I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1111 "I am Toudou Heisuke, and I hereby purge you all!" [6300]

A smile was originally on Ito Kashitaro's cheek.

Now, his smile froze.

Although it was barely perceptible, in that instant, his eyes did indeed well up with a variety of negative emotions, such as anger and frustration.

It is evident how much of an impact Todo Heisuke's straightforward praise of Aoto and his subtle criticism of Ito Kashitaro had on the latter.

Kashitaro Ito's indignant expression abruptly changed the atmosphere.

It was like a north wind passing through, filling the air with a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere!

Suzuki Mikisaburo, Hattori Takeo, and others quietly changed positions and surrounded Todo Heisuke.

Seeing this, Toudou Heisuke silently stood up, bent his knees slightly, lowered his center of gravity, and raised his right hand slightly, ready to draw his sword.

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, the negative emotions in Ito Kashitaro's eyes vanished, and he returned to his gentle and refined demeanor.

“Heisuke, a few days ago, you told me yourself that being in the Shinsengumi, a group full of geniuses, made you feel insecure.”

"If that's the case, why not leave the Shinsengumi?"

"If you continue to stay in the Shinsengumi, Tachibana Aoto, Okita Souji and others will always loom over you like an endless shadow, dimming your brilliance."

"If you don't leave this 'cocoon' that binds you, you will never have a chance to get ahead."

Come on, come to my side!

"I am the one who can truly cherish you!"

"I will make your talent fully blossom!"

No sooner had Ito Kashitaro finished speaking than Suzuki Mikisaburo added:

"Heisuke, you are a disciple of Master Ito."

“Teacher Ito understands you better than anyone else in the world.”

"Understand your swordsmanship level, understand your fighting style, and understand the skills you excel at."

"Only by accepting Mr. Ito's guidance will your talents not be buried!"

Hattori Takeo quickly followed, speaking in a cold voice that was half persuasion and half coercion:
"Heisuke, please don't let down Mr. Ito's good intentions."

Watching the crowd begin to play the "interest card" and the "emotional card," Toudou Heisuke shrugged and chuckled twice in a self-deprecating tone:
"Ah...that's right. Compared to Mr. Tachibana and Souji, my talent is really nothing."

"No matter how hard I try, I can't possibly compete with these monsters..."

"but!"

With a sudden change in tone, Todo Heisuke's voice rose abruptly.

"I have always been proud to be a member of the Shinsengumi!"

"For me, 'family' is far more important than 'fame and fortune'!"

"I am that bastard's illegitimate child. Since birth, I have never experienced the feeling of 'having a home to return to,' and I don't know what 'home' is!"

"It wasn't until I joined the Shinsengumi that I finally found a place I could call 'home'!"

"I cherish this pale blue haori more than anyone else... I don't want to tarnish one of the few things I can be proud of!"

At this point, Todo Heisuke paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Anyway, I probably won't have a chance to explain later, so I might as well make it clear here! I don't actually dislike this feeling of being relegated to a supporting role!"

“I know very well that my talents are only at the ‘extended line of mortals’!”

"Even if I betray Mr. Tachibana and join my master, I still won't be able to achieve anything more remarkable!"

"Since we can't catch up with those monsters even if we try our best, we might as well lend them a hand!"

"It doesn't matter if I can't become a great person like Mr. Tachibana or Souji!"

"If my sword can provide even a little help to their becoming kings and achieving sainthood, that would be great!"

"I will continue to protect this 'home' in my own way!"

"I will always follow the banner of honesty!"

Even if I am shattered to pieces, my heroic spirit will live on under the banner of sincerity!

In that instant, Todo Heisuke's not particularly tall body exuded an aura of overwhelming power!
Many people present were overwhelmed by his imposing presence, their faces paled, and they involuntarily took a step back.

Kashitaro Ito stared intently at Heisuke Todo with a somber expression... His complex emotions made it impossible to decipher his thoughts.

The deathly silence created by Todo Heisuke's bold declaration and Ito Kashitaro's prolonged silence lasted for nearly half a minute.

Half a minute later, Ito Kashitaro sighed silently:

"...It's such a pity that I couldn't persuade you... Heisuke, if I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to kill you."

