Heaven's net is wide displays Otori
Shigeru's story before he found takeo. (one of the characters in the earlier books of
the triology). The story describes the battles between the weak otori clan who rules the middle country and also notes the rise of the tohan clan which are gathering their power together to rebel.
A battle takes place and the victim left is
shigeru who vows to take revenge for his clans.
At the same time but in a remote village elsehere, a gifted boy is born who posesses
supernatural skills and talents which were inherited from his father. Who is said to be one of the most deadliest assassins of the Tribe. (the tribe is a clan which possesses supernatural powers and is hidden from society and shunned by people for being weird.)
The tale takes us to the beginning of Acorss the nightingale floor where otori shigeru meets takeo and then takes him under his guidance.