Mark of Evil is the seventh chapter of the Rurouni Kenshin manga.
Synopsis[]
The fight between Kenshin and Sanosuke continues, but Sanosuke cannot land any hits at Kenshin. But even though he is knocked down by Kenshin, Sanosuke refuses to give up and explains his deep motives for fighting. Meanwhile the Hiruma Brothers are still plotting ways to get rid of Kenshin no matter what happens in the fight. What is the connection between Sanosuke's background and the fight? Are the Hiruma brothers going to be successful using tricks against Kenshin?
Summary[]
The "second round" of Himura Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke's battle starts. Kenshin brings down his opponent with a multitude of quick strikes.
That is when Sanosuke remembers his deceased Sekihōtai leader, Sagara Sōzō, who was unjustly branded a traitor by the Ishin-shishi – Kenshin's affiliates.
The rage induced by this memory makes Sano stand up, swearing that he'll bring down his opponent, the strongest of the patriots, which surprises Kenshin. This prompts Hiruma Kihei to use his second hidden revolver to shoot Kenshin, who blocks the bullet just in time with the guard of his sword. Thinking quickly, Kihei points his gun at Kaoru and Yahiko, telling his brother, Gohei, to break their legs so they won't get away.
Sanosuke, however, cuts Gohei's face and prevents him from doing this. Meanwhile, Kihei once again points his gun at Kenshin, who calls him "a man beyond saving" and uses a technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Dō Ryū Sen (Earth/Land Dragon Flash), to hit him with a bunch of debris, knocking him down bloody and disfigured.
Kenshin and Sanosuke then resume their fight, both determined to conclude it.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Chapter Notes[]
This chapter has several differences with other portrayals of the events of the story in different iterations of the franchise:
Differences with the 1996 anime[]
- In the manga, Sanosuke remembers when he adopted the last name Sagara from his mentor Sōzō after he gets knocked down exhausted. This is in contrast with the anime where Sanosuke has that remembrance before the fight started, when he is alone in his bedroom.
- In the manga Kaoru and Yahiko do not show much knowlegde of the story of the Sekihōtai. In the anime they also believed that the Sekihōtai used to spread lies about tax cuts to farmers and merchants in the countryside.
- In the manga, the explanation of the Sekihōtai is given to the reader by an unseen narrator. This is in contrast with the anime where doctor Gensai explains the Sekihōtai story to Kaoru and Yahiko (because he claims a patient told him so).
- In the manga there is a moment in which Sanosuke remembers watching Sōzō's decapitated head on display (and there is an explicit panel showing the frontal decapitated head). This is ommited in the anime series.
- In the manga Kihei points a gun at Kenshin and shoots him. This is in contrast with the anime where Gohei is the one who uses a gun (given the fact that Kihei does not exist in the anime).
- In the manga Sanosuke hits Gohei with the Zakabato in the arm. This is in contrast with the anime, where Sanosuke hits Gohei in the leg.
- In the manga Kenshin uses the Dō Ryū Sen to hit Kihei with bunch of debris. In the anime Kenshin hits Gohei (and knocks him down) with an expansive wave produced by the Dō Ryū Sen.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: Origins[]
- The fight between Kenshin and Sanosuke fight outside the Akabeko at night. The Hiruma brothers are absent from the story at all.
Differences with Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration[]
To be added
Differences with the 2023 anime[]
- In the anime, the scene with the Sekihōtai is extended (seeing them doing some reunions and planning) in comparison with the manga.
- In the manga only young Sanosuke is seeing in the flashback panels. This is in contrast with the anime, where a young Tsukioka Tsunan is also seen (and heard) on the flashback scenes.
- In the manga Kenshin uses the Dō Ryū Sen to hit Kihei with bunch of debris. In the anime Kenshin hits Kihei with the Ryū Sō Sen (Dragon Nest Flash) directly in the body and face.
Trivia[]
- The depiction of this events of this manga chapter has one of the biggest pieces of censorship for the anime versions. In the manga there is an explicit panel showing the frontal decapitated head of Sagara Sōzō's decapitated head:
- In the 1996 anime series this is omitted it and just showed a scene where it's hinted that the head is out of camera.
- In the 2023 anime series, this scene is fully shown.
Gallery[]
To be added