Having said that, he waved his hand—

bass! bass!
Suzuki Mikisaburo and Hattori Takeo drew their swords simultaneously.

Immediately afterwards, the others reacted, and with varying expressions, they drew their swords and assumed fighting stances.

Some people have no expression.

Some people looked excited because the opportunity to make a contribution was right in front of them.

Some people looked sorrowful because they had to draw their swords against their former fellow disciples.

Someone who had studied under Ito Kashitaro alongside Todo Heisuke gritted his teeth:

"Heisuke...don't force us...do we really have to come to this?"

Toudou Heisuke said calmly:
"No need to say more, no need to worry more."

Having said that, he raised his gaze, looking over Ito Kashitaro's shoulder, towards Kondo Isami, who had been standing silently behind Ito Kashitaro since earlier.

"Mr. Kondo, although I already have the answer in my heart, I will still ask you one question—have you also betrayed Mr. Tachibana?"

Kondo Isami stood with Ito Kashitaro the entire time... The meaning of such a scene is self-evident.

However... the pain and confusion in his heart prompted Heisuke Todo to ask a question.

Meeting Todo Heisuke's sharp gaze, Kondo Isami said softly, without any emotion:
"Heisuke, I am like Saito. We have different paths, so we cannot work together."

"Oh, I see... That's really sad."

Just as he didn't want to look at Kondo Isami any longer, Todo Heisuke silently withdrew his gaze from him and instead scanned the enemies in front of him.

He faced more than twenty swordsmen single-handedly, including three great swordsmen whose strength far surpassed his own: Kondo Isami, Saito Hajime, and Ito Kashitaro...

However, Heisuke Todo showed no fear on his face, raising his chin and puffing out his chest without flinching.

"Although there are many familiar faces, I won't show any mercy."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and grasped the sword of Kazusa no Kanetsugu at his waist—the blade clanging as it was drawn inch by inch, illuminating his murderous face.

"Since you have chosen to betray Mr. Tachibana, you must all be prepared to die, right?"

The instant he finished speaking, he drew the remaining half of the blade from its sheath in one swift motion! As the blade flashed, air surged!
"Article 5 of the Shinsengumi Laws states: Anyone who betrays the country and colludes with the enemy shall be executed on the spot!"

"No matter how many of you there are, no matter who you are, bring it on!"

"I am Heisuke Todo, captain of the 8th Division of the Shinsengumi. I hereby annihilate you all!"

In a flash, the instant the words fell, he leaned forward, struck the ringleader first, and swung his sword to cleave Ito Kashitaro's body!
clang!
Just as his blade slashed down, Hattori Takeo's sword thrust out from the side, blocking Todo Heisuke's attack.

"Drink ah ah ah!"

Hattori Takeo gave a low shout and forcefully deflected Todo Heisuke's sword.

Using the reaction force, Todo Heisuke lightly leaped backward, slightly widening the distance, then held his sword in front of him, his eyes like lightning, staring intently at Hattori Takeo who was charging like a bull.

Their swords clashed again, and they immediately launched into a dazzling display of offense and defense!
Killing intent spread everywhere, metal clashed, and sparks flew wildly!
Because of the limited space, and the fact that the confrontation between Todo Heisuke and Hattori Takeo had reached a level that would deter even gods and demons, the others could only stand by and wait, unable to get involved at all.

Just by looking at his physique, you can tell that Takeo Hattori is a "power-type" swordsman.

"Drink ah ah ah!"

He swung his sword like a hammer, seized the opportunity, and smashed it away from Toudou Heisuke's sword, forcing his body to open wide.

In the next breath, he raised his sword above his head and chopped it down towards Toudou Heisuke's Tianling Gai!

Heisuke Todo is not known for his strength—but his agility is exceptional!
He nimbly shifted his body to the side, dodging the opponent's slash, and at the same time, raised the knife in his hand, sweeping it across Hattori Takeo's chest.

Hattori Takeo, as expected of a "captain-level" first-class swordsman, reflexively leaned back and dodged the attack.

