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

All that's there is is a cherry tree and a small grave.

And another man sitting in front of the grave.

It is the third year of the earth's reign.

Zuo Cun's face regained some color, and looking at that retreating figure, he subconsciously called out, "Hijikata."

Hijikata turned around and found a haggard-looking man standing behind him.

"...Zuocun."

Samura silently walked over to Hijikata Toshizo's side and sat down with him in front of Inoue Genzaburo's tombstone.

The two of them sat side by side in silence, keeping company with Inoue Genzaburo's tombstone.

"How did you end up here? Shouldn't you still be wanted by the authorities?"

“The remaining pro-shogunate forces are mostly concentrated in Aizu, which is quite close to here… I wanted to keep Inoue company, so I came. Didn’t you see I didn’t bring a sword? I was disguised too.” Hijikata Toshizo sighed, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

"...Do you intend to continue down this path?" Zuocun continued to ask.

“We must keep going. Even if it’s the wrong path, it’s our only path.” Hijikata Toshizo sighed. “I don’t even have the awareness to admit that our path is wrong.”

"...You and Kondo both think so, huh?" Samura smiled.

"...Thank you for Kondo's matter." Hijikata Toshizo was silent for a moment before thanking Samura.

"No need to thank me. I just don't want to see an old friend leave this world with shame." Zuo Cun shook his head.

"...How is Okita now? I heard you took her away."

“…Okita.” Tears welled up in the corners of Samura’s eyes.

Hijikata Toshizo turned around and looked at the dejected man.

"She's gone. She left in my arms."

"She said she was my lover, she told me not to cry, she..."

"Then she left, she just left..."

Zuocun gripped his knees with both hands, his whole body trembling.

Hijikata Toshizo was somewhat reluctant to look at Samura.

Although their positions are no longer the same, Hijikata can still sense how much suffering Samura is going through.

"She said those words."

Hijikata Toshizo looked up at the sky.

When a person looks up at the sky, their tears dry up in their eyes.

"She has no regrets."

But... the person who's sadly sitting next to me is still here.

"Hijikata, let's go drink!"

"......Walk."

"After we finish drinking, come with me to Edo to do something."

"......what ever!"

......

The day had already arrived.

Samura and Hijikata ran to Edo together.

They found the Tokugawa family's cemetery.

They dug up Tokugawa Iemochi's grave and threw the coffin aside.

Beneath the coffin lay the remains of Inoue Genzaburo, who had not yet completely decomposed into bones and still emitted a strong odor.

Without the slightest hesitation, Samura and Hijikata picked up Inoue Genzaburo's body and carried it from Edo back to Kyoto.

The two of them paid no attention to the countless people on the street who looked at them with fear and astonishment.

Back in Mibu Village, the two buried Inoue Genzaburo's body by the river.

After Samura and Hijikata paid their respects to Inoue Genzaburo, Hijikata chose to leave.

After Hijikata left, Samura returned to that dazed state once again.

I sometimes sit by Inoue Genzaburo's tombstone for a while, and sometimes I sit by Okita's tombstone for a while.

Several times, Kanna woke up the next morning to find that Samura was missing, and when she went out to look for him, she found him sleeping on Ms. Okita's grave.

Kanna tried to persuade Samura, but Samura seemed to ignore everything she said.

He was like a walking corpse.

Upon hearing the news, Luslan, leaning on his cane, arrived at his home in Zuocun.

Ruslan looked incredibly thin, which, according to him, was a symptom of some kind of gastrointestinal illness.

After much persuasion from the two people, Zuo Cun finally cheered up and was able to live a normal life.

But a smile never appeared on his face again.

......

The war continues.

The lord of the Aizu Domain, leading the remaining forces, retreated to the Aizu Domain and parts of northeastern Japan, Dewa, and Mutsu, where they continued to clash with the new government forces.

Almost all the remaining forces of the shogunate are concentrated here, and they are still a force that cannot be underestimated. Saigo Moritaka does not dare to make any rash moves.

Among these remaining forces were the Shinsengumi, the famous Mibu Wolves who were once the guardians of Kyoto.

The Mibu Wolves have shrunk from hundreds of members to less than a hundred.

Moreover, only two leaders remained.

Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo and the only squad leader, Saito Hajime.

During the process of leading the team, Nagakura Shinpachi broke away from the team and formed a new one on his own.

Time, amidst constant friction, passed through the turbulent year of 1868.

In the spring of 69, due to the constant pressure from the new government forces, the remaining shogunate forces had no choice but to cross the strait and enter Ezo from Hakodate.

But everyone already understood.

Any further resistance now would be futile.

It could not truly prolong the life of the shogunate; it merely lingered on, restlessly awaiting its end.

Before crossing the strait to Ezo, the last captain of the Shinsengumi also left the Shinsengumi.

"So, isn't our defeat quite embarrassing?"

Saito Hajime sat on the stool, legs crossed, expressionless.

"Aizu is beyond saving..."

"So what's the next step, Vice Commander?"

Hijikata Toshizo looked at the map.

"...Go north, cross the strait to Ezo."

Saito sighed and stood up.

"In that case... I'm quitting."

Hijikata Toshizo raised his head and looked calmly at Saito.

"What did you say?"

"...Didn't you hear me? I'm quitting." Saito looked into Hijikata Toshizo's eyes, his tone filled with helplessness.

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

Chapter 421 Target: Ezo

“Aichi Saito is leaving; this is farewell.”

"what do you mean?"

“The literal meaning.” Saito shook his head with a bored expression. “Staying under your command has become meaningless.”

Hijikata Toshizo did not speak, but remained silent.

The air was still.

"Do those who desert have to commit seppuku?" Saito's hand had already climbed onto the hilt of the wakizashi.

If Hijikata told him to commit seppuku, he might actually do it.

Hijikata's gaze was complex, carrying a tear he was unwilling to shed and a deep sorrow.

"...No, it's no longer needed."

"From now on, I'll lead the team all by myself."

Saito stared at Hijikata Toshizo for a long time.

“...I said, Vice Commander. No, Mr. Hijikata.”

"Isn't that enough?"

Hijikata Toshizo picked up a pen and continued studying the map, while asking Saito, "What do you mean by 'enough'?"

"Don't you know what I'm referring to?" Saito rolled his eyes. "Chief Kondo is dead, and Okita is gone too."

"There are hardly any of my old acquaintances left."

"Do you understand?"

Hijikata stopped holding the pen.

"It's not over yet... the Shinsengumi isn't over yet."