Song of the Samurai - Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo

Morning.

They're pickled just right.

Damn, this is good.

Sanosuke, you really have a knack

for knowing exactly when pickles are at their best.

Does it make a difference?

A guy like you will never get it.

Got it.

"Got it."

"Got it." Just kidding. It's a joke.

I said it was a joke.

He's going to kill me! Got it!

SONG OF THE SAMURAI

Kamo, what is it you want to discuss?

Our very own Niimi is connected to Choshu.

Saeki Matasaburo was a Choshu assassin, hired by Niimi.

Saeki was an assassin?

Right, and by the way...

Niimi killed.

Abiru Eisaburo, too.

What are you going to do about Niimi?

Not a damn thing. I knew all along and didn't do anything.

If that's true, then you're subject to punishment as well.

I don't care.

I'll cut you down right here and now.

If you want to kill me, you had better come at me with all you've got.

- Hey. - What do you think you're doing?

Sorry, this is my fight.

Gotten a little stronger, have we?

Take that!

Great!

Let me go! I said let me go!

You really are as strong as they say.

I like this.

I smell violence on you.

Right now, you might actually be worth cutting down.

Hey!

Boss!

If we're going to settle this here and now

then it only makes sense for me to be your opponent!

Don't get in the way!

Right now, you don't do anything for me.

What?

Hey, you heard me.

"Come at me with everything you've got."

When you're ready to get serious, come back then. Okay?

Aizu, too. I'll take you on anytime.

Thank you.

Hey, Kamo.

You really are one stubborn son of a bitch.

Takes one to know one, Boss.

I'm leaving now.

That was quite a surprise.

Why would Serizawa choose to go down with Niimi, knowing everything?

I just don't understand it anymore.

He's simply more honest than anyone else.

Honest?

That man...

All he has ever done is live his life searching for something

that would set his blood on fire.

In his own way, that man is also

a pure samurai.

Why did you get in my way?

When you drew your sword

it wasn't to take down Serizawa.

It was to protect me, wasn't it?

Did you think I was going to lose?

Yes.

You must have known that, too, Toshi.

Why did you try to cut Serizawa down?

For the good of the corps, obviously.

Don't play dumb.

You just wanted to fight him for your own satisfaction, didn't you?

Once you lose your head, it's over.

I've seen a man

go down that path before.

I don't want you

to end up like him.

But I still want that fight.

You'll die.

The weak die.

That's all there is to it, right?

That's who you are, Toshi.

Are you any different, Boss?

There's a strong opponent facing you.

And you want to risk your life to fight him.

You don't feel that?

Money?

Money... Money!

Lord Katamori is aware

that the imperial edict is a forgery that the Choshu plotted.

The information came from Satsuma.

Hey, Niimi.

Serizawa.

Looks like things are getting ugly for the Choshu, huh?

This is all for me, right?

Yes.

But now what?

What?

The truth is, I already told Katamori everything

that you were connected to Choshu and that you schemed with Kusaka

to take out Abiru and Aijiro.

By the way, Kondo and the others were there, too.

I bet they will come at you with everything they've got.

Serizawa.

Does this mean you've cast me aside?

When did I ever say that?

Then why?

I just want to see you go head-to-head with them.

I'm expecting some spectacular violence.

So you're really going to let Niimi handle this alone?

Knowing him

after he defeats them, he'll probably come for you next, don't you think?

I like that. That's awesome.

You see, when it comes to violence versus violence

the more you pit it against itself, the more refined it becomes.

And the most exquisite part...

I'll devour it myself.

Gets my blood boiling.

At the same time

the Aizu clan joined forces with the Satsuma clan

and completely sealed off the Imperial Palace.

The Mibu Roshigumi was also dispatched to guard the palace.

As a result of this coup d'état on August 18

the seven Sonno Joi nobles ruling the court

and the Choshu forces were expelled from Kyo.

Halt!

This is not a rout!

It is a strategic withdrawal.

Justice is on our side!

Mark my words!

The day will come when we return to the capital in triumph!

But there's one thing we should've taken, no matter the cost.

The head of Matsudaira Katamori.

After this political upheaval

the Mibu Roshigumi were officially tasked by Lord Katamori with patrolling the city

and were bestowed a new name.

That name

was the Shinsengumi.

MAKOTO

MAKOTO

We'll avenge Aijiro.

You're probably wondering what I mean.

This whole mess started because you killed Saeki.

Someone was pulling Saeki's strings from the shadows.

And that same person took Eisaburo's life.

What do you mean?

So...

What's with the formal assembly?

Yes, what gives? This is creepy.

I'm sorry for the wait.

- Nagakura! - Nagakura!

Sorry.

Everyone's here now.

We're going to discipline

the Shinsengumi vice-commander, Niimi Nishiki.

Tell us why.

Niimi Nishiki

is a traitor who was colluding with the Choshu.

And this letter

is the proof.

Niimi enlisted help

from Kusaka Genzui of Choshu

who sent Saeki Matasaburo, an assassin, from his clan

and plotted to annihilate our Kondo faction.

He murdered Sasaki Aijiro.

Furthermore

in order to spy on our movements and those of the Aizu

he used Abiru Eisaburo,

and once he was no longer useful

he murdered him.

How did you get your hands on that letter?

Someone as cautious as Niimi wouldn't let it be taken so easily.

It was Serizawa.

Serizawa told us everything.

So, Serizawa sold out Niimi?

What for?

He's probably just enjoying it.

He wants to see what happens if he pits us against Niimi.

He doesn't even care if it puts his own life on the line.

That's the impression he gave me.

What is wrong with that guy?

That doesn't matter right now.

Vengeance for Eisaburo and Aijiro.

Niimi will be cut.

End of story.

Hajime is right.

However...

To be blunt, our chances of winning are practically zero.

How come?

If the Shinsengumi splits into two

most of the men will likely side with them.

And I hear Niimi is using money

to hire unemployed Imperialist Ronin and bandits.

Even a conservative estimate puts them

at 150.