"How about it, Tanu-kun? When it comes to transformation, the two of us are the best in the world, but I wonder who's number one, you or my august self?"
The tanuki didn't reply, but just pointed at his own chest.
"What do you mean? You think you're the best transformer?"
"That's right," the tanuki said. Then they decided to have a changing contest.
Once that was decided, the fox didn't waste any time. "If I don't outdo that stuck-up tanuki," the fox thought, "it will be a disgrace to the ancient fame of us foxes."
Just then the fox noticed a memorial stone standing at the side of the road. So the fox stood right next to it and turned himself into a statue of Jizo-sama.
Before long, the tanuki came along. This tanuki had a curious habit-- whenever he saw Jizo-sama, he got hungry, and ate the lunch he was carrying. This day was no different.
"My, I'm hungry. I think I'll have some lunch."
The tanuki got out the lunch he was carrying on his back and took out some riceballs. He put one before the Jizo-sama as an offering, and bowed his head.
Perhaps he prayed "that the fox will be beaten in the changing contest." But when he raised his head and opened his eyes, he was taken aback. The riceball he had offered was no longer there. That was strange. Thinking about it, he wondered if perhaps he hadn't actually made the offering. So he very carefully put another riceball in front of the statue of Jizo-sama. He bowed his head, prayed "Namu Amida Butsu, namu Amida Butsu"/1 and raised his head right away. What? The riceball was gone!
"This just isn't right!"
The tanuki put one more riceball in front of Jizo-sama, quickly said "Namu Amida--" and raised his head before one could even be sure he had really lowered it. What he saw was Jizo-sama with a half-eaten riceball in one hand.
"Hey!" the tanuki yelled, and grabbed Jizo-sama's arm. What had been Jizo-sama turned back to its usual form, the fox.
"What's all this, Kitsune-san?" the tanuki asked.
"Now it's your turn," the fox answered. The tanuki thought a moment, and took back what was left of the riceball before speaking.
"About noon tomorrow I'll change into the lord from the castle and come by here, so watch closely."
And so the fox was waiting there the next day. Finally he saw the lord's procession coming toward him.
First came the sweepers yelling "Down! Everybody down!" After that came a long line of samurai, and then the basket in which the lord was riding. The fox was filled with admiration, and ran over to the lord's basket without even thinking to change into human form.
"Lord Tanu, lord Tanu," he called, "you have beaten me."
However, the procession was not a transformation by the tanuki at all; it was the real thing. And so one of the samurai carrying a staff came over to the fox. The fox was beaten indeed, and severely.