In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

Okita looked at Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, then at Okita Rintaro and Inoue Genzaburo inside the dojo.

And Saito Hajime and Nagakura Shinpachi.

"Kondo, Hijikata," Okita Souji called out.

The two men turned around: "What's wrong, Okita?"

"We...were right, weren't we?"

“…Yes.” Hijikata Toshizo answered with unwavering certainty.

......

Samura and Kanna are cooking.

Kanna has been cooking for a long time.

The two are currently in Mibu Village, but not Mibu Temple.

Samura built a small house with three rooms not far from Mibu-ji Temple, where the two of them lived, just like the father and daughter.

"Mr. Samura, could you tell me about... the girl you like?" Kana asked cautiously.

"Pfft, cough cough—" Zuo Cun choked directly.

"Why are you asking this?" He patted his chest and coughed violently twice.

"I just want to... learn more." Kanna twirled her hair around her fingertips, lost in thought.

"..." Zuocun looked at Shiona.

"Well... let me tell you about it." Zuo Cun put down his chopsticks, placed his hands on his knees, and looked nostalgic in his eyes.

"My life began with that girl."

“I have no memory of anything before I was fifteen. After I woke up in the Shirakawa Domain for no apparent reason, I have been wandering in Mutsu ever since.” Sakura slowly told Koike Kana about his past with Okita.

After hearing the whole story, Kanna Koike had tears in her eyes.

"Mr. Samura, is belief really that important?" Kanna Koike was a little agitated. "You can be with Ms. Okita if you just let go of your beliefs."

“Kanna.” Zuocun looked at Kanna’s face, without looking into her eyes, “Belief is something more important than life itself.”

"This is a chaotic world, and someone needs to save it."

"If the chaos doesn't end, the tragedies of you, me, and Miss Okita will happen to more people and more families."

"I want to be the one to end this chaotic world, so..."

"I understand." Kanna nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.

She still didn't understand, but she knew that Zuocun had more important things to do.

Just then, a dark figure landed in front of the hut where Zuocun and Kanna lived.

------------

Chapter 346 Gathering in Mibu Village

Nagakura Shinpachi sat opposite Kondo Isami and said with a smile, "I have contacted my two older brothers. We can assemble ahead of schedule, but we must ensure order and loyalty."

Kondo Isami smiled and said, "That's good."

"Do you have any ideas about where we'll meet?" Hijikata Toshizo asked, looking at Kondo Isami, who was sitting in the main seat. "If you suggest Shieikan, I wouldn't recommend it."

“Indeed, Shieikan is too small in size, and this place is Edo. If we really want to establish a gathering place, it would be better to go to the area around Kyoto,” Okita Rintaro pointed out.

“I do have… an idea,” Okita Souji said slowly.

"Do you remember... the place where we met Mr. Samura?"

......

"Miss Ryoma? Why are you all alone?" Zuo Cun, with a piece of meat in his mouth, looked at Miss Ryoma in surprise at the doorway. "Where did Ryoma go?"

"Ryoma sent me back. Don't worry, Ryoma is fine. Miss Ryoma has protected him very well." Miss Ryoma flexed her biceps.

"Did something happen? Why would Ryoma send you to inform me?" Zuocun swallowed the meat, puzzled.

"That's right. Ryoma has already established a foothold over there and has also found Saigo Moritaka, who was introduced to him by Mr. Katsu Kaishu, so... he is preparing to leave the domain."

"Is that so... He shouldn't have announced his independence from the feudal domain yet."

"Hmm... probably in the next day or two."

"I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Miss A-Long." Zuo Cun smiled and thanked Miss A-Long.

"Well then, do you need me to give you a ride?" Miss A-Long had long forgotten the unpleasantness of her first meeting with Zuo Cun, and now she was very friendly towards Zuo Cun.

“No need, I still have some things to take care of here…” Zuo Cun glanced at Kanna, “I’m leaving tomorrow, so please hurry back to Ryoma’s side.”

“Okay, hehe, Ryoma is so weak, he definitely needs Miss Ryoma’s protection.” Miss Ryoma looked very proud, then remembered something and took out a package from her pocket. “This is for you, Zuocun.”

"This is Ryoma's family's address. Just use this to find them. I'm leaving now." Miss Ryoma waved and then took to the air.

