slaughtered by the Mings expert swordsman, Rarou.Kotarou and Tobimaru make their way across the land, briefly hiding out in a rundown temple in the mountains. In the temple, they run into Nanashi, a wandering swordsman whose sword is bound to its sheath. As Kotarou cooks a meal, smoke from his damp firewood alerts his pursuers, who turn out to be a Ming foreigner with Akaike soldiers. Nanashi, unintentionally gets involved and in the ensuing fight, is able to kill the men, but Tobimaru is struck by a venomous dagger. Nanashi starts to wander off again but Kotarou offers his gem, worthRy for Nanashi to save Tobimarus life and take them to their destination. ........

Source: Wikipedia