Clang!
Clang! Clang!!
Crack!
Whoosh!
Silhouettes crossed paths. Hajime Saito stared at his broken blade, falling into an involuntary silence.
He's strong.
Too strong...
It wasn't as if he hadn't crossed swords with this Battousai before, but... never had he suffered such a thorough defeat.
"Did Saito-san lose as well?"
"It seems the rumors weren't baseless after all."
Okita watched the retreating figure sheathing his sword, sighing with emotion.
"Wait..."
"Enough!"
A squad member beside him was about to rush forward but was stopped by Okita's outstretched hand.
"Captain?!"
"If you chase him now, he'll draw the sword that kills."
"Enough... The mission has failed."
Before Okita could speak, Saito looked at his broken sword and explained.
"Rumor has it... Himura Battousai carries two swords..."
"If he draws the one lower at his waist, it means death... but if he draws the one slightly higher, it means life."
"Attributes of mercy... ironic, but we were indeed saved by it."
Okita gazed at the legend gradually vanishing into the forest, feeling a distinct sense of loss.
He and Hajime Saito—two captain-level experts of the Shinsengumi—had joined forces to pursue him, yet they were stopped by Battousai alone.
He could clearly feel the change in that person. Okita desperately wanted to know what that Battousai, who was similar in age to him, had experienced.
...
Sprinting through the forest, Kenshin eventually paused amidst the trees.
"Oh my, discovered so quickly?"
"And here I was, feeling quite confident..."
"Senior."
Fixed by Kenshin's unwavering gaze, a figure hiding behind a large tree stepped out.
"Shishio, is there something you need?"
"No, I just wanted to witness Senior's swordsmanship up close. Unfortunately, it was already over by the time I arrived."
Makoto Shishio shrugged, spreading his hands to avoid any misunderstanding.
"Truly terrifying, Senior."
"But tell me, why didn't you kill the two captains of the Shinsengumi just now?"
"With your current condition, you could have done it easily, right?"
Shishio chuckled, his words carrying a pointed implication as he pressed for an answer.
"Those are our great enemies..."
"Katsura-san would surely..."
Whoosh!!
Before he could finish, Shishio suddenly realized that his Senior had unreasonably drawn his sword.
'So fast!'
Just as he prepared to draw his own blade in defense, Kenshin had already unsheathed and completed a slash directed at him.
Cold sweat broke out instantly. Shishio felt a sense of disbelief.
By the time he fully reacted, let alone drawing his sword, this Senior had already finished his strike.
"!"
Coming back to his senses, Shishio discovered... he didn't seem to be injured?
"This sword... let alone killing..."
"It cannot even wound a person."
Holding the sword horizontally across his chest, Kenshin spoke coldly.
"?"
A sword that couldn't wound? How could such a thing exist?
Even a Reverse-Blade Sword could inflict injury...
His gaze shifted to the sword in his Senior's hand. It was indeed a "Fine Sword" he had never seen before.
Judging by his eye for weapons, there was no way this sword shouldn't be able to cut someone.
Yet, Senior Kenshin had indeed slashed him just now, and he remained unscathed.
Click...
The sword was sheathed. Kenshin said nothing more and continued walking through the forest.
"Tsk..."
Watching Kenshin's retreating figure, Shishio lost the desire to compete he had harbored earlier.
If this Senior had wanted to kill him just now, it would have truly been an instant affair.
No wonder the Shinsengumi chose to dispatch two experts, Hajime Saito and Okita Soji.
But even so, they were defeated by this Senior without any suspense.
Walking along the path, Kenshin recalled that experience, knowing he had already transcended worldly understanding.
'The name of that sword is "Tenseiga". It can neither wound nor kill.'
'Consider it a consolation prize for your participation...'
'However, Tenseiga's true power is sealed. As for the condition to unseal it... I believe you are well aware.'
'That's right. Participate in the Dragon Ball War again. If you can return to this world alive, the seal will be broken.'
'That woman named "Tomoe" will be frozen within the necklace you hold. Tenseiga can save her, but you only have ten years...'
'If you are not summoned within ten years, then both Tenseiga and she will reach a dead end.'
That "God's" unreasonable decree gave Kenshin absolutely no room to refuse.
In the months since his return, Kenshin had indeed found his purpose.
Aside from continuing the Restoration, there was...
"Himura, we found the news you wanted."
"But it seems to be in Kyoto..."
"Are you sure you want to go now?"
Taking the slip of paper from the spy, Kenshin's cold expression remained unchanged. He simply tucked it away and walked out.
" is Katsura-sensei really letting him go?"
Watching Kenshin leave, a group of people observing from the second floor couldn't hold back their concern.
"Let him go. Since he said he is going to visit, he will definitely return."
"But..."
"If there are any idiots wanting to test Senior's sword, I wouldn't mind appreciating the sight of your deaths."
"Shishio, you!"
...
"What strange wind is blowing today?"
"The foolish disciple who descended the mountain without permission runs back at a time like this?"
"Not continuing to save the common people?"
Hiko Seijuro looked at the familiar face before him, unable to resist mocking him.
"The common people will naturally be saved..."
"But before that..."
"I need to become stronger."
Hiko Seijuro's drinking motion paused. He hadn't expected to hear such a conclusion.
He had heard the rumors about this foolish disciple circulating outside.
Himura Battousai...
The Peerless Swordsman...
The former was a name from long ago; recently, the latter had become quite famous instead.
'His killing intent and baleful aura are abnormally heavy, yet his eyes are unmistakably clear, showing no sign of confusion.'
"Doesn't look like you're lost either. Hmph."
"Matters having come to this, what else do I have to teach you?"
"The Ougi..."
"..."
"Please teach me the Ougi (Secret Technique) of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu!"
Looking at Kenshin's serious expression and attitude, Hiko Seijuro questioned him.
"Why learn the Ougi?"
"I heard you are unmatched recently, appearing to be called the Peerless Swordsman Under Heaven."
"When enemies encounter you, they can only pray you draw the blade of non-killing."
Sitting on the stool with his sturdy legs crossed, Hiko Seijuro teased him.
"Because this one... is still not strong enough..."
"Is that so? To show such humility during your most pride-worthy period... really..."
"This one went to a place very far away."
Cutting off his own words, Hiko Seijuro uncorked his wine bottle and waited slowly for the rest, listening carefully.
"There, this one met many experts..."
"Ashamed to say... the Kenshin of that time could hardly pose a threat to them."
"Finally, in a contest of blade against blade, I lost to a Queen from a foreign land..."
The story was slowly recounted by Kenshin, in a form unlike any other.