Kenshin leaves for Kyoto, against the wishes of nearly everyone who knows him as the gentle "rurouni."

The wandering swordsman, Himura Kenshin, once an assassin, now fights to protect those in need.

Isurugi Raijuta, a truly old-school swordsman, comes to Kenshin and requests his aid in reforming the state of swordsmanship schools, or kenjutsu dojo, in Japan.

A warrior arose 140 years ago in Kyoto, with the coming of the American "black ships," who helped introduce the progressive age known as Meiji and then vanished. This tale begins in the 11th year of Meiji, in Tokyo. With his killer blade, legend-warrior Hitokiri Battosai once helped close the turbulent Bakumatsu era and slashed open the progressive age known as Meiji. It's now 1878, ten years after the bloody Meiji Revolution that marked the end of...

Kaoru locates Kenshin in Kyoto at Hiko SeijuÌroÌ's home, where he has convinced his master to complete his training. As Kenshin resumes the role of student, Shinomori Aoshi arrives and is recruited to Shishio Makoto's cause, and SaitoÌ Hajime frees Sano from jail and questions Ten Swords member ChoÌ.

SaitoÌ Hajime drops by the Kamiya Dojo in order to find out more about the relationship between Kenshin and Enishi. He shows up at the end of Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko's battle with Enishi's cabal of fighters, but SaitoÌ's Gatotsu may not be enough to defeat the last of the "Six Comrades."

Kenshin has been wielding his sword for the "New Era" under Katsura Kogoro of Choshu. One night he defends himself against an assassin sent by the shogunate; but a woman he helped in a pub witnesses the scene.