Roshigumi Applicants
No education, no status.
The only thing they can trust is their own swords.
And they want to make a name for themselves using them.
That's the kind of ruffians who have gathered here.
Don't let their dreams consume you.
Carve open a path to your dreams with your own hands.
We're gonna become samurai here in Edo.
Commissioner-General.
Commissioner-General!
Ship silhouette sighted a few kilometers ahead.
Wait, that's...
So the Shinsengumi are here.
Will this be the day their dreams perish?
Or will it be the day I finally awaken from mine?
If you think you can carve open a path, then let's see you try.
I'll have you know I toss and turn a lot in my sleep.
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Five
Stray Dogs
Watch the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc in a bright room and at a safe distance from your TV!!
Looks like it's begun.
D-Don't tell me, Toshi and the others are over there?
No.
There's nobody aboard the ships?
It's a ploy Gintoki used often.
And Sakamoto often yelled at him for it, saying ships weren't firewood.
If the fire was set in front of the island...
If a castle can only be breached from the front,
that means it can be easily felled if you get in any other way.
You actually think we can climb this cliff?
If the enemy has that same doubt, then it's worth a shot.
We don't have time to complain.
There are gunships closing in from behind.
We placed decoy squads in all four directions,
but who knows how long they'll keep the enemy occupied?
Doesn't look like there are any footholds until halfway up,
but climbing the rest of the way seems doable.
The question is, how do we get halfway up?
We just need someone to get up there and dangle a rope for the rest.
Leave it to me.
You sure, China Girl?
Yup. A cliff like this is like a stone's throw for me.
Grab that rope and climb, guys!
You weren't the one going up?!
As if we could use a rope that bloody!
And it's not nearly long enough!
Fine. Let's add some extra!
You don't have to add an extra human being!
Oops, I missed.
No point to the extra now.
You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!
Well, they're here now.
Let's use them as stairs, like this.
Uh, is there any point to this first stair?
Is my life just a stepping stone?
Screw you!
There'll be nobody left by the time we reach the top!
I'll chop you up and use your body parts as footholds!
Get bent! The only one who can step on my c*ck is Ketsuno Ana!
Nope, I'm gonna step all over it!
Sis.
Shin-chan, I thought we couldn't go back anymore.
That those days would never return.
But it looks like I can still laugh.
It's so strange.
Even though we're in this situation,
being with everyone makes me...
Just wait.
I'll bring that man,
and everyone, back here to you for sure.
So wait for us with that same old smile on your face, Sis.
No matter what may happen from here on...
So long as you and everyone else is still smiling,
we can always go back to those days.
I'll be right back, Sis.
How many?
You noticed? Probably a few dozen.
They must be Naraku.
Go on ahead.
At this rate, they'll figure out where we're meeting Gintoki and the rest.
And if you die, I'll lose the Shinsengumi's cooperation.
I'm sorry, but while I may have broken out of prison,
I don't remember agreeing to work with you guys.
I'm gonna do as I please.
You...
Kondo.
Get going, Pops!
With the end of the Joi War, the world has entered a new era.
But there are still hoodlums throwing their weight around in public.
They call themselves Joi Rebels and continue to break the law.
They're a lot like you guys, actually.
You have strength, but no idea where to use it.
So we thought that maybe we could use that strength for a different purpose.
Roshigumi Applicants
That's why we formed this special peacekeeping unit, the Roshigumi.
How about it?
If you're gonna wreak havoc anyway,
why don't you try using your strength to protect something?
For all that big talk, the idea was to basically pit stray dogs against one another.
The bakufu would give hoodlums a sword, a mission, and freedom to act like samurai,
but the end goal was to have them and the Joi Rebels take each other out.
Talk about irony.
Now that a new era is upon us, and samurai are dying out,
the last remaining hope is those very stray dogs.
No, you guys are no longer stray dogs.
You're noble wolves!
Oh, shut up.
Go away! I can't focus!
Damn, I looked down.
Keep looking up and climb.
If you look down, your legs will stop moving.
That's the golden rule of mountain climbing, and life in general.
Th-Then...
How about when you're descending a mountain?
It's simple.
Close your eyes and let go of that rope.
Anyone who thinks about going down before climbing all the way up
should just fall and have his eyeballs plucked out, or so the crows are saying.
Don't say ominous things like that, Captain!
Kondo-san, please hold out until we get there!
They're really looking down on us, huh?
Is this all the assassins they sent after us?
If you want to take us out, then only an entire army...
...or Kondo Isao...
...or Katsura Kotaro...
...are fit for the job!
We're the only ones who can kill each other.
And you've ended up taking both of us on at once.
We have...
...no enemies anymore.
Did we get all of them?
No, we're talking about those filthy crows here.
They probably sent word the moment they spotted us.
I can't imagine they'd go down without sending reinforcements.
It can't be!
Katsura?
Hurry, Kondo!
What's this about?
We were the ones being held up!
Of course they wouldn't send reinforcements!
The enemy's main unit is already
directly above Gintoki and the others!
That means Pops is in danger, too!
Katsura!
Hey, Katsura! Hang in there!
Katsura!
Don't get so worked up. I've merely gained an extra belly button, is all.
But it looks like we no longer have time to worry about others.
And at the worst possible time!
Time's up.
Don't panic!
Huddle up and take cover beneath the rock face!
Damn you and your cheap tricks!
Follow me—
Kagura-chan!
Second wave incoming!
Kagura!
Sogo!
Let go.
Let go of me!
Oh?
Now! Let's go!
They acted as bait to draw our attention,
and while we were distracted, they drilled a hole to take our rear?
It seems they have better spies than you.
Let me give you some advice as your senior spy.