Kanna stood to the side: "Miss Aryu... is a very amazing person."

"It's really amazing." Zuo Cun couldn't help but chuckle. "When we first met, Miss A Long beat me up so badly that I was seriously injured."

"Hmm. Huh?"

......

"Serizawa, Shinmi, are you there?" Samura led Kanna by the hand to Mibu-ji Temple.

Serizawa Kamo and Niimi Nishiki, who were discussing some matters at the temple, heard Samura's voice and responded, "Yes, what's up?"

Two burly figures squeezed out of the door.

"Will you be staying here for a while?" Zuocun asked.

Kanna lived here for a few months and got to know Serizawa Kamo and Nishiki Nishiki. She wasn't so scared anymore, since these two people just didn't look like good people, but were actually very kind.

“I probably won’t be leaving for a long time… Is there something wrong?” Serizawa stroked his chin and fanned himself with a fan.

"I may have to leave for a few days due to some matters. I would like to ask you to take care of Kanna for me while I am away," said Zuocun, explaining his purpose.

Kanna wasn't too surprised.

Defiance of one's fiefdom is a serious crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Mr. Sakamoto Ryoma wanted to leave his domain, so he asked Mr. Samura to protect his family in advance, which Kanna could understand.

Therefore, she was very obedient.

Besides, she's already twelve years old and can take care of herself.

"Kanna won't cause any trouble for Mr. Serizawa or Mr. Niimi." Kanna clenched her fist, looking very motivated.

Zuocun smiled and said, "Kanna can stay here during the day and go back to her cabin to sleep at night."

“No problem.” Serizawa readily agreed. Taking care of a child wasn’t a troublesome thing.

When are you leaving?

Zuocun glanced at the sun, which was already setting.

"If possible, I'll set off now. After you've finished eating with Kanna, take her back to the cabin. It's not far from here."

"Don't worry, we two brothers are trustworthy!" Xin Jianjin patted his chest.

Zuocun smiled and skipped away.

Serizawa and Shinmi are both reliable people.

He took the knife and embarked on his journey without saying a word.

......

After taking Kanna back to the cabin, Serizawa and Shinmi continued their discussion about the things they hadn't finished discussing before.

"Judging from the time the letter was sent, the members of the Natural Rishin-ryu school will arrive tonight or tomorrow." Nishiki Shinmi crumpled a piece of paper.

"This appeasement policy towards the ronin is an opportunity for us, but we don't have many people around us. The Tennen Rishin-ryu is a lifesaver." Serizawa Kamo tapped his fan on his palm. "Shinpachi was a great help."

"But, Shinmi, I heard from Shinpachi..."

"Within the Natural Flow of Mind, there are... hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

“Yes, he wrote it in the letter.” Shinmi Nishiki looked at the contents of the letter, “There are actually sword techniques in the Tennen Rishin-ryu that can directly confront him… and more than one.”

"Let's think about what to do next after they arrive," Serizawa Kamo rubbed his head. "Now is a time for us to share hardships, let's meet them first and then talk about the future."

"Ah."

......

"You've all packed your things...right?" Kondo Isami looked at all the disciples of the Tennen Rishin-ryu school.

The Natural Rishin-ryu school currently has twenty disciples.

“Ready, Mr. Kondo.” Inoue Genzaburo smiled at Kondo Isami.

He was still a disciple of the Natural Rishin-ryu school, but he was already the oldest among the disciples.

“Our departure from the Shieikan this time signifies that I acknowledge your strength as samurai, and that you are qualified to wield your swords and operate in this chaotic world.” Kondo Isami’s eyes were deep, concealing an unquenchable flame.

"In this contradictory era, those who carry swords must always protect something."

"If you trust me and Okita Souji, then come with us."

"We will find a path to save our country amidst this chaos!"

"Oh!!!"

The Tennen Rishin-ryu was not the Shieikan, but a group of ronin (masterless samurai) who set out from Edo and headed straight for Kyoto.

Goal—to save the nation.

This gathering was organized by Keisuke Yamanami, and many people responded to it.

Serizawa Kame, Shinmi Nishiki, Nagakura Shinpachi.

Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, Okita Souji, Inoue Genzaburo.

Saito Ichi.