Himura...
Hey, Himura!
It's noon already...
Hey, how about we eat soon?
Hey, come on!
Don't ignore me, dammit!
Ouch!
I lost at least five hairs!
It's your fault!
You're ignoring what I'm saying!
In the first place, why are we going through the forest?
You're still trying to shake me off your tail, aren't you?
If you're not, there's no harm in eating lunch!
It's not on purpose.
Plainly put, it's faster to go through the forest than to retrace our path.
By twilight, we will be back on the road...
But I do not intend to rest until then, that I do not.
As for lunch, you can eat while we walk.
I see, then, I will now...
And you, Himura?
Unfortunately, I don't have a lunch on me.
I see, but this is mine, so I won't give you any!
Yes, yes...
But, if you could tell me about Lord Aoshi's group, I'll share some with you.
That's all right.
I wonder where Lord Aoshi is, and what he's doing now...
And so, Hannya was the one who took care of me...
...even though it was Lord Aoshi I was stuck on!
There was also Shikijo the muscular macho guy, Hyottoko the fat guy...
...and Beshimi the dreary looking guy, and we all had a rowdy...
A pit viper.
That was dangerous.
Sheesh!
Here I am, talking about all of the guys!
Listen up!
Gee, it's all because you keep trudging along without saying anything.
I'm trying to make the atmosphere more comfortable...
And so, we were all having a fun trip together and stuff...
...I think I've told you this before, but I was left behind all alone in Kyoto.
I only have memories from when I was young.
But, the image of Lord Aoshi is still engraved into my heart.
I wonder how everyone is doing now...
I bawled and wailed at first when all of them were gone...
Do you think they'd recognize me...
Hey, dammit! Listen to me!
What?
Why are you just trudging along, parting the grass in front of you?
Is going forward more interesting than my story?
Hey, why are you taking the time to part the grass?
That makes it easier for you to walk, doesn't it?
He can lose me if he tries, but for me...
You know...
Their personalities are totally different...
But how he doesn't show his true feelings is a bit like Lord Aoshi...
I changed my mind.
I'm sure you're hungry, Himura.
I'll share this with you, after all.
But, just one piece.
Then, I will take just one.
Could it have...
A truth serum in it?
It doesn't!
Himura...
I just heard a sound...
Walk away from me, as quietly as you can...
Could it be?
Is it true that people are after you?
Just hurry up!
Damn, if they attacked now, Miss Misao would be involved in the fight!
I have no choice...
I have to attack first...
Wait!
Hold on, I am still a member of the Oniwaban group, you know!
I can at least be a little bit of help!
Himura!
Is he...
...dead?
No, but...
Do you have any last words?
It must be fate that I am overseeing your death...
I will do as much as I can, that I promise.
P-Please...
My younger brother...
...and my village...
...save them from Shishio's group...
Shishio!
This is it...
Oh, he came to...
Hey, you guys are...
That's right, where's my big brother?
Big brother?
When we found him, it was already...
Dammit!
Can you tell us what's going on around here?
What good will it do, talking to outsiders about it?
I'm heading to Kyoto to see Shishio, that I am.
I'm from Shingetsu, a village near here...
Two years ago, one of Shishio's henchmen suddenly arrived.
He immediately killed the policeman assigned to our village, and took over...
He kept killing each officer that was assigned to our village...
When the police finally stopped coming, Shishio's men arrived one after another.
And, our Shingetsu Village...
...was abandoned by the government.
Impossible!
Abandoned?
Isn't that too much?
Maybe they're just taking their time with their plans...
Then, what is this?
A new map of the area, my big brother brought it from Tokyo!
Look!
The name of Shingetsu Village is gone!
My big brother saw this, and realized something was wrong in our village.
He tried to save his family first...
...and was killed...
...by one of Shishio's henchmen, who directly controls the village...
...the guy named Senkaku!
I have to go back...
Dad and Mom, who didn't get away in time, are still in the village!
Now that my big brother is dead, I have to save them!
Big Brother, lend me your strength...
I will help you in place of your older brother, that I will.
Miss Misao, I trust you with this child.
I'll go with you!
No.
I will go to the village by myself.
Please wait here, that you will...
Nothing has been kept up at all...
It is just like a ghost-town...
Shishio visits this village once every six months.
I don't know why, but Senkaku controls the village just for that purpose.
And coincidentally, Shishio is visiting the village right now...
Senkaku should be at the mansion to welcome Shishio.
Now is the only chance to rescue my parents.
Hey, woman!
If you don't get closer, you'll lose sight of him.
Idiot, Himura isn't your ordinary guy.
He'd notice us if we came any closer.
Himura tries to put everything on his own shoulders...
I'm one of the Oniwaban group, so I definitely have enough strength to...
Just like the boy's brother, these bodies have been entirely carved up...
This is most likely the doing of the one named Senkaku as well...
Dad!
Mom!
You must be an outsider!
We can't let outsiders leave here alive!
Why did you kill them?
Their sons tried to escape from this village.
To punish them for the crime of their sons, Senkaku executed them.
Of course, we were the ones who hung them.
In other words...
...a warning to others.
Our great Lord Shishio won this land from the government pigs!
The right to live and die and the right to give and take...
...are controlled by Lord Shishio...
...or Lord Senkaku who is in charge of this village!
By order of Lord Senkaku, death is the only fate for outsiders!
Prepare yourselves!
You are the ones...
...who must be prepared...
Ordinarily, I would tell you to stand back if you don't want to get hurt...
But in this case, I won't let you do that...
