Hey! The hell are you?
You're the punk who's been sneaking around lately, aren't you?
Note: This is Yamazaki Sagaru.
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.
Roshigumi Applicants
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...
How you've changed.
In just a few days, the stray dogs have been transformed
by a wolf that's mixed in with the pack.
What is his name?
Kondo Isao.
He's our general.
Kondo Isao...
He is both gentle and firm. A most mysterious man indeed.
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Six
Undelivered Mail
Kondo Isao.
He's our general.
I hope our child will be someone like that, and not a stiff like you.
Watch the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc in a bright room and at a safe distance from your TV!!
I hope our child will be someone like that, and not a stiff like you.
Delete?
Oh?
That's a pretty trendy item you've got there. How unlike you.
L-Lord M-Matsudaira?!
Oh, yeah. You're newly wed, aren't you?
Sasakawa's
The elite Sasaki is still human enough to flirt with his wife through email, huh?
Y-You've got it wrong!
She's at her parents' home for the birth, and it's easier to keep in touch—
Ah, so you're not flirting by email.
You already flirted to your heart's content someplace else, eh?
Knock it off!
I'm simply doing the bare minimum to keep in touch.
I don't even know how to type an email.
Unless you learn, you won't be able to seduce any girls in the era to come.
You're talking about cabaret girls, aren't you?!
What I want from you is your reply.
You've heard what they're saying, haven't you?
You mean the decree making them an official police force?
Yes. Ever since Kondo took charge, their work has been exemplary.
The brass want to bestow upon them a status befitting an important mission.
An important mission? Doing what, exactly?
Escorting the members of one of Tokugawa's three houses,
Lord Hitotsubashi Narinari and his son Nobunobu.
Or so they'll be told,
but they'll be attacked by rebels on the way.
Their job is to let the assassination succeed
and then take responsibility by disemboweling themselves.
That's not a job for police.
Exactly.
In order to eliminate the political enemies of Lord Sadasada, the current ruler,
you're telling me to sacrifice those stray dogs?
I suppose taking out one of the three Tokugawa houses
will require sufficient smoke and mirrors.
And it seems the brass never saw them as anything but sacrificial pawns.
What about you?
Do you still think that's all they're worth?
Talk about ironic.
We hold titles that are appropriate for samurai,
but we're too shackled by them to do anything befitting of samurai.
Unlike those guys, who try to act more like samurai than samurai themselves.
Who can say which of us are the real samurai here?
Sasaki, when is your child expected?
In a month's time.
I see.
In this era, you may not be able to do anything befitting a samurai or a father,
but you should at least respond to her emails.
What're we gonna do about the name?
The name? What are you talking about?
We can't call ourselves the Roshigumi anymore.
We're gonna become real samurai.
You're jumping the gun.
Either way, we came from Bushu with nothing but the clothes on our backs,
and finally made it this far.
What a coincidence.
I'm having a bit of trouble deciding on a name myself.
It's almost time. Did you come up with a good name? I can't wait to see you with our child.
Oh, I'm talking about my child, though.
That's great news. Congrats.
But I have no idea how I should raise a child in this chaotic era,
or what kind of father I should be.
What kind of samurai do you people wish to be?
No idea.
Even after we become samurai,
and when the time comes for us to die as samurai,
we probably won't find an answer to that question.
But that's fine.
I believe that there isn't one true way of the samurai.
Losing your way, doubting yourself, seeking who you ought to be...
That attitude is what makes you a samurai.
So keep searching.
Keep struggling.
Choose your own true path and
push forward!
Yes, our name is...
The Shinsengumi!
Sasaki, you aren't exactly a goody-two-shoes yourself,
but don't underestimate how much of a scumbag a real Commissioner-General can be!
Commissioner-General,
you shouldn't control an organization you're not fit to lead.
If you can't remember how any of your men look,
you won't be able to babysit a bunch of thornies.
We're taking our general back.
Toshi...
Sorry to have kept you waiting, Kondo-san.
I'm the one who should be sorry.
My incompetence is what caused all this.
We're the same as you.
After all the agonizing and fretting we did,
we ended up back here again.
I see.
If we're dawdling about here,
then I guess we're still a long way off from our true paths.
Yeah, no doubt.
But there's one thing we've realized.
Be it our true path or a twisted one...
So long as we get to walk by your side,
we don't care where we go.
This is the path we chose, Kondo-san.
Then let's walk together.
Even if the road we walk takes us to Hell.
I will never let you guys go again.
Live with me and die with me,
Shinsengumi!
Out of the way, Sasaki!
If you wish to see the continuation of your dream, then force your way through.
Even if it means trampling over the dreams of others.
Why?
Why do you fight?
Why do you resist?
You Shinsengumi were supposed to vanish before you even came to be.
So why?
Why do you point your blades at Isaburo?
Why does Isaburo alone have to...
Are you still having trouble deciding on a name? I'd be fine with any name you suggest.
Hey, whippersnapper.
You shouldn't eat up there.
I don't want to be told what or where to eat when I'm outside.
Sasaki-dono.
Sakon-dono, this isn't what I was told.
You mean this isn't an appropriate place to secretly plan an assassination?
Rest assured.
Those kids are the ones most suited to kill here.
They were taken in by Tenshoin Naraku and raised as killing machines.
In particular, that Mukuro girl is the bastard child of death itself.
She's skilled enough at her young age to be called one of the Three Wings of Naraku.
Are you dissatisfied?
Surely you don't mean to say you don't want to make children kill?
Are you going to do it or not?
Is it messed up for ignorant children to kill people?
