Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

I see.

So the mastermind behind Hajime Saito was you.

Former Revolutionary warrior from Satsuma...

and Home Minister of the Meiji government...

Toshimichi Okubo.

That said, I have no idea who that is!

Of course little kids who don't read newspapers wouldn't know.

Alongside Takamori Saigo and Kogoro Katsura,

he's the last of the Great Trio of the Revolution,

who achieved the most in the Meiji Revolution.

The leader of the Home Ministry that controls the entire government.

In other words, he's the minister who sits at the top of national power in Japan.

Sorry for the rough handling.

But there was a need for us to know your current strength.

Will you listen to us?

Yeah, even if by force.

Th-This has turned into a huge ordeal.

I didn't think someone as big as Okubo from the Home Ministry would show up.

It's no time to be talkin' about Battosai anymore.

Hmph. What a wet blanket.

I'll have to leave settling this score for our next opportunity.

Looks like someone escaped death.

Yeah, you did.

Saito!

Operations report!

Kenshin Himura is completely useless.

However, Himura Battosai seems to do fairly well.

That is all!

Sheesh, that guy.

He's the best spy in the Metropolitan Police.

But I just can't figure out what the Wolf of Mibu is thinking about!

Himura, come with me.

Stop daydreaming.

I'm not the only one that got roped into—

Kenshin?!

I'm not the only one roped into this situation, that I'm not.

Everyone here will listen to what you have to say.

"I"...

Oh...

I'm so glad! You're back to your normal self, Kenshin!

Oro...

- Miss Megumi, hurry! - Sir Okubo...

- What are you doing, you idiot! - Let's do as he says.

Right now, I need Himura's power more than anything else.

Kenshin!

How long are you gonna be a stupidly powerful girl?

Oro...

You say that, but...

MEIJI 11, MAY 14TH By NaShWaN AL-YeMeN 2023

Himura, I'll cut to the chase.

Shishio is active behind the scenes in Kyoto.

You went so straight to the point that I don't get it, Mr. Okubo.

Who the hell is this Shishio guy?

Hey! Watch your tongue!

Makoto Shishio.

After I accepted the role of mercenary swordsman

and came out into the limelight from the shadows,

another Revolutionary warrior from Choshu took over the role of Shadow Hitokiri.

You could say he is the successor to Hitokiri Battosai, that he is.

As he completely stayed in the shadows, very few know of his existence.

Even I, his predecessor, have never met him in person, that I haven't.

But what does this mean, that is?

I had heard Shisho died ten years ago during the Boshin War.

I see.

Shishio didn't die.

His existence was eradicated by his comrades, that it was.

Secretly snuffing out the one executing shady deeds

that can't ever be leaked for our own safety.

Back in those days, it wasn't anything unusual.

Makoto Shishio had just as much talent as you in sword skill and in quick wits.

But he was also a dangerous one

with incomprehensible levels of ambition and desire for domination.

He accepted the role of Shadow Hitokiri

only to display his talent and existence to the world.

Some of the assassinations Shishio committed

would overturn the Meiji government from its foundation.

If we were to ring in the new era with Shishio still alive,

he would take advantage of such weakness and become arrogant

We might even end up with the entirety of Japan

becoming a plaything for just Shishio.

That's why you killed him in the chaos of the Boshin War, that you did?

Right. We definitely killed him.

We even had oil poured on his corpse and lit it on fire.

However, even with his entire body engulfed in flames,

Makoto Shishio was still alive.

And now he has taken a multitude of treasonous subordinates under his wing

to create a giant army

and has made a base in Kyoto to plot a war that splits this nation in two as revenge.

Countless squads we sent in to take him down have been eradicated.

You are the only one left that we can count on.

It's for the people of this country, Himura.

I want you to head to Kyoto once more.

In other words...

are you saying you want Kenshin to assassinate Makoto Shishio?

That's what it would mean, yes.

We will pay more than enough in reward.

On top of that, we will go outside the law

and overlook all of your previous illegal activities.

For instance, we can acquit Megumi Takani from her illicit sales of opium.

You've got to be kidding me.

If you're going to use me for negotiation, turning me into shackles for Ken-san,

I would rather choose the gallows.

Basically, all of this is because of your nasty doings, right?

And you want Kenshin to clean up your mess?

Ain't you askin' for a bit much?

Ignorant youngsters keep out of this!

The Meiji government is on the brink of extinction!

Filthy governments can go ahead and become extinct.

Though, I don't like how people living ordinary lives are troubled by all of it.

Without the prosperity of the Meiji government,

the people cannot be at peace, idiot!

And that's where you guys are being conceited!

If you keep spouting nonsense,

- I'll arrest you! - Try me, Mr. Huge Forehead!

I'm just a kid, so I don't get it too well.

But I can understand that if things had gone wrong,

Kenshin may have been eradicated just like Shishio.

Both then and now,

you guys are assassinating and eradicating for your own purposes.

All you old guys are a bit crazy.

Sir Okubo.

I understand that you are all in need of Hitokiri Battosai right now.

But the current Kenshin is a rurouni who refuses to kill.

We will never, ever let Kenshin go to Kyoto!

Are you all stupid?! Do you not understand just how dire the situation—

Stop it, Kawaji.

Think about it for a week.

In one week, on May 14th, I will come again to hear your answer.

Mr. Okubo.

You have gotten quite haggard compared to a decade ago.

It is far more difficult to establish a new era than to break an old one.

That's what this means.

I'm looking forward to a favorable reply from you.

Toshimichi Okubo?!

I'm gonna bail and head to Shanghai, where it's safe!

Got that?

There is a safer place to escape to than Shanghai.

A place called hell.

It seems all you Imperialists think you created the Meiji Era all by yourselves.

But we on the Shogunate side risked our lives

for the foundation of Meiji through the role of the losers.

I'm obedient to the government as a spy

so I can eradicate the mites that feed upon Meiji

as an obligation of the Shinsengumi who lived on into the Meiji Era.

Okubo or otherwise, if they drown in self-interest

and bring calamities to the people of this nation,

I will slay them under the doctrine of Evil-Immediate-Slaughter.

W-Wait. I can pay as much as you want.

You can own a dog with food.

You can own people with money.

But nobody can own the Wolves of Mibu.

A wolf is a wolf.

The Shinsengumi is the Shinsengumi.

And a hitokiri is a hitokiri.

Right, Battosai?

RUROUNI KENSHIN

MEIJI 11, MAY 14TH

There. Spotless!

- Hey. - Oro!

I thought I was going to die, that I did.

This isn't time to be leisurely doing your laundry.

What's your answer gonna be?

I say don't do such a shady deal.

The leader of the government that is addicted to personal gain

can't be trusted at all.

Sano, you really detest the Meiji government

from the bottom of your heart, that you do.

I do. Got a problem?

No. But if Sir Okubo was one that would be acting only out of self-interest,

Saito would have slain him long ago, that he would have.

That punk officer would have?

He's a government dog, ain't he?

Before he fought me, Saito definitely uttered the word "justice."

One who has sunken to become a dog in both mind and body

would never utter such a word.

That man is still one of the Wolves of Mibu to this day.

He bares his fangs of Evil-Immediate-Slaughter

in the darkness where the sun doesn't shine.