Although Todo Heisuke's attack did not take Hattori Takeo's life, it tore through his clothes and skin on his chest, causing blood to gush out.

"Go! Don't give him a chance to breathe!"

"Don't be careless! He is..."

"Flank him! Flank him!"

No sooner had Todo Heisuke forced Hattori Takeo back than the other opponents rushed in from all directions!
Even before joining the Shinsengumi, Todo Heisuke was one of the strongest swordsmen at the Ito Dojo.

Many of those present were fellow disciples of Todo Heisuke, and naturally knew just how strong he was.

He simply can't compare to monsters like Aoto and Souji! Compared to the average person, his strength absolutely deserves the descriptions of "powerful" and "terrifying"!

To be an enemy of such a top-tier swordsman requires absolute concentration! There is absolutely no room for considerations of "fair duel" or "one-on-one duel"!

Seeing multiple opponents attacking, Toudou Heisuke hissed and took a deep breath, silently gripping Kazusa no Kanetsugu's sword tightly in his hand, and calmly launched a counterattack without panic!

He first attacked the enemy on his right, slashing his left wrist.

Then, he whirled to the left, deflecting the enemy's slash from his left.

When his opponent swung his knife, he crouched low. Although his left sleeve was slashed, he also inflicted a bloody wound on his opponent's thigh.

All of the above happened in an instant.

A moment later, Todo Heisuke swung his sword like a lion, the blade flashing repeatedly, breaking through the encirclement in just a few rounds! This deterred the enemies from approaching rashly!
Heisuke Todo's hawk-like gaze swept across the entire area along the blade, his face full of vigilance as he continued to ponder—his mind had been racing ever since he drew his sword.

Although he was furious at the rebellious acts of Ito Kashitaro and others, his chest burning with rage and wishing he could kill everyone in front of him, he still retained his rationality and was not swayed by resentment.

He was quite clear that with Kondo Isami, Saito Hajime, and Ito Kashitaro there, he alone had no chance of turning the tide in their current predicament.

His primary task now is not to act rashly, but to leave this place as soon as possible and spread the news of "Ito Kashitaro's rebellion"!
Just as Todo Heisuke was secretly adjusting his breathing and thinking about a retreat, he saw a tall, very familiar figure push through the enemy ranks and move to the front of him.

"Brother Saito..."

Heisuke Todo murmured, his face darkening.

Taking advantage of his height, Saito Hajime looked down at Toudou Heisuke and slowly drew the sword from the man's waist, revealing the Ikeda Onijimaru Kunishige, the resident of Settsu Province. Despite his efforts to conceal it, a hint of pain flickered across Toudou Heisuke's face.
"Brother Saito, was all the sweat we shed while practicing swordsmanship just for the sake of killing each other today?"

"..."

Saito Hajime remained silent, only staring intently at Todo Heisuke.

"Nothing to say... Fine..."

Todo Hei let out a long breath, raised the tip of his knife, and changed to the blue-eyed design.

Captain of the 8th Division of the Shinsengumi

"Hokushin Ittō-ryū"

"Toudo Heisuke!"

Although Saito Hajime was not eloquent, he responded with the same imposing presence:

Former captain of the Third Division of the Shinsengumi

"No outflow"

"Saitoichi."

A duel between the two captains of the Shinsengumi... This is the first time since the Shinsengumi was founded!
This level of confrontation made everyone present shudder and consciously step back, giving up the space.

The confrontation between Heisuke Todo and Hajime Saito began suddenly and ended in an instant.

Boom!
Boom!
Two loud stomping sounds rang out simultaneously!
In just one step, the two sides closed the distance between them!

The two went all out in the first round! Carrying their full weight and the momentum of their forward lunges, they swung their swords fiercely at each other!

clang! !

Kazusa no Suke Kaneshige and Setsu no Juichi Ikeda Onijimaru Kunishige—both treasured swords gifted by Aoto—clashed heavily in mid-air!
The resulting strong wind caused the sleeves of the two combatants to flutter like battle flags!
Heisuke Todo and Hajime Saito stared intently at each other, their blades pressed together, locked in a fierce struggle.

Although Saito Hajime is not known for his strength, he is still far superior to Todo Heisuke.

