For the Title of Strongest: Aoshi's New Conflict (最強の称号を掴むまで! 蒼紫の新たなる闘い Saikyō no Shōgō o Tsukamu made! Aoshi no Aratanaru Tatakai) is the 33rd episode of the Rurouni Kenshin 1996 anime.
Synopsis[]
As Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke leave for Kyōto, Shinomori Aoshi, an old enemy reappears from the shadows once more much to Megumi's horror. As he emerges to wrap up old affairs and finish what he started, and to where even demons of the past eye curiously at his existence, What does this even mean for Kenshin? Is this the beginning of a new fight for Aoshi as well?
Plot[]
A flashback of a conversation between Kenshin and Saitō
On the dawn of May 15th, Kenshin rendezvous with Saitō Hajime in the outskirts of Tokyo of his confirmation that he will journey on a mission to stop Makoto Shishio and his evil plans in Kyōto. Letting him know that he cut all ties and will continue his mission without breaking his vow to never kill again, Kenshin will journey by foot to elude Shishio's men and any confrontation they have planned for him to avoid trouble for the innocent, but Saitō's baldfaced cynicism towards his travel plans and aggression to purposely stir the hitokiri within him nearly makes their uneasy alliance devolve into another duel. Though eager, Saitō backs down, and lets Kenshin on his way, to ensure his passage to Kyōto and to save their ultimate battle for another day.
Oguni, Megumi and Suzume saying farewell to Kaoru and Yahiko
Kaoru and Yahiko depart to Kyōto on a small boat to a larger steamship on the seas, waving goodbye to Tae, Tsubame, Megumi, Gensai, Ayame, and Suzume, who all wish the two good luck on their journey to bring back Kenshin. As for Sanosuke, he's lost in a forest, spending most of his energy punching down trees in attempts to get stronger, while Kenshin makes his way to Kyōto on foot by the Tokaido route. Hoping that his renounced image as a cast down samurai will deter innocent people from getting hurt in his mission, Kenshin ends up getting comedically chased by a police officer who spots his sword.
Megumi heads back to the Kamiya Dōjō afterwards and mysteriously finds the doors open. She's the only one with the keys. Thinking that Kenshin has already returned, Megumi runs into the Dōjō and in shock, finds an unwanted visitor: Aoshi Shinomori standing alone. The Oniwabanshū leader turns around and asks Megumi where the Battōusai is.
Megumi plays dumb, pretending she has no clue. Aoshi can tell she's lying, so he demands to know where Kenshin is, or she will die. That's when Saitō arrives. He introduces himself as the police officer Fujita Gōro, but Aoshi already knows who Saitō really is. Saitō gives up his act and decides to tell Aoshi, who he knows much about, the whole story. Once that is completed, Aoshi departs. Saitō thinks that he can use Aoshi to his advantage, but he has no clue that another person has his eye on the Oniwabanshū leader as well.
The Abukuma Brothers threatening Aoshi
Aoshi stops by the deceased Oniwabanshū members' graves in the forest, but to his surprise, he finds four big men loitering around them, getting drunk and eating a large picnic lunch banquet. The men were obviously waiting for Aoshi's arrival and introduce themselves as the Abukuma Yon Nyudo, faithful servants of Shishio. One of the four men tells Aoshi to come with them at Shishio's request. Aoshi refuses to, wanting rather to meet Shishio in person instead and asks that the men stop desecrating the graves. Refusing to do so, Aoshi taunts the men that such disrespect means that even Shishio's life must be forfeit, and in return one of the men boldly spits upon the stones, cementing Aoshi's hostility. A fight begins, but it's over before it even starts. The Abukuma Yon Nyudo leap into the air, seeing an opening for their ultimate technique, the Yomi Hitagi. Seeing Aoshi wields a nodachi, they declare it too unwieldy to draw, and conclude that he is only set up for his own demise. In response, Aoshi draws his new weapons, two kodachis, and tears apart the arrogant four with a new technique, the Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren, killing them instantly.
Sōjirō paying respects to the tombs of the Oniwabanshū
Then, the applause of someone nearby is heard. Aoshi turns around and stares at Ōkubo's assassin commending his performance. The boy first introduces himself as Seta Sōjirō, then asks Aoshi if he would like to have a talk. Again, Aoshi refuses, not wanting to get involved with someone so heartless that he sacrifices his own men. Sōjirō thinks differently, but reminds him that the Oniwabanshū let the Meiji Ishin pass away without a fight in the Bakumatsu. That had caused a big impact to the current day. Digging further into Aoshi's wounded and insecure sense of pride, he further remarks if that would happen in the present time, that would damage greatly the reputation of the Oniwabanshū. With that said, Sōjirō bows before Shikijō, Hyottoko, Beshimi, and Han'nya's graves and departs shortly after. Left in the serenity of the woods, contemplating, ghostly voices of Han'nya echo to Aoshi, yearning him to journey forward to glory. Figuring that going to Kyōto will be the only way to give his men peace at last, Aoshi begins his journey.
Near midday and the evening, everyone's paths grow distant more and more from each other. Sanosuke, using a compass in failure, ends up getting more and more lost with his lack of direction and navigation. Megumi, still struck with longing in her heart, absentmindedly romances of Kenshin, accidentally setting a patient on fire by misdiagnosing him for moxibustion.
A mysterious woman walking on the Tokaido road
At last, Kenshin has managed to outrun the police officer chasing him, but finds himself in a peaceful village where innkeepers offer him rooms. Kenshin declines all of their offers, giving the innkeepers the idea that Kenshin's a cheap bum. With so little money, Kenshin is forced to sleep in the forest like he has done in the past. As he cooks his dinner over a fire, two fish, Kenshin hears voices nearby. Not too far away from Kenshin's camping spot, a woman wearing a cloak is cornered by four men who are looking for some fun. Money is the only thing that'll by this mysterious female, so when the men show how much they stolen cash they have, the woman removes her mantle, revealing a young ninja girl.
The mysterious girl reveals herself to some bandits
The four men walk away, very disappointed that they picked up a "kid", but the ninja girl attacks them, shouting out that she's sixteen. With ease, the girl beats up the men and takes their money. Kenshin had seen everything and steps into the scene, very surprised that it was the victim who turned out to be the mugger in this case. The ninja girl examines Kenshin. Just by his clothing, she can tell that he's some kind of cheap bum. Kenshin feels a bit offended from that comment, but doesn't take it very seriously when the girl threatens to rob Kenshin of all his valuables.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Kamiya Kaoru
- Sekihara Tae
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Sanjō Tsubame
- Oguni Ayame
- Oguni Suzume
- Takani Megumi
- Oguni Gensai
- Sagara Sanosuke
- Himura Kenshin
- Saitō Hajime
- Shinomori Aoshi
- Seta Sōjirō
- Beshimi
- Shikijō
- Hyottoko
- Han'nya
- Shishio Makoto
- Komagata Yumi
- Makimachi Misao
Anime Notes[]
- There are some differences in details of this episode between the anime and the manga:
- In the manga, there is a brief explanation about the Tokaido road that runs from Tokyo to Kyōto, and its historical significance. In the anime, Kenshin just briefly mentions he will walk through the Tokaido road.
- In the manga, Misao's cloak embroidery is far more detailed (resembling Nakoruru's cloak from the "Samurai Shodown" videogame series). But in the anime, the cloak is much simpler (with less embroidery) and does not resemble Nakoruru's that much.
Gallery[]
