In Hyūga, Kamuyamato-Iwarebiko spoke with his elder brother Itsuse: “Where should we place our capital, so that we may rule this realm in peace?” They resolved to go east, and set out with a fleet.
Sailing by way of Tsukushi, Aki and Kibi, they reached Naniwa (modern Osaka) after several years. But on landing they met fierce resistance from Nagasunebiko, a chieftain of Yamato, and in the battle Itsuse took an arrow in the arm.
In pain the brother said: “We are children of the sun deity, yet we fought facing the sun. That is why we lost. Let us go round and strike with the sun at our backs.” They turned far to the south, but on the way Itsuse died of his wound.
Rounding the peninsula, they landed at Kumano, where the poisonous breath of a savage deity struck them down; even the prince lost consciousness. Then the sword Futsu-no-Mitama, sent down by Takemikazuchi into a local man’s storehouse, was brought to him. The moment he grasped it he awoke, and the savage deity fell of itself.
Lost in the steep mountains, they were met by a great crow, Yatagarasu, sent from the High Plain of Heaven. Following the crow over the ranges and winning local people to his side, the prince at last entered Yamato.
In the final battle with Nagasunebiko, a golden kite is said to have alighted on the tip of his bow, its radiance blinding the enemy. Having pacified Yamato, he built the palace of Kashihara at the foot of Mount Unebi and took the throne as Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor.