Hikaru no Go, Vol. 9: The Pro Test Begins continues the journey of Hikaru Shindo, a young schoolboy, who encounters a haunted go board, leading to the possession of his consciousness by the spirit of Fujiwara-no-Sai, a master go player from the Heian era. Sai's presence awakens a previously untapped genius for the game within Hikaru, propelling him to pursue his newfound dream.

Driven by the desire to conquer the go world, Hikaru's ultimate goal is to challenge and defeat the esteemed go prodigy, Akira Toya. As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a compelling journey through the intricate and strategic world of go, a classic Japanese board game, as well as the trials and growth Hikaru experiences along the way.