Chapter 26

In the blood-soaked night of the Bakumatsu era, nearly ten Shinsengumi members lay on the ground, their dark red blood continuously flowing. Standing beside the corpses were the Choshu faction's reformist, Himura Kenshin, and the Shinsengumi's Third Unit Captain, Saito Hajime.

"I will take the life of the man known as the 'Man-Slayer Kenshin,' Saito Hajime, Captain of the Shinsengumi's Third Unit." A white light shot straight at Kenshin's vital points, which was Saito's ultimate technique, Gekk ga. Kenshin did not back down, and a blue light burst from his sword sheath. The two swords collided, sparking countless flames.

"Kenshin, Kenshin? Wake up..." A voice called out, pulling Kenshin from his dream. It turned out that Kamiya Kaoru had just finished her lesson at the Maekawa Dojo.

On the way back, Kamiya Kaoru curiously asked, "Kenshin, I haven't seen you sleep so deeply in a long time. Did you dream about something?"

"Yes," Kenshin replied with a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I dreamed about the times when I fought against the Shinsengumi. It's been a long time since I dreamed about those days."

"The Shinsengumi, the greatest enemies of the reformists?" Yahiko, who had also heard about the Shinsengumi, asked, though he knew that Kenshin, who had fought against them, was the most knowledgeable about the details.

"Yes, they can be considered the largest, strongest, and last group of swordsmen in Japanese history," Kenshin's eyes seemed to still reflect the scenes of his battles with the Shinsengumi during the Bakumatsu era.

Then, Kenshin detailed the situation of the Shinsengumi at that time and his own views to the two. After listening, Kamiya Kaoru smiled at Kenshin, "I didn't expect you, who usually don't talk much, to be so talkative when it comes to the Bakumatsu era."

Hearing this, Kenshin was taken aback, but by then, Kamiya Kaoru and Yahiko had already walked several steps ahead and were calling out to him.

"What are you standing there for? Let's go back. Mr. Tendou has probably already delivered the tofu. If we don't go back, the ingredients will spoil, and there won't be much to eat tonight."

On the other side, at the Kamiya Dojo, Sagara Soujiro sat lazily at the entrance, idly kicking pebbles.

"I came all the way here to get a free meal, but they're all gone." Due to his lack of a steady job and because Kenshin had persuaded him to stop fighting for a living, Soujiro had little money and had to rely on the Kamiya Dojo for his daily meals.

"Is it Soujiro again, coming for a free meal?" The dojo's door was pushed open, and Shinomori Aoshi walked in, carrying a large wooden bucket in his left hand.

"It's Uncle Aoshi, are you here to deliver tofu to the dojo again?"

"Yes, I'll take the tofu inside first. Kenshin and the others should be back soon, you can wait a bit longer." Aoshi walked towards the dojo's kitchen.

Just as Aoshi left, another person entered the dojo.

"Good afternoon, I am a medicine merchant from Tama, specializing in a miraculous medicine called Ishida Powder. My name is Fujita Goro." The man who entered had a small medicine box on his back, squinted eyes, and a smile on his face.

"Sorry, I'm not part of this dojo," Soujiro replied without hesitation, directly refusing him.

"I see." Fujita Goro's right hand touched his chin, but this subtle movement was noticed by the sharp-eyed Soujiro.

"Come here for a moment." Soujiro called Fujita Goro over. "Why are your eyes so small?"

Although he didn't understand Soujiro's intention, Fujita Goro still answered, "I was born with them..."

"Is that so..." Soujiro grabbed Fujita Goro's right hand with his left. The right hand was full of calluses from sword practice. "Is this also something you were born with? Who are you really?" Soujiro demanded.

After a moment of silence, Fujita Goro's eyes opened, revealing a pair of eyes no different from a wolf's. "Your observational skills are quite sharp, Sagara Soujiro." Soujiro quickly let go of Fujita Goro's right hand and stepped back. Fujita Goro did not pursue him but instead drew a sword from his back.

"Since Battousai is not at home, I'll leave him a gift." Soujiro then noticed that Fujita Goro had a cane sword hidden in his back. However, Soujiro was not someone who could be easily intimidated by a sword. He delivered a powerful punch to Fujita Goro's face, sending him flying.

"Indeed, Sagara Soujiro, your martial arts skills are top-notch. However," despite being hit by Soujiro, Fujita Goro seemed unaffected. Standing up, he held the sword in his left hand at chin level, crouched, and placed his right hand on the tip of the sword, the starting stance for Gekk ga.

"Such martial arts skills might be useful in the peaceful Meiji era, but in the Bakumatsu, they are completely inadequate." With that, Fujita Goro attacked. Soujiro could barely see Fujita Goro's movements, and his body could not keep up with his mind. Just as he was about to be struck, Soujiro felt a powerful force on his right side, and he was thrown away. When he stood up, he saw a figure in a light blue coat standing where he had been, holding a broken sword in his right hand and his left arm extended forward. Fujita Goro had been thrown several meters away, holding a cane sword with only half a blade remaining.

"Although a cane sword is convenient to carry, its hardness and resilience are no better than a toy." Fujita Goro threw away the broken sword and looked at Aoshi. "I have not forgotten this face since the Ikedaya Incident."

"Unfortunately, I have no interest in dealing with you Shinsengumi members. However, since you intended to harm someone in this dojo, don't blame me for intervening, Saito Hajime." Aoshi threw the broken sword, which flew past Saito's ear and embedded itself in the dojo's wall. Saito did not intend to fight Aoshi to the death, as the difference in strength was clear. He was only there to find his old rival, Kenshin, and encountering Aoshi was just bad luck.

"Then I won't disturb you further. May I ask your name before I leave?"

"Shinomori Aoshi, Tendou Shinomori Aoshi."

Physical condition:

Heart Coins: 1080

Rurouni Kenshin World

Name: Tendou Shinomori Aoshi

Gender: Male

Physical Attributes:

Physical strength is about nine times that of an average person.

Detailed Attributes:

Strength 91 (10) - Affects burst strength, pure strength, and strength beyond limits.

Agility 100 (10) - Affects speed, reaction time, and intuitive strength.

Stamina 95 (10) - Affects endurance, recovery speed, and the ability to withstand certain techniques.

Skills:

Swordsmanship - Aoi-ryu

No-sword style

Mastery of all cold weapons

Mastery of all firearms

Martial arts master

Acquired Heart Powers:

Heart of Carnage LV2: Does not waver when killing others in most situations, has resistance to certain illusions, and gains minor recovery from killing.

Heart of Compassion LV2: Compassion is a necessary heart for a strong person, has resistance to certain illusions, and gains minor recovery from helping others.

Heart of Calm LV1: Daily life can cultivate one's character, has resistance to certain illusions, and can gain the favor of ordinary people.

Other powers not yet activated.

PS: Request for recommendations, favorites, and monthly votes.

PS2: The novel is currently at the part where the Assassin in the Fourth Holy Grail War kneels, feeling that the Assassin truly has no rights. With a猥琐 (weisu) appearance, a trash Noble Phantasm, low abilities, and a master like Kirei Kotomine, who is full of malice, the Assassin's luck and spear skills are both at E.

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