Ten years before the reappearance of the Shikon no Tama and Kagome's appearance in Sengoku Jidai, the lands were caught in many wars. These were between the neighboring prefectures, run by different Daimyous (feudal lords.) It was about this time that a legendary army of seven men known as the Shichinin-tai came to be known.

These seven were hired out by Daimyous for various reasons and went from war to war seeking work. In short, they were mercenaries, but their skill reached far beyond that. Having not only a powerful young leader, the seven-man army had six other skilled fighters. These men were so strong, they were rumored to be "stronger than a thousand men combined" and due to that power, they were betrayed.

Fearing their ever-growing strength, several Daimyous set up a trap for the Shichinin-tai. They were cornered, chased into the mountains and finally, in an abandoned snowy hilltop village, they met their end. All decapitated and buried at that Shichinin Graves (a move to appease their spirits.) Ten years later, the grave was split open and rumors of their zombies began.

This was thanks to Naraku, who fled to the mountains in order to use Hakurei's barrier to hide him while he regathered himself. He had reawakened Bankotsu and given him Shikon shards to restore the lives of his six men. In return, the Shichinin-tai was to fight and kill off those that opposed Naraku- namely InuYasha's group and Kouga. The Shichinin-tai held off most of them, although in the end they all returned to the grave. By that time, Naraku was fully prepared and ready to bother everyone again.