Even with all his strength, Todo Heisuke couldn't budge Saito an inch.

In the blink of an eye, Toudou Heisuke suddenly lost his balance—the immense force pressing down on him from the front, as if to crush him, vanished—Saito used a skillful and exquisite technique to deflect Toudou Heisuke's sword to the side.

Heisuke Todo was caught off guard and fell forward.

Saito Hajime, who was extremely adept at seizing opportunities in battle, would naturally not let go of this potentially fatal flaw.

He aimed at Todo Heisuke's waist and abdomen—raised his sword, and slashed down—all in one swift motion.

Unexpectedly, Todo Heisuke displayed extraordinary reaction speed at this moment!

He twisted his body with difficulty, turning what would have been a fatal wound that would have killed him on the spot into a minor injury to his chest.

At the same time, he swung the knife in his hand, the blade sweeping upwards through the air and landing on Saito Hajime's left shoulder, leaving a shallow wound.

Saito paused, glancing sideways at the wound on his left shoulder where blood was seeping out... When he looked back at Todo Heisuke, he saw that the lines of his face were tense, and a terrifying shadow appeared.

Seeing this, Todo Heisuke understood—he was about to force Saito Hajime to reveal his true abilities.

Next, he will face the real Saito Hajime!

For some reason, he didn't feel nervous at all; instead, he smiled and a smile appeared on his lips.

Just like Ito Kashitaro, he never defeated Saito Hajime.

The gap in strength between him and Saito Hajime cannot be bridged by willpower alone.

However, perhaps because he was prepared to die, he now felt incredibly light in his body!
There is nothing to be afraid of anymore!
Sure enough, in that instant, Saito Hajime's aura changed drastically, becoming more reserved and unfathomable!
call out!
The high-speed swing of Setsuju Ikeda Onijimaru Kunishige cut off the moonlight streaming in from the window, causing the air to roar!

When Saito Hajime unleashed his true abilities, Todo Heisuke immediately felt a surge of pressure!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Saito Hajime's attacks were extremely fierce, one slash after another, relentlessly, as if he were wielding eight swords at the same time, making one wonder whether he was a swordsman of the Mugae-ryu school or the Shinto Munen-ryu school.

At first, Todo Heisuke was able to manage.

But gradually, he struggled more and more, and could only parry, without the ability to fight back.

The more he tried to retaliate, the more passive he became.

Although Todo Heisuke felt anxious, he remained calm.

While struggling against Saito Hajime, he subtly shifted his position.

He had moved to the east side of the room and was leaning against the paper sliding door on the east side.

The room where classes were held at the "Ito Juku" was located on the first floor of the Ito residence. By simply opening the paper sliding door on the east side, one could see the clean veranda and the spacious courtyard.

His plan was simple—to force Saito Hajime to retreat, then take the opportunity to turn around, smash through the paper sliding door behind him, escape to the courtyard, and then flee far away!
The plan sounds simple, but the very first step—"finding a way to force Saito Hajime to retreat"—raises serious doubts about its feasibility.

—Tsk, there's no other way...

Heisuke Todo had already made up his mind and secretly decided on his course of action.

clang!
In the instant he parried the opponent's slash again... it really was a split second! Toudou Heisuke transferred the sword in his hand to his left hand, freeing his right hand to swiftly draw the wakizashi from his left waist, and then threw it out like a hidden weapon!
The wakizashi drew a straight line in mid-air and pierced Saito Hajime's chest!
Throwing away the sword at his waist—for Todo Heisuke, who valued samurai honor, this was hardly a commendable thing to do.

He really didn't want to use this tactic if he wasn't forced by circumstances.

He didn't expect to kill Saito Hajime with this move.

That would be enough if Saito Hajime could be so surprised that he would reveal his weakness!

However... he never expected that Saito had seen through his intentions long ago.

At almost the same instant that Heisuke Todo threw the wakizashi, Kazuya Saito switched the sword in his hand to one hand, then used his other hand to draw the wakizashi from his waist and throw it out!
Ding!
With a piercing clang, the two wakizashi collided head-on, sparking dazzling sparks.

The unexpected scene stunned Todo Heisuke—it was this momentary lapse in concentration that sealed his defeat.

Whoosh!
Saito Kazuya moved like a ghost, sneaking up on Toudou Heisuke.

The sword moves in an instant—the steel blade in Saito's hand made a loud noise!
clang! !

Saito Hajime's horizontal slash could easily cut Todo Heisuke in two.

Fortunately, at this critical moment, Todo Heisuke pulled Kazusa Sukeshige to his chest, narrowly blocking the attack and averting disaster.

Even so, the immense force transmitted through the blade could not be completely neutralized.

Then Todo Heisuke flew backward like a cannonball, crashing through the paper sliding door behind him, crossing the veranda, and then landing heavily in the courtyard outside the room, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The force of his fall was considerable.

Fortunately, just before landing, Todo Heisuke instinctively braced himself, minimizing the damage from the fall; otherwise, he would have broken one or two bones.

However, he still suffered a great deal of pain.

"Haa...haa...haa...haa..."

An indescribable, intense pain spread throughout his body, almost causing him to lose consciousness and nearly lose his breath.

He greedily took deep breaths until his lungs were full of oxygen again, and only then did he finally feel the blood in his body flow again.

Despite the pain that nearly made him faint, his long-cultivated fighting instincts made his body move on its own.

He struggled to sit up... Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared—Saito Hajime appeared in front of him at some point, holding a knife in one hand, the sharp tip of the blade pointed at his neck.

Heisuke Todo looked up along the blade and saw Saito looking down at him, his eyes radiating a cold light the same color as the blade.

"How could you possibly beat me... you idiot."

It's unclear whether these words were sarcastic or expressed regret.

"..."

Todo Heisuke pursed his lips, stared directly into Saito's eyes, and then... said nothing.

Although he didn't speak, his resolute expression clearly showed his determination: Enough with the nonsense, let's get started!
But at this moment——

"Saito-kun, wait a moment."

Suddenly, Ito Kashitaro's voice came from behind Saito Hajime.

Ito Kashitaro slowly stepped forward and stood in front of Saito Hajime, closer to Todo Heisuke.

Saito glanced at Ito Kashitaro, then quietly put down his sword and retreated a short distance away.

They stared at each other intently again, but this time it was the master and apprentice staring at each other.

Todo Heisuke remained silent... He had nothing more to say to Ito Kashitaro.

On one side is a speechless silence, on the other is a calm, rambling monologue—

"Heisuke, you are one of my most outstanding disciples... This is my honest opinion, without any falsehood."

The tone was utterly devoid of emotion... as if speaking of something insignificant and unrelated to oneself...

"Although we are now forced to fight each other, my feelings for you will not change."

"So... I'll see you off."

Having said that, he drew the sword from his waist.

The blinding blade light pierced Todo Heisuke's eyes.

"Heisuke, do you have a death poem?"

Heisuke Todo gave a cold laugh and finally spoke:
"Let's get started."

Ito Kashitaro lowered his eyelids slightly, said nothing more, and slowly raised his sword above his head—

"Who?!"

The sudden outburst caught everyone present off guard.

The one who shouted was Kondo Isami, who remained inside the room.

The instant he finished shouting, Kondo Isami drew his sword with lightning speed, leaped up, and crashed into the ceiling above him, sword and all.

The fragile ceiling couldn't withstand his powerful blow and shattered into pieces, sending dust billowing everywhere.

Even Ito Kashitaro couldn't help but be distracted by this strange change.

Although it was fleeting, the moment of turning the tide unfolded right before Todo Heisuke's eyes!
But then Toudou Heisuke frowned, his eyes gleaming, and suddenly threw the object in his left hand—a handful of dirt he had secretly grabbed from the ground—at Ito Kashitaro in front of him.
Distracted, Ito Kashitaro couldn't dodge in time and was hit in the face with a handful of dirt.

Although he instinctively swung his sword down, Todo Heisuke had already escaped from its grasp.

He moved with the agility of an eel, first rolling over to get out of Ito Kashitaro's slashing range, then pouncing on the nearby wall like a monkey, quickly vaulting over it and escaping outside the house!

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