The beginning of the story takes place a long time ago, when DK Island was under colonization by an evil samurai army known as the "Bonsai Clan." Their leader, "Taifuun," is an oversized Japanese raccoon dog who rules with an iron fist. He sought out the Golden Banana of Donkey Kong Island, which would grant his army overwhelming power. He and his comrades eventually came across the all-powerful fruit, peeled it open, and took a shot of the juice within it. Enraged by the disrespect and power trip their oppressor had, the Kong Klan (who resemble the main Kong family for this game) started a rebellion against the Bonsai Empire and planned on taking back the island that they called home. A great war breaks out, and Taifuun and the leader of the Kong Klan rebellion go head-to-head in a reverse version of the DK arcade game, where the leader of the Kong Klan is dodging everything thrown at him. Eventually he makes it to the top, and the two leaders duke it out at the peak of the island. The Kong Klan leader succeeds in throwing Taifuun off the island into the shark-infested sea below. A grandfather, father, and son raccoon family (Taifuun's following generation) watches his defeat from afar and begins to go into hiding on DK Island along with the remaining or alive Bonsai Clan soldiers, waiting for their chance at revenge.
The story then cuts to an older version of the younger raccoon from the flashback now known as "Taikuun". Now older and stronger, he and the new generation of Bonsai Clan members are ready to come out of hiding and strike back against the inhabitants on DK Island. We then cut to Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie, Cranky, Funky, and Candy enjoying a beach party to celebrate the 525th anniversary of DK Island being free from the Bonsai Clan. All of a sudden, loud marching noises can be heard from different parts of the island along with some scary sounding war chants. The Kongs then come face to face with a huge army of raccoons, cranes, frogs, and koi fish all donning feudal Japanese styled attire. Taikuun then comes out from the shadows and challenges Donkey Kong to a battle, which ends up with him getting tossed around, the other Kongs intervining, and a Smash Bros. styled fight breaking out. Everything fades to black as we see Donkey Kong wake up to find his island ravaged and the Golden Banana in the hands of the Bonsai Clan as they sail off to their home in the Forgotten East. Enraged, DK and friends get ready to take down the evil shogunate and his crew of dishonorable samurai. Funky and Candy agree to stay on the island with the other animals/Animal Buddies to help restore it to it's former glory. Donkey Kong, Diddy, Cranky, and Dixie all hop in a Barrel Cannon, hijack a ship sailing to the island, and crash land on Bamboo Grove, starting their adventure
