Bakumatsu

They're in sight, Katsura.

You ready?

Now to really show them something interesting.

Outbreak of the Susanoo Incident The Other Bakumatsu!

Huh? Where's Yamazaki today?

Out on secret orders from Yoshinobu-san.

No one said anything to me, Hijikata-san.

Soji, are you familiar with the Murakami Navy?

Kondo-san...

They're the pirates who

wreaked havoc on the Seto Inland Sea hundreds of years ago, right?

The shogunate's navy has succeeded in retrieving a legendary treasure

from one of the sunken ships from that navy.

Legendary?

What kind of legendary treasure is it?

It grants riches,

manipulates time,

and allows one to rule the world.

Rule the world?

But does something like that really exist?

Who knows?

More importantly, the Murakami Navy is under the control of the Choshu.

Hopefully there won't be any trouble from those thugs.

Shinsaku, this plan is nuts. Let's try something else.

Are you scared, Katsura?

When else can we do this?

This isn't the right time!

Have you forgotten?

Master Shoin always said that we have to strike while the iron is hot.

The Choshu believe that now is not the time to aggravate the situation.

Besides, there's no way this legendary treasure actually—

But wouldn't it be cool if it did?

It wouldn't be so fun using it to rule the world, though.

One has to take the world for himself.

That's why I'm gonna get my hands on it and destroy it.

Wait, Shinsaku!

As it stands, the Tokugawa have truly fallen if they're relying on legends.

Have you checked what's inside?

I am under strict orders not to open it.

What's the matter, Susumu?

We have two rats.

Stay here, Yoshinobu-sama.

Intruders!

They found us rather quickly!

This way!

Don't just run away! We gotta break through the center!

Even you don't have enough lives for that.

Guards, hurry!

Wait!

There they are!

Get them!

Wait!

Damn it!

Why, you!

Curses.

Mysterious are the ways of humans.

This is definitely that legendary treasure.

Who are you?

Imperial loyalist patriots from Choshu. The name's Takasugi Shinsaku!

And this is Katsura Kogoro.

Hey! Don't tell them who we are!

Katsura...

Strip.

Wha?!

Wait, Shinsaku! Don't be hasty!

Yoshinobu-sama, this way!

Put it out! Get some water! Protect Yoshinobu-sama!

Curse those Choshu bastards!

That's why I told you to strip.

They found us!

Time to get the heck out of here!

I'm opening it.

What is it?

It's a pocket watch.

Definitely not something you see often in Japan.

Who are you?

I'm not gonna let you have it!

Shinsaku!

What was that about?

There are those in the world whose bodies may be alive,

but their spirit is dead.

On the other hand, there are those

whose souls will remain even when their bodies are gone.

You have to keep living even if your spirit is dead.

Hold on to your ambition.

Momma!

Where's Katsura?

You're finally awake.

You had me worried, Shinsaku.

Their boats were destroyed by foreign ships, so they can't go fishing anymore.

So that's why they were making umbrellas.

We won't get off scot-free now, even if we go back to Hagi.

Well, we did ignore orders and sneak onto a shogunate vessel.

I had a dream about Master Shoin.

He's probably scolding us disappointments from beyond the grave.

Let's go to Kyoto, Katsura.

Kyoto?

Yoshinobu is in Kyoto.

Master Shoin also said that one shouldn't be afraid

of being different for your ambition's sake

or deceived by common opinion.

For my ambition, I will go through with things regardless of what people say.

Here's your kake-soba.

We added some kamaboko, too.

Thanks a bunch!

Gramps, I'd like some tanuki-soba.

Sure thing!

The Shinsengumi...

Don't be such a worrywart.

They don't know what we look like.

What are we going to do now?

Was it really the shogunate that stole the treasure?

No clue, but we'll figure it out when we get there.

Get where?

Nijo Castle, where Yoshinobu is. Duh.

Are you insane?

How are we going to do that?

By going through the front door, obviously.

Yo!

Halt!

Who goes there?

I am Hijikata Toshizou, Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi.

And I'm Commander Kondo Isami.

We'll be going through, then.

W-Wait!

Intruders, capture them!

Not this crap again!

Whoops! This way, Katsura!

Where are they?

Where did they go?

Come out, come out, wherever you are, Yoshinobu!

There they are!

This way!

We can't make any moves like this.

Things always end up like this when I'm with—

Katsura!

Owie...

Who's that?

Look, Shinsaku.

Is he a criminal?