The Shinsengumi's residence, in a room.
"The Shinsengumi shouldn't have had three directors from the beginning." Toshizo Hijikata touched his mouth with a cold look in his eyes, "The Shinsengumi now is completely different from when it was first established. Although the first two We received praise for the big event of the day, but our enthusiasm for missions now is completely incomparable to what it was before."
"The existence of two voices affects enthusiasm. This is obvious." Gensaburo Inoue expressed his opinions while taking advantage of the bandage, "Many of Director Serizawa's opinions are too radical and violent. Sometimes I even feel... . . .”
"It feels like he is deliberately creating notoriety for the Shinsengumi." Saito waggled his finger.
"Saito is right." A relatively unfamiliar bald man expressed his opinion seriously, "I feel the same way. Although the Shinsengumi exists to maintain law and order, we have no reason to make people afraid."
His name is Harada Sanosuke, and he is the captain of the newly formed fifth division of the Shinsengumi. Unlike the other team members, Harada Sanosuke is not a samurai. He was originally a monk soldier who practiced the Hohoin School. Gunsling.
"The actions that make people fear are basically actions led by Director Serizawa or Director Nimi. I think this can already highlight the problem." Toshizo Hijikata concluded, "Although Director Nimi seldom publishes Opinion, it seems that he often stays outside because of Chief Serizawa’s orders, but there is no doubt... that he is standing by Serizawa’s side.”
"But we can't say anything now." Isamu Kondo shook his head, "He didn't really do anything that substantially harmed the Shinsengumi. We can't remove him, and he has a certain degree of contact with Matsudaira Yoshiho. We can't Not to remove him."
"Maybe... there are other ways." Shannan Keisuke's eyes reflected a ray of candlelight.
A trace of complexity flashed in Kondo's eyes: "This matter... let's discuss it later."
Okita Souji, who was huddled in the corner, remained silent.
...
Izakaya in Mibu Village outside Kyoto.
"So, you came here to drink to drown your sorrows because you had a quarrel with your colleagues?" Zuo Cun looked at Serizawa Duck in surprise, "This is not like you."
Serizawa sighed heavily: "I don't want to do this either, but...actually I should have thought about these things clearly from the beginning."
He pinched the edge of the wine bowl and said angrily: "Now that the Shinsengu Group is almost entirely composed of their people, my words have no effect at all. Even Kondo, the guy who led the team to complete the mission, has to criticize me... .I feel like I’m a wolf in a pack of dogs, huh.”
Zuo Cun didn't speak, just listened to Serizawa Kamo. After all, he was not a party involved and had no right to express any opinions.
"Where's Xinjian? Aren't you together?" Zuocun asked.
"Arim is over in Osaka right now." Serizawa took a sip of wine and said, "He ran over there after the big event in the past two days."
"..." Zuo Cun didn't know what to say.
He unscrewed a can of wine and clinked glasses with Serizawa: "Although we have different positions now and can even be regarded as enemies, Brother Serizawa... I hope you can live a more comfortable life."
After saying this, Samura walked out of the izakaya carrying several cans of wine.
"Are you living... more comfortable..." Serizawa Kamo showed a sarcastic smile and drank the wine in the wine bowl in one gulp.
...
Izo's fever subsided the next morning, and Samura and the other two packed some necessities and set out on the road to Satsuma.
Okada Izo is not in a high mood right now. Takeshi Ruishan is still in prison awaiting trial. He can't even rescue him, so he is naturally in a bad mood.
Zuo Cun really didn't know which road would lead to Satsuma the fastest, because he always moved quickly on the tree canopy, and when he encountered towns, he basically ran across the rooftops in a hurry. I ran to Satsuma on the same day.
It is estimated that a needle cannot penetrate Zuo Cun's leg. The three of them are resting now.
Zuo Cun squatted on the tree crown and gently stroked the head of a sparrow.
Even though Zuocun is stronger than before, his love for birds and his unique bird-loving physique have not changed.
"Mr. Samura, do you want rice balls?" Souna said loudly to Samura under the tree.
Zuo Cun's forehead touched the sparrow's forehead lightly, smiled, and let the sparrow fly. Zuo Cun jumped down from the tree: "Eat."
"Mr. Samura, I feel like I've been missing something." Souna ate the rice ball and looked at Samura with a smile.
Zuo Cun sighed softly: "I just remembered what happened when I just embarked on a journey alone."
At that time, Zuo Cun didn't know much about swordsmanship, he just used brute force to chop randomly.
But now...
Kyoto.
Because of their outstanding performance in the coup on August 18, the Shinsengumi was given a new name by the shogunate.
"Shinsengumi"
But other than the name change, everything else remains business as usual.
Hijikata was sitting on Kondo's desk, and the two were chatting.
"Kondo, sometimes I feel that there is nothing wrong with what Serizawa Kamo said."
Kondo raised his head, glanced at Hijikata's broad back, and said in a weak voice, "What did he say that made you agree?"
"...You are too kind, Kondo." Toshizo Hijikata looked at the ceiling and sighed, "I'm not saying that the Shinsengumi is kind, I am saying that you are too kind."
"...You mean the thing we discussed last night?" Kondo was slightly silent, "We...we shouldn't do that. After all, Director Serizawa didn't do anything really bad. "
"He doesn't need to do it, Kondo." Toshizo Hijikata picked up a pen from the table, "Now the dispute between you two all day long has affected the daily life of the team."
He turned around and looked into Isamu Kondo's eyes: "You should make a decision."
Kondo's face was complicated and he opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Toshizo Hijikata smiled and hit Kondo on the shoulder: "This is you, Kondo."
As he spoke, Hijikata turned around and left. When he walked to the door, he turned and glanced at Kondo: "The decision you don't know how to make or don't dare to make... I'll help you make it."
"After all...I am the Demonic Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi."
Kondo stretched out his hand to stop Hijikata Tobizo, but he retracted his hand halfway.
smiled.
Forget it, that’s fine too.
That night, Toshizo Hijikata gathered several people from yesterday.
"I have received the order from Director Kondo." He looked at these people seriously.
"As the director, Serizawa Kamo is arrogant, radical, and violent. He has repeatedly ignored the safety of civilians during his operations."
"so--"
"The Serizawa Duck will be eliminated."
Every word he spoke spoke loudly and resonantly.
