Kaoru was juggling some potatoes and fighting with Yahiko (which they usually do). Kenshin said he’s going to cook but they didn’t like Kenshin’s menu. Kaoru said that they should go out and eat something. She took an old ink painting which was made by her grandfather, said she’s going to sell it so they could buy some beef hot pot. They were eating at Akabeko when they heard some drunk men talking about some democratic movement. The men started to fight and Kenshin got hit by a bow in his head. He knew it was coming but if he dodged it, it would hit Kaoru’s face. Yahiko told the men to apologize but they started fighting too. The waitress, Ms. Tae tried to stop them but one of the men hit her. A man picked her up and started talking about how much he hated people like those drunk men.

They went outside to fight. The man told the drunk man that he would want to test his strength first so he asked him to hit him in his head. The drunk pulled a dagger out of his finger but after hitting the man’s head, his finger broke. The man simply flicked his forehead and he was knocked down. The other tried to pull his sword but Kenshin stopped him.

The man, with a sign at his that said “wicked”, said that he wanted to fight Kenshin but Kenshin refused so he went home (without paying for his meal). Someone was watching them and said he could use that man. That was Godhei, and he went to see the man and told him that Kenshin was the legendary Battousai and made the man he called Zanza more interested in fighting Kenshin.

Godhei remembered when Kenshin broke his fingers and made him unable to swing a sword again for the rest of his life. He wanted revenge so he hired Zanza to whom he knew was strong and could match up with Kenshin.

Kenshin was with his friends at Kamiya dojo when he felt a presence. He went out and saw Zanza. Zanza said that he knew who Kenshin really is and he wanted to see what the Hiten Mitsurugi could do so he challenged Kenshin, but again Kenshin refused to fight.

As he introduced himself, Sanosuke Sagara, showed his Zanbatou which was a giant sword. Kaoru said that it was made to slay but no one was able to master it because of its heaviness. Sanosuke attacked with two swings of his sword but Kenshin dodged them both. Suddenly Ayame and Suzume came out looking for Kenshin. Sanosuke decided not to continue infront of the children.

Godhei was watching them and Kenshin knew it. When he dodged Sanosuke’s attack, he cut a tree branch which fell down on Godhei’s head just as Sanosuke decided to leave. Kenshin said that Sanosuke for some reason hated the Imperialists and he would have no choice but to fight him.