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

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Chapter 412 There's no going back

Osaka.

The Shinsengumi received orders to move their base of operations from Kyoto to Osaka.

Moreover, all external activities have ceased.

Kondo Isami's orders were... to rest and recuperate.

Saito sat alone on the steps, gazing blankly into the distance.

The wounds from last year's battle with Samura did not cause any lasting effects on Saito, only leaving a scar on his face, making him look less kind and more fierce.

Saito didn't feel anything.

Compared to the physical pain, the emotional distress caused Saito was even more painful.

He saw no hope.

He joined the Shinsengumi because he found it interesting, following Kondo and Hijikata.

But the road ahead... seems to have come to an end.

In the Tenmanya incident a couple of days ago, Saito callously killed two enemies, but remained unmoved as his own team members were injured.

...What exactly are we doing?

Okita Souji recuperates in a corner of Osaka, while Nagakura Shinpachi and Kondo grow increasingly estranged.

Is this still... the Shinsengumi?

“Hey Saito.”

The familiar voice of the Demon Vice-Commander came from behind.

Hijikata Toshizo threw a gun to Saito.

Saito caught it hastily and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Hijikata Toshizo's expression was both disappointed and serious: "Get your squad organized. We're taking action."

"My actions?"

"The Shinsengumi's operation." Hijikata Toshizo sighed. "Tokugawa Yoshinobu's orders have arrived. We are to set off now and reach Fushimi within half a month to set up camp at the magistrate's office there."

Saito was stunned: "...A war is about to break out?"

Hijikata nodded and turned around.

"Twenty minutes. Get your squad organized and pack your personal belongings."

"Set off before dark..."

......

The New Year holidays passed quietly amidst tension and silence.

This year, even Senso-ji Temple did not ring its bells during the New Year's celebrations.

Kondo Isami has led the Shinsengumi to Fushimi, but the process is not going smoothly.

On the way, they encountered remnants of the Imperial Guards. The Shinsengumi clashed with them, and Kondo Isami was hit by a stray bullet during the firefight, injuring his shoulder.

Kondo Isami sat alone in his makeshift office, with a map of the Fushimi area in front of him.

He knew in his heart that Tokugawa Yoshinobu did not want to give up his position.

Therefore, war is imminent.

With a sigh, Kondo Isami rubbed his temples.

“Even when injured, you still have to work... You’re a good chief, Kondo.”

A voice sounded behind Kondo.

"What, the man who assassinated Tokugawa Iemochi is now trying to assassinate a nobody like me?"

The voice was so familiar that Kondo Isami recognized it immediately.

"...I'm not here to kill you." The newcomer sighed slightly, pulled a stool from Kondo's room, and sat down.

“I know… but you shouldn’t have come to see me.” Kondo slowly turned around, looking at the person sitting so openly in his room, his eyes filled with inexplicable emotions. “Samura.”

Samura and Kondo stared at each other.

Inoue is dead.

"...I know, I went to see him."

"Because you died."

"..."

Zuocun had nothing to say.

“But he doesn’t blame you.” Kondo shook his head.

“Although this explanation sounds weak, I had to kill Tokugawa Iemochi. It was the situation, and it was my choice.” Samura rubbed his forehead.

"So why did you come here? Shouldn't you be in your stronghold, in the Choshu and Satsuma domains, making preparations for war?" Kondo Isami asked with a smile.

"...There's no one left to trust in that place." Despair filled Zuocun's eyes. "Although that place was built by me, Ryoma, Takasugi, and Katsura, but..."

"There's no going back."

He let out a long sigh.

With his military power gone, Samura no longer had any real subordinates in Satsuma.

When they were together, they both felt that by acquiring each other's talents, they would become invincible.

But...

But...

There's no going back.

Samura could only tell Saigo Moritaka that he and Meiji had colluded.

Even if we can't go back, I will still fulfill your dream, Ryoma.

Both of them fell silent.

"What? How come you're living a more miserable life than me?" Kondo Isami chuckled twice.

"Stop laughing, Kondo, your laugh sounds awful." Samura interrupted Kondo's laughter helplessly. "I came here this time..."

"I want to persuade you to leave the shogunate and to leave Tokugawa Yoshinobu."

"War is about to break out. Inoue is dead. I don't want you to die too..."

"Samura!" Kondo Isami interrupted Samura sharply.

"...Thank you. I know you did it for me, for Hijikata, for us."

"But..."

“I will continue down this path.” He clenched his fist. “This is the path I chose, and it is the sincerity of the Shinsengumi.”

"If I don't even have the confidence to walk my own path."

"Then my sincerity... perhaps it no longer exists either."

Samura stared at Kondo Isami's profile and remained silent for a long while.

"I will fight."

He said softly.

"I will fight in this war."

Zuocun stood up.

"On the battlefield, I will show no mercy this time."

"Just as you said, Kondo, the path I've chosen... I must continue on it."

The two people stood up and looked at each other.

"Ah, I won't hold back either." A hint of fighting spirit appeared on Kondo Isami's lips.

"See you on the battlefield." Zuo Cun walked towards the window.

"Oh, right, Samura, there's something I need to tell you." Suddenly, Kondo remembered something.

"what?"

“Go southwest of Osaka and find a place called Ryoshunya.” Kondo Isami’s eyes held a hint of determination. “Okita… is there now.”

Samura was taken aback: "Kondo, no, I... I'm not qualified..."

Kondo Isami walked over, grabbed Samura's shoulder, and looked directly into Samura's eyes.

Zuo Cun seemed somewhat evasive.

“She’s sick.” Kondo’s tone was pleading. “She’s very sick and can no longer lift a knife.”

Samura looked at Kondo in disbelief.

"Is it... a cough?"

He thought of Takasugi, and of the great fire in Kyoto a few years ago.

The two people's symptoms seem to be... exactly the same.

Zuocun panicked.

Kondo nodded.

So, promise me you'll go, okay?

“Okita is like a younger sister to me, Hijikata, and Inoue.”

"At least, at least we must let Okita..."

"You can leave without regrets."