Or is it more messed up for knowledgeable adults to kill people?
I'm a child, and yet I kill.
Are you still having trouble deciding on a name? I'd be fine with any name you suggest.
You kill, and yet you worry about what name to give a child soon to be born.
We've both strayed off the right path.
You guys don't know when to give up.
Sasaki Isaburo...
That viper in our bosom.
His goal isn't to solidify the new government or his own position.
All he wants...
The plan will be put into motion on April 13th.
Escorting the targets will be the Roshigumi-turned-Shinsengumi.
Create an opening in a post town.
Ten seconds will be enough for those kids to take the father and son's heads.
The Shinsengumi may be sacrificed.
They'll end up having to disembowel themselves anyway.
All right, let's take a break here.
What about Lord Hitotsubashi, Kondo-san?
Matsudaira said not to let him out of the palanquin 'til we reach the destination.
Sheesh. So he basically told us not to take breaks, either?
This is the Shinsengumi's first mission.
We have to make sure it succeeds and show off our strength.
What?
Sorry!
Throw the ball back, old man!
Who are you calling an old man?!
A VIP's riding in that palanquin. Stay away from it.
Go play somewhere else, kid.
Oh, but...
There are scary old men with swords hiding all over the place.
Is that true, kid?
Could it be an ambush?
Hey! Check the area at once!
Where are those scary old men, kid—
Don't tell me!
Stop right there, kid!
I believe that there isn't one true way of the samurai.
Losing your way, doubting yourself, seeking who you ought to be...
That attitude is what makes you a samurai.
So feel free to doubt and lose yourself as much as you want.
About the baby's name, I mean.
That's how fathers are supposed to be, don't you think?
O-Ero
Um, Lord Hitotsubashi, I bought the book you asked for.
Oh, good work.
Sorry, I was asked to do this.
A long-faced old man told me he'd pay me to deliver the porn mag to the palanquin.
E-Enemy attack!
For real this time!
Joi Rebels were lying in wait to ambush us!
Don't let them near the palanquin!
Let's roll, men!
Hey, I asked for a hardcore masochism book.
If you were killed holding something like that, your reputation would be ruined,
Lord Hitotsubashi—I mean, Lord Matsudaira.
Shut up, Long-Faced Old Man.
I leaked information to the Joi Rebels.
If you're lucky, they'll attack before the assassins do.
They already have.
Are you sure this will prevent the assassination?
If the assassination ends in failure due to unforeseen events,
the higher-ups won't be able to blame anyone.
So basically, their fate rests in their own hands.
Goodbye, then.
Wait, Sasaki.
Why did you lend us a hand?
I don't recall ever offering you a helping hand.
I only used my fingers to send emails.
I practiced using my cell phone, you see.
It's a healthy baby girl. Sadly, she's inherited your long face, but she's very cute.
Anyway, I need to respond to my wife now.
I may not be able to become a fine samurai or a fine father,
but I do want to give her a fine name.
Sasaki saved us?
Not just you.
Back then, I think Isaburo tried to save us kids, too.
But there was nobody to save him.
Nobody could.
I finally thought of a nice name.
I'm sure you'll like this one, too.
When are you getting here?
Sending failed.
Email me once you're nearby.
Actually, email me even if you're far away.
Sending failed.
I will come pick you up wherever you are.
I will come pick up
both you and Nobume.
The crow didn't kill its target.
And Sasaki didn't kill his.
Because he saw at the time the enemy he really ought to cut down.
He's trying to dye this era in the colors of rebellion.
By making you guys start a revolt,
he's trying to end the samurai era, along with himself.
He is but a rebel, just like you people.
What's going on?
Playing the villain is no walk in the park, I must say.
I have enemies all over the place.
It doesn't seem like anyone's willing to be my mail buddy, either.
Very well.
As the evil overlord, I shall take you all on at once.
But Hijikata-san...
I can't take on a demon like you while distracted.
Could you please wait a while?
Isaburo fired a burning arrow of rebellion at society.
But Naraku's trying to extinguish every last spark of it.
That's why Isaburo
plans on using the flames being lit here.
He wants to destroy everything and significantly weaken the country.
Are you gonna sit back and watch your general commit suicide with the country?
That is my duty.
Why didn't you cut me down, whippersnapper?
Back then, you said we were already murderers who'd strayed off the right path.
Well, you were right.
Right now, I feel no hesitation to kill a child like you.
So why...
Why are you shedding those?
I don't know.
I don't know where these are coming from.
I don't know why I can't cut you down.
I don't know why I must kill all of you.
A certain someone once told me something...
He said people are born weak,
but we have the freedom to defy our weaknesses and struggle to change ourselves.
Maybe that's why.
You were struggling with all your might.
I must struggle, too.
I don't deserve to kill you.
The only thing I deserve is to be killed by you.
If you wish to be cut down, then I won't.
What I really need to cut down
is this era where the country commits such acts of brutality.
And myself, for being unable to protect anything from this era.
Keep swinging your sword for my sake.
And when the time comes, use it to kill me.
That is my vengeance.
Yes, that is my duty.
Even though I took everything from Isaburo, I couldn't cut him down.
I made him live on.
But this time, for sure, I must kill him.
I have to put an end to that man.
Stop right there!
That's enough.
You two have done enough.
To Be Continued
Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Seven
Just who...
It wouldn't be any fun otherwise.
Who the hell is that?!
Karma
You know.
In the past, Sasaki chose to uphold his pride as samurai,
deceived the Tendoshu, and lost everything.
As Gintoki and the rest keep struggling against their fates,
a reaper, a crow, suddenly swoops down before them.