Armed with the power to control flame, Recca Hanabishi finds himself in an awkward situation when a mysterious older woman pops into his life one day. Is she good? Is she evil? What exactly does she want with the young ninja firecracker? Becoming a ninja is just a childhood dream for16-year-old Recca, until a fateful encounter reveals he has inherited ninja powers, including the ability to wield fire! As Recca learns to master the ancient ways of his ancestors, he is drawn to protect a mysterious girl named Yanagi...
At the heart of Heaven or Hell, the reborn Kôran Mori splits into two entities, each meaner and uglier than the other. Worse, Recca gets his first look at the kidnapped Yanagi, now stripped of her memories and in the thrall of Mori's mind control. Things don't look good for the forces of non-evil, but with the help of the eighth Karyu (a.k.a. Dad) and the immortal ninja Kagerô (a.k.a. Mommie Dearest), Recca just might be able to break through Yanagi's brainwashing and turn the tide of battle!