I will beat down every last one of you!
Damn you!
You bastard!
Hey!
Come on now!
I know you're having a hard time, but this is no time to sit around!
Even if you cry, the dead won't come back!
For now, just stand back up!
Come on!
Death is the only...
...fate for outsiders.
Damn you!
Death is the only...
...fate for outsiders!
W-Who are you?
That guy...
I had thought that he had already headed to Kyoto...
What's he doing here wasting his time?
T-This cop...
Is he an acquaintance of Himura's?
Saito...
Why are you here?
It's business.
I sent one of my men here, and he reported that Shishio was in town.
Since it will be a while before the punitive force arrives in Kyoto...
...I took the time to drop by...
Although, I don't know where my man is now...
Could it be?
That boy's elder brother was a spy for the police?
Boy?
I see...
Eichiro Mishima was originally from here, Shingetsu Village...
I sent him, thinking he could get in without suspicion...
But most likely, he was found out...
And, he decided that the least he could do was protect his family...
A foolish man.
He should have waited for my arrival...
Wait a minute!
One of your men died!
Don't you think you're being cruel?
Hey, who is this...
...weasel girl?
Die!
I'll kill you!
Take this!
Kansatsu...
Now, now...
That's just his way.
If you get upset at every little thing, there will be no end to it.
But first...
Let's quickly get them down, and give them a proper burial.
That's true...
Wait!
You can't lower them!
If you bring them down without permission, and Senkaku gets angry...
...we village folk will have no chance.
We can't touch them until Senkaku allows us to take them down.
What are you saying?
They were friends from your village, right?
Even in this situation, you still are following the orders of that Senkaku?
If we go against Senkaku, death is certain...
But, if we don't fight back, we can continue living!
Don't make things any worse for this village.
You outsiders and the Mishima boy must leave this village immediately.
Got that, Eiji?
You!
Don't get angry.
Few have the strength to risk death for the pride and respect humans deserve.
Because, you don't need pride or respect just to stay alive...
Say whatever you like!
What do outsiders know about it?
First of all, this happened because you police were lazy...
Yeah, that's right!
In any case, we won't allow you to lower the corpses.
And you guys hurry out of our village!
Himura...
Himura!
Y-You bastard!
How dare you do that?
If this village is destroyed, it's all your fault!
And you're just an outsider!
You murderer!
This is how this village currently stands...
And this is the new era Shishio is trying to create...
The new Japan...
Humans are weak against terrorism and violence.
And under such control, their only desire is to survive no matter what.
They lose all pride and respect...
Saito...
Did the government really abandon this village?
Not just this village.
Already, ten villages have been abandoned and are now Shishio's.
The police have already given up on getting the villages back.
Maybe I just don't get it...
...but if the police can't help, why don't you use the military?
Moron!
It's only been six months since the Seinan Wars!
If the military is deployed to settle internal strife...
...foreign countries will think that our government is unstable!
This is no time to be talking about stuff like that!
Sheesh!
Even if we assume that the military was available for use...
...the politicians would never allow it, first of all.
Why?
Each and every one is afraid because of what happened to Lord Okubo.
Those in the government are human after all.
They value their lives, so they hope someone else will solve the problem.
Someone else?
Who is going to straighten the village out?
Who is going to ease this boy's grudge?
I'll do the rest...
...by myself...
This village, the police, the military, the government...
...everything.
At this rate, they will bend to Makoto Shishio's will.
That is why manslayers such as you and I are needed, right now...
I know the location of Shishio's mansion...
We haven't reached Kyoto yet, but let's see him anyway.
Yeah...
Wait!
I'll go with you!
You can't go.
Stay here...
Why?
I also can't forgive anyone that would do such a thing!
Miss Misao...
What?
No matter what anyone says, I'll go too!
I want you to stay by Eiji's side.
I apologize for the interruption!
At a cliff in Hakone, we lost Himura the Battousai when he entered a forest!
We are searching for him with all our forces, so please forgive us...
What shall we do, Mr. Shishio?
It's all right, I'll forgive them.
This is my first medicinal bath in six months, and I'm feeling good right now.
Hurry up and find the Battousai before I change my mind.
T-Thank you very much!
I'm happy for you.
But, if you make such a blunder again...
I won't forgive you.
Y-Yes!
Mr. Seta...
Everyone's making noise today...
What is it?
Actually...
I see...
Mr. Shishio, Mr. Shishio!
Keep it down...
What is it now?
Apparently, a man with a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek...
...and a policeman with a japanese sword...
...are headed towards this building.
I see...
He's come to visit before I've had a chance to go say hello...
Nothing less from my predecessor.
Sojiro, go greet them.
Yes.
And have Senkaku get ready for battle.
Senkaku is always ready for battle.
Hey, wait a minute!
Where do you think you're going with that?
To Shisho's mansion...
...to seek revenge.
What are you saying?
That's impossible!
It doesn't matter if I can do it...
...what matters is I will do it!
I'm all alone now.
I don't mind throwing my life away.
Wait!
What, are you going to get in my way?
Fool!
Senkaku is not alone in Shishio's mansion!
The boss, Shishio, is there...
...not to mention, those masked soldiers we saw a few minutes ago.
It's obvious that you would never get past the front gate!
But...
So, I'll help you out.
I understand how you feel.
If the Oniwaban were killed, I would throw my life away to seek revenge!
I'm sorry, but Himura...
I'm going to help this kid.
It's good that you're coming with me and all, but don't be getting in my way!
Himura the Battousai and Mr. Hajime Saito, is it?