I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Which side is more reasonable and which side is more just? I believe the eyes of the world are discerning."

Qing Deng paused for a moment, then adopted a more profound and solemn tone.

"Aichi, I entrusted you with the important task of 'protecting Kyoto.' And this is your answer?"

"Is the root cause of the unrest in Kyoto 'illegitimate' or is it your incompetence?"

Qingdeng's tone wasn't high, but every word he uttered was like a sledgehammer, striking heavily into everyone's ears and hearts, full of awe-inspiring power—this was the lofty prestige accumulated from long holding a high position!

When Aoto is serious, even the unruly Hijikata Toshizo has to sit up straight and never dare to be presumptuous.

"Ah Yi, I appreciate your courage and outspokenness."

"But your suggestion is too absurd for me to agree with."

"I will pretend to be forgetful for now and forget everything I just heard."

"Don't mention this again."

"Otherwise, even if it were you, I wouldn't let you off easily."

"If you feel that you are not capable enough to restore peace to Kyoto, you may simply say so. I will have someone else do it for you."

"That concludes today's 'team meeting,' everyone may leave."

Having said that, without waiting for Saito's response, Aoto stood up unhurriedly and left under everyone's watchful eyes.

……

……

No sooner had Saito Hajime stepped out of the conference room than he was confronted by Nagakura Shinpachi and Harada Sanosuke, who were blocking his way.

"Saito! Are you crazy! Or are you sick?"

As Harada Sanosuke spoke, he raised his hands, touching his own forehead with his left hand and Saito Hajime's forehead with his right, muttering, "Strange... his body temperature is normal..."

While Naga and Hara were holding off Saito Hajime, Hijikata Toshizo, Yamanami Keisuke, and the others surrounded him.

Even Serizawa Kamo and Niimi Nishiki, who were outside the "Shiekan faction," stood by with their arms crossed, silently acting as listeners.

Hijikata Toshizo frowned, looking at Saito Hajime with a hostile expression:

"Saito, what's wrong with you today? What kind of crazy suggestion did you just make?"

"If you really don't know how to offer advice, you can simply keep quiet as always and not speak out!"

Kondo Isami tugged at Hijikata Toshizo's sleeve:

"Ah Sui, what you said is too harsh..."

Hijikata Toshizo unceremoniously shook off Kondo Isami's hand.

"No, I have to be harsh! I have to give him a serious warning!"

"Saito, do you realize how dangerous your statement was?"

"To utter such rebellious remarks, you would be perfectly justified in being beheaded!"

"The fact that Ju didn't pursue your crime is already an act of exceptional favoritism!"

"The constant emergence of patriots and those who uphold justice, what does it have to do with the palace... or with His Majesty's ascension to the throne?"

"Right now, there's no such thing as 'righteousness,' only pure 'force'! Whoever defeats the other first possesses 'righteousness.' Don't you understand such a simple principle?"

"Besides, with His Majesty already on the throne, how could we possibly ask her to return the divine artifact?"

Have you ever heard of an emperor who, upon ascending the Takamidai (Imperial Terrace), immediately stepped down from it?

"If such a thing were to happen, we would only become a laughingstock to the world!"

Heisuke Todo looked worried.

"Brother Saito, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Sanako demonstrated the tolerance expected of a matriarch:

"Captain Saito, if you have something difficult to say, please feel free to tell us, and we will help you."

After experiencing utter shock, everyone gradually calmed down.

As reason regained control of their minds, everyone felt utterly perplexed.

Everyone present knew that Aoto and Saito Hajime shared a very deep friendship.

Strictly speaking, Saito Kazuya was Aoto's first companion and first comrade-in-arms.

While Sanako, Souji, and others were still unfamiliar with Aoto, Saito Hajime was already fighting alongside Aoto as his "bodyguard."

This is a well-known story within the Shinsengumi—a homeless ronin finally found a lord to whom he could serve for a lifetime.

Saito Hajime has never disobeyed Seito and has always been one of Seito's sharpest "swords to defeat enemies"... This is the first time he has ever contradicted Seito in front of everyone like this.

To everyone present, Saito Kazuya was their reliable companion and comrade-in-arms who had shared life and death with them.

Therefore, everyone naturally did not want him to be punished for his words, and even less did they want to see his friendship with Qing Deng break down.

