"The Sword Wind, Chapter 6 - Duel Before the Shogun, Part 3"
Juzo's first meeting with the Monk is told in this story.
One Spring, as the Monk was travelling through the still snow covered mountains, he was attacked by a bear. The bear's growl triggered an avalanche that swept both it and the Monk toward the valley, where they were discovered by Juzo. Juzo took the Monk to his home, where his wife attended to the Monk's wounds.
In the fields, the local villagers were attending to the Spring planting. Two of the Han's Samurai came racing onto the scene. When one of the villagers asked the Samurai to stop before they ruined the planting, the Samurai attacked the villager. Seeing what was happening, Juzo confronted the Samurai, defeating one and forcing them both to flee.
Healed of his wounds, the Monk prepared departure. Before leaving, he warned Juzo to be careful not to fight anyone stronger than himself. That same day, several ruffians attacked one of the village girls. Juzo rushed to her defense and would have been defeated if not for the assistance of the Monk. Realizing that the Monk's skill was far greater than his own, Juzo asked the Monk to train him.