Having received a letter saying "We are being attacked by the youkai Mannendake," Kitaro travels to a bamboo grove deep in the mountains. The owners of the bamboo grove, a married couple, Masahiko and Kiyomi, Kubota from the tourism association, and Ratman are waiting for him. They wanted to turn the bamboo grove into a tourist spot, but they say that the former owner of the grove, Daikichi, as well as others, have gone missing. As soon as Kitaro steps foot in the grove, he senses youkai energy. A warning to humans is written in blood in the grove, but the study in Daikichi`s mansion within the grove is full of bamboo leaves... Suddenly, Masahiko falls silent. When they turn to look, Masahiko has been turned to bamboo...!?