Even Hijikata Toshizo, known for his foul mouth and profanity, couldn't hide the worry in his eyes.

Unfortunately... Saito Hajime's reaction to the helping hands offered by everyone was very indifferent:

"As the captain of the third division of the Shinsengumi, don't I even have the right to express my own thoughts?"

"I have no selfish motives; I simply want the people of the world to enjoy peace as soon as possible."

"The dispute today is probably just because Mr. Ju and I have different perspectives on the 'world'."

After coldly saying "Excuse me," he said no more, spread his arms, pushed aside the crowd, and quickly left.

Todo Heisuke and Saito are the same age (both are 21 this year) and have a past friendship as former subordinates of Aoto Okabiki (Doshin's subordinate), so they have a pretty good relationship.

Seeing Saito walk away, he instinctively leaned forward to chase after him.

However, he had only taken half a step when Hijikata Toshizo grabbed his arm:

"Heisuke, come back! Don't worry about him. Saito's emotions are unstable, let him have some time to calm down!"

With a conflicted expression, Todo Heisuke looked at Saito Hajime in front of him, then at Hijikata Toshizo behind him... In the end, he chose to listen to the latter's advice.

Today's "team meeting," which should have been very boring and dull, has unexpectedly turned out like this... Although it is no longer boring or dull, it is really not a happy occasion.

The group looked at each other, exchanging glances and whispering amongst themselves.

Ah Wu raised her little hand and said weakly:

"I... I'll go talk to Aoto with Sanako. Aoto must be feeling really bad right now..."

Inoue Genzaburo nodded and echoed:

"Yes, when Tachibana-kun left just now, although he had no expression on his face, I could tell that he was in a very bad mood."

Nagakura Shinpachi sighed heavily:

“Then I’ll go talk to Saito. I’ll go alone. Saito doesn’t like noisy occasions. Too many people will make it harder for him to open up.”

Kondo Isamu nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that's right. Let Shinpachi talk to Saito alone. The others shouldn't bother Saito for now, especially you, Toshi."

Hijikata Toshizo looked displeased:

"Huh? Why?"

Kondo Isami gave him a disgruntled look.

"You still have the nerve to ask 'why'? You're a sarcastic and mean-spirited person, born without the ability to 'mediate.' Sending you to see Saito will only cause trouble."

And so, after assigning tasks and exchanging bewildered and uneasy glances, everyone dispersed on the spot.

Even though everyone else had already left, one person remained standing still.

But Ito Kashitaro tilted his head, staring intently westward—the very direction Saito Hajime had gone—his eyes filled with a complex expression, as if he were deep in thought.

After a while, the thoughtful look on his face gradually faded, replaced by a meaningful smile.

As that smile appeared, he finally moved his feet, turned westward, quickened his pace, and chased straight after Saito Hajime.

……

……

That afternoon—

Otsu, Shinsengumi headquarters, a certain dojo—

[Note: The Shinsengumi headquarters was located outside Otsu, with Shinsengumi outposts in Kyoto, Osaka, and Otsu.]

Todo Heisuke stood in the center of the dojo, looking sullen, mechanically swinging the bamboo sword in his hand, practicing the soju.

In the vast dojo, he was the only one present, the rhythmic sound of his bamboo sword cutting through the wind dominating the entire arena.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

He swung his sword with force, but there was no crisp sound like a bamboo sword cutting through the air.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that his wrists were weak, his sword strokes were crooked, and the tip of the blade trembled wildly... a visibly bad situation.

For a swordsman of Todo Heisuke's caliber, "sword chaos" has only one cause: "mental chaos."

At this moment, his mind was completely absorbed in the changes of the day, and his thoughts were in a jumbled mess, like a ball of yarn.

—What exactly is wrong with Saito-san?

—Was he so exhausted from the heavy responsibility of “defending Kyoto” that he became delirious?

—I never realized he was such a person who revered the Emperor…

—Sigh…I'll talk to him again when I have the chance…

He had intended to practice his sword and work up a sweat to relieve his inner turmoil.

However, after picking up the bamboo sword, his mood did not improve; instead, it worsened.

—I'm not feeling well today... Let's stop here.

Just as he put down his bamboo sword and was about to leave, a familiar, magnetic male voice made him freeze in place.

"Huh? Isn't this Heisuke? You're here."