The Shinsengumi join up with the old Bakufu army and head for Aizu. Hijikata desperately petitions to spare Kondou's life, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Back in Edo, Harada meets up with Shiranui, and decides to repay his debt to him. Ootori Keisuke, the commander-in-chief, introduces himself to Hijikata and asks him to become the adviser for the vanguard. Hijikata has another vampiric impulse, and drinks Chizuru's blood. The Old Bakufu army attack Utsunomiya Castle, and Hijikata faces Kazama once more, transforming into his Rasetsu form. But he is wounded by Kazama's demon-slaying sword and stays behind Nikkou to receive medical treatment. Ootori tells him that his performance as an adviser was a failure, and Hijikata recalls Yamazaki's words before he died. Nagakura comes to visit them before he leaves for Aizu.

• Osamu Yamasaki
• Tsunekiyo Fujisawa

• Houko Kuwashima
• Shin-ichiro Miki