The Birth of a Junior Samurai! First Disciple, Yahiko's Battle.

Who's this strange girl? By training in a field with a board hanging from the branch of a tree, Yahiko wishes to imitate the style of Kenshin. As a young girl passing by watches on, Yahiko is accidentally hit by the board itself, knocking him back and his slipper off. The girl retrieves Yahiko's slipper and gladly fixes it for him because it was busted. Yahiko just watches on in silence as he stares into the girl's eyes and is handed back his slipper. The girl wishes Yahiko luck then leaves the silent boy.

Yahiko gets beaten by some cheap shots. Later at the Akabeko, Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sano, Ayame, and Suzume all dine. Yahiko just sits there, still mesmerized by the girl from earlier. To his surprise, the girl appears again, but apparently, she is employed by the sukiyaki restaurant. Ayame and Suzume call the girl Tsubame. It seems as though everyone knows who this girl is except Yahiko. Tsubame is called away from the Kenshin Gumi's table to get some water from the well outside. With haste, Yahiko follows her. Once outside, Yahiko helps Tsubame and thanks her for fixing his slipper. After Yahiko introduces himself, Tsubame thanks him and walks away, only to be confronted by a gang of men that take her away. The leader of this group, Mikio, asks for the owner of the Akabeko's key so he can steal money. Tsubame was the one who was suppose to mold the key, but didn't because she thinks it would disgrace Mikio's family name. With one slap, Mikio knocks down Tsubame, reminding her that his family has owned hers. That comment brings in Yahiko, who stands up to defend for Tsubame. Words are exchanged and the men of Mikio's gang attack Yahiko. It looks as though Yahiko can beat them one-on-one, but when they gang up on him, Yahiko's beat. At last, Tsubame gives in and says she'll make the key, causing Mikio and his men to leave.

A few words of advice from Kenshin. Yahiko was beaten up good the other day, so to get back at the men that mobbed him, he trains hard, hanging multiple boards from the tree. Kenshin watches Yahiko train as he carries a sleeping Suzume. Already, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Sano know what's going on, but they play like they don't, since this is the only way Yahiko can actually mature. Yahiko spots the former Battousai and asks him if he knows of a method that can be used when facing a large group. Kenshin suggests a tactic the Ishin samurai used, running away. If the person runs away from the group, he can have an easier time fighting them one-on-one because not all men of that group run at the same speed. Yahiko understands and notes it down, preparing for his big battle. There's one more thing Kenshin adds. Because of the Budo the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu has, the person defending the other are linked. So, if the defender loses, so does the person he or she is protecting.

The Calvary That evening, Mikio and his men get ready to break into the Akabeko's owner's house, but Yahiko swipes the key and runs away. Using Kenshin's suggested method, Yahiko is able to take out a few men in an alley until Mikio's men corner him there and draw knives. From the sky, a rock is thrown at the men, grabbing their attention. Standing above a nearby roof is Kenshin and Sanosuke with mean looks in their eyes. The men are frightened