A battle is set to commence in Tokyo: the Shaman Fight, a tournament occurring every five hundred years where shamans—individuals capable of commanding spirits—face off in combat. The winner of this contest becomes the Shaman King, the sole person able to contact and control the Great Spirit, thereby gaining the ability to reshape the world as they wish through its immense power. During a late-night walk, Manta Oyamada encounters his classmate, the carefree You Asakura, who invites him to go stargazing with some friends. To Manta's horror, these friends turn out to be ghosts from a local cemetery. However, Manta's possession of a rare sixth sense, which allows him to see these spirits, endears the boy to You. Consequently, when You discovers that his new comrade has been beaten up by a local gang, he decides to avenge him with the help of Amidamaru, a samurai ghost whose tomb was broken by the gang leader. Soon, Manta uncovers more about the world of spirits, including the Shaman Fight, in which his new friend You aims to claim victory.