I hope you give us your best regards in the future as well...
I guess you could say we are supporting each other...
It seems that way...
Who the hell are you?
Monsters that abuse your power to fulfill your greed...
...we, the Jinpuu Squad, bring you divine retribution.
Wha...
S-S-Someone!
Who the hell are you guys?
W-Wait...
How much...
How much do you want?
Foolish question.
It sure is creepy...
So what is that Jinpuu Squad thing?
It's a group of assassins that have been attacking...
...high-ranking government officials and big-name politicians.
But those who have been killed were all suspected of embezzlement...
...so many people out there treat the Jinpuu Squad like bringers of justice.
Of all things, they're killing people.
They have no right to be bringers of justice.
That's right!
The sword that protects people, like in the Kamiya Kasshin Style...
...is the sword of justice!
Oh?
Yahiko, you say something good once in a while.
You didn't have to add "once in a while."
Now everyone, it's time for snacks.
Dear Ken, little Ayame, little Suzume, come quickly.
Okay!
It's time for snacks, Big Brother.
Let's go, let's go!
Now, now.
Whew, this is great!
Yeah, really!
The sweet potatoes you steamed are really delicious, Miss Megumi!
Oh, yes.
Thank you, Miss Megumi.
Oh, dear Ken.
Don't you think it really suits Miss Kaoru to be eating potatoes like that?
...just like a fashionable country girl.
What is it?
What are you laughing about, Sanosuke?
M-Mr. Sano!
Is Mr. Sanosuke around?
Mr. Sano!
I'm sorry I barged in here like this.
Hey, it's you, Professor.
You look strung out, what's wrong?
This child from my school suddenly got a stomachache...
I-I remember hearing that you know a doctor, Mr. Sano...
Unfortunately, Doctor Gensai is not here...
Grandpa is on a business trip far away.
Not here!
I-I see...
If you'll excuse me...
He doesn't seem to have a fever...
Miss Kaoru!
Y-Yes?
Can you get a futon ready?
Dear Ken, go boil me some water, please!
I-I'll go do that!
B-But...
Professor, this woman doesn't look like much, but she's a doctor...
A... A lady doctor?
I won't say anything about her personality...
...but I'll vouch for her medical skills.
Sanosuke!
Stop jabbering and help me lay this child down!
Don't be so assuming, wench!
C-Come on now...
Fighting does no good, Mr. Sano.
Don't worry about it.
They're just being playful.
Hey, did you say something, Yahiko?
Now, over here, quickly.
Thank you...
Ouch!
It seems he had an upset stomach, but it's all right now.
If he sleeps for a bit, he will be better soon.
You really saved me.
I don't know what to say in thanks...
Shall I look over you too, Professor?
Professor, you look a little pale...
It's all right.
It's only that I haven't had much to eat...
I am just a poor man, you know...
Oh...
That boy is all right now.
That's good, that it is.
Good, good!
So, the Professor is the teacher at that school.
Yeah.
He lives on the same block I do.
Apparently, he used to be a samurai.
I never asked how he ended up in the Ruffian Row House, though.
A while back, he would be nothing but a poor errant samurai.
Living day to day on odd jobs and temporary work...
...he opened a free school...
...and teaches the neighborhood kids how to read and write.
How noble of him.
Something wrong, Kenshin?
No...
I feel like I've met him before...
No...
I'm sure it's just my mistake.
A skilled assassin... was it?
From now on, as the importance of the target's name increases...
...the security will become heavier...
It will not be as easy as before...
As the Jinpuu Squad, we need to reinforce our troops.
Isn't there anyone?
An assassin who became legendary in Kyoto...
...like Battousai the Manslayer...
Is that too much to ask in this day and age, the Meiji era?
I have one lead...
Oh, so there is one?
If his skills haven't wasted away, he might be equal to the Battousai.
All right.
I will leave it up to you.
Yes.
Kenshin, what's for dinner today?
Well...
We have good daikon radish today.
We can stew it with mountain yams, and stir-fry the leaves.
It's pretty tasty that way, that it is.
What?
Is something the matter?
Isn't that the teacher from yesterday?
Hey Professor, why don't you call it a day and rest with us?
We still have more to do tomorrow, so don't work so hard.
I'll be done with this in just a little bit...
It's just like what Sanosuke said...
He is a very noble one, that he is.
W-What is that guy?
I'd expect nothing less...
Who is it?
It has been a while, Mr. Sasaki.
You...
...Toma!
Toma Sakaki, is that you?
I am relieved.
It seems that your skills have not decreased at all.
You...
What in the world?
I will see you again soon...
...for what I want from you...
Excuse me...
A-Are you all right, Professor?
What in the world was that just now?
Kenshin...
Did you see that?
The teacher's thrust...
It was so fast I couldn't see it well...
That is the most advanced of the Hinoha lttou Style's final attacks...
The Shiden Blade.
Shiden Blade?
An assassin's strike that stabs at god-like speed...
...so the target doesn't even have time to try and block the attack...
...that he does not.
Who in the world is that teacher?
I've been on the receiving end of that blade once in Kyoto, that I have.
You, Kenshin?
It was much later when I learned that my opponent was Heihachirou Sasaki.
He was a sergeant in the Kyoto Patrol Group...
...a group of swordsmen...
...who were feared along with the Shinsengumi.
Then that teacher...
...used to be a swordsman who could duke it out with the Shinsengumi?
You really can't judge someone by their appearance...
I just can't stop drinking today, for some reason...
I guess I'll go have a drink with the teacher.
It's been a while.
Professor?
Who the hell are those guys?
I'm sorry about the other day, Mr. Sasaki.
Toma, what business do you have with me after all this time?
You were the Assistant Master when I was learning the Hinoha lttou Style.
I was only a fledgling...
It seems you have vastly improved in the time since I last saw you.
I am honored.
How many men have you slain in that time?
The way you carry your sword...
It seems you are an assassin who has tasted human blood...
A sword exists to slay humans...
Your sword should be the same as mine.
That assassin's sword...
...would you like to make good use of it once more?
An assassination...
The Imperialist government does not think much of us.
Yet, it is controlled by those who abuse their powers for profit.
To correct this rotten government...
...assassination is a necessity.
Will that change this world?
I will change it...
...with this sword.
I know you don't want to end your life like this, either.
How about it?
How about standing on the front stage in a beam of bright sunlight?
No matter what the reason...
...one who kills another man can bask in the sun?
Such idiocy should never happen!
What?
My current self, upon throwing away the sword...
...came across an irreplaceable treasure, the students at my school.
Using a few of my skills for those children is what I can do for the world...
...and that is my repentance to all the people I have slain.
Toma, I don't think I will see you ever again.
Wait!
The Jinpuu Squad never lets its prey escape.
The same can be said about you.
No matter what it takes, you will join us.
You're doing the same thing as Kenshin...
I have more respect for you now, Professor...
And the teacher?
Oh, he flatly told them no.
But, that sure was a creepy guy...
I don't know what else he's gonna...
Wait, Sanosuke!
Why can't you help out even a little?
Leave him alone, Miss Megumi.
If Sanosuke helped with the cleaning, we'd have a downpour...
...something so unlikely would disrupt the balance of nature.
Shut up!
Grandpa!
I'm home!
I just got back.
Welcome home, Dr. Gensai.
Everyone still the same?
I was worried about you too...
Good to see that you guys are all cheerful.
Grandpa, were you really that worried about us?
Of course.
You girls are my treasures.
My current self, upon throwing away the sword...
...came across an irreplaceable treasure, the students at my school.
The kids!
What's up with him?
I know!
He thought gramps would yell at him because he wasn't cleaning with us!
You idiot!
No matter what it takes, you will join us.
Professor!
I wrote them all down!
Oh, that was fast, Kikumatsu.
Now, let me see...
Sure!
Here.
Toma!
Our next target has been determined.
What?
Now...
I would like you to come with us.
Y-You...
Mr. Sanosuke!
Kikumatsu, what's wrong?
The Professor was taken away by a weird man!
What?
Which way did he go?
Towards Shinagawa!
Dammit, that bastard came over here after all!
Whoa, whoa!
Kitamura First-Rank Officer!
This is divine retribution!
What is going on?
I-It's the Jinpuu Squad!
What?
Hey!
What's wrong?
I-It's the Jinpuu Squad...
What?
Where are they?
Further ahead...
...on the outskirts of town...
Mr. Sasaki.
You can't go back now...
You can't throw away your sword.
Such is your destiny...
Wait!
Stop!
Stop it!
Professor!
M-Mr. Sano!
A schoolteacher shouldn't hold such a thing!
Who the hell are you?
What rotten bastards you are, threatening him through the kids...
For that, I, Sanosuke Sagara, will never...
...forgive you!
W-Wait, Mr. Sano!
Hey, man...
Don't be shivering over there, and stand up!
I'm sorry, but I can't be taking care of you anymore.
You'll have to take your life into your own hands.
Run!
Wait!
To confront the Jinpuu Squad with no weapons...
You have some nerve.
Who is it?
Kenshin!
I don't like the fact you drew a sword...
...against an unarmed man.
Your opponent...
...will be me.
Mr. Himura!
You make me laugh with that reverse-blade sword...
Interesting...
No one help me out.
Let's go.
Here I come!
It's coming...
...the Shiden Blade!
That sword...
I would like to fight you again when there won't be any interruptions...
Next time, I am positive that my sword will pierce your throat...
Kenshin!
That man uses the same sword style you did, doesn't he, Professor?
Mr. Himura, you...
I didn't win...
I was in a little danger as well, that I was.
Ten years...
They have gone by too quickly.
Mr. Himura...
You are the one that was Battousai the Manslayer?
I threw away my old name in Kyoto long ago, that I did.
Just like you threw away your sword, Professor...
Don't worry, Professor.
Kenshin and I won't let anyone mess with your decision.
Your hands are no longer meant to hold a sword.
They are valuable hands that teach children reading and writing.
Thank you!
Mr. Sano, I promise you...
No matter what happens, I will never hold a sword again.
That's good to hear...