Flying while only looking down, like you do, isn't good enough,
nor is climbing while only looking up.
You need to look both up and down.
That's the golden rule of surveillance, my dear crow.
Out of the way
I wasn't looking behind me...
I'll take the lead. Let's crush them in one fell swoop.
If you're giving orders, wouldn't a notebook be easier for all to read?
There's no need...
...for words anymore.
You have our backz.
It's about time those guys got here.
Now I can finally get some payback!
Crush them!
For a measly pack of stray dogs,
you sure have sharpened your fangs well.
However...
You guys!
This is the end.
The lofty heavens are yet distant.
Past here is a hellish road one cannot navigate without the Yatagarasu's guidance.
Should you wish to proceed,
do so after you cast aside your corrupt bodies.
If you do, these crows will carry your souls to your destination...
To where your Kondo is.
To where Shoyo is.
Sheesh.
What an awful sight.
We finally got to the top of the mountain,
but this place is covered with crow droppings, too.
Go ahead.
Cleaning up crow droppings isn't a job for the police.
Hurry up and go clean up a gorilla's shit or something.
Besides, he's...
...the other will definitely send you to Hell.
He's my client.
Then you take that side, Boss.
And I'll handle them.
Sogo?
Truth is, I want to go, too.
But unfortunately, Kondo-san gave me a role to fulfill.
I'm Okita Sogo, Shinsengumi 1st Squad Captain.
My job is to take the vanguard and cut open a path.
And you're the Shinsengumi's Demonic Vice Chief, Hijikata Toshiro.
Your job is to go down that path without looking back.
Hijikata-san—
No...
Vice Chief.
I leave the Chief to you.
Listen up, and listen good.
I'm adding one last article to the Shinsengumi Code.
Until now, you've staked your lives to uphold the 46 articles of the Code.
Even if you have to violate all of them,
survive!
Let's roll!
We're cutting through!
Keep your eyes forward and run!
Found the gorilla in the forest.
There's no response.
Did Nobume-san read my message and ignore it like always,
or did something happen on her end, as well?
There you have it, Kondo-san.
Unfortunately for you, our men have already closed off the entire area.
You have nowhere to run.
They came here to save you,
so there's a very simple way to save them.
You just have to die.
Let's work together and put an end to this mess.
Come on out, now.
Kondo...
I'll distract them. Take that chance to run.
I came here to save you,
so I can't drag you down with me.
That so?
Then...
With this, we're even.
You saved me first.
So now it's your turn to hold me back.
Kondo...
I was going to be executed.
I wouldn't have minded, as long as I could protect my comrades.
Or so I thought.
But I've gotten greedy since you saved me.
I've started wanting to see those guys again.
And I've gained another comrade I want to share a drink with.
Katsura, I don't want to die yet.
I don't want to let you die, either.
So let me ask you, as well.
Lend me your strength, Katsura, so that we might see those guys once again.
As long as you don't die,
and as long as I don't die,
the other also won't die.
Don't let go, okay?
He hasn't changed.
That man is still the same.
How are they looking?
The master plan devised by one of the most eminent sons
Roshigumi Station
of the famed Sasaki family, Sasaki Isaburo: the Roshigumi.
Is there anyone who could come in handy?
It seems my master plan didn't have any basis in reality.
I ordered them to discuss and implement an internal structure,
but they've been like this for days.
They don't even seem like they can contain themselves, let alone Joi Rebels.
Well, no need to worry.
Stray dogs have their own ways of doing things.
That makes it seven schools.
If any of you got a problem with me, bring it.
I, Mountain Zaki, will gladly take you on anytime.
Mountain Zaki
If there's nobody else, I can be the leader—
Hey.
You're pretty good.
Huh? What's your problem?
Taking a beating like that without throwing a single punch in return?
No ordinary man would be capable of that, boss.
Hey, tend to him.
He might be our boss someday.
Hold it!
You the hicks always practicin' swings in the corner?
I don't know or care which school you belong to,
but if you're tryin' to become leader, I'll destroy you and your students anytime.
Bring it on!
Nah, I'll pass.
If we've got the time to fight among ourselves,
we'd be better off spending it doing swings.
Draw your sword!
That's fine by me!
Show me the results of all those practice swings!
I said I'm not interested, Mashin Hero Wataru.
It's Mountain Zaki!
A leader doesn't need the strength to subdue a comrade.
All he needs is the strength to protect one.
Compared to you, who hit a comrade,
a guy lying flat on his back after not hitting back is better suited to be leader,
Tokoroten Wataru.
Mountain Zaki!
All right, back to training.
I see how it is, boss.
Then you should keep practicing your swings even while I beat you to a pulp!
Don't.
The practice swings of our Hick School
can kill a person, you know.
Though I don't mind training with you at any time.
Interested, Mountain Zaki?
N-No...
I'm not Mountain Zaki.
My name is Yamazaki Sagaru.
I-It's a pleasure, boss!
To Be Continued
Preview
Hey! The hell are you?
You're the punk who's been sneaking around lately, aren't you?
You can't fool this Mountain Zaki's nose.
Do you know what this place is?!
Try anything funny, and the Roshigumi will arrest you—
You're the one who needs to be arrested.
H-Hijikata-san?!
Are you trying to piss about, or are you trying to piss me off?
Either way, I'll gladly kick your ass.
If you don't want that, get back to training.
And do a thousand swings extra.
Yes, sir!
Yamazaki Sagaru, heading back right away!
One of our men seems to have been rude to you. I'm sorry.
Wait, aren't you...
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Six
How you've changed.
Undelivered Mail
In the midst of battle, Sasaki's mind flashes back
to a past meeting and a tragic night—
How did the Shinsengumi come to be?
Sasaki's scheme creates a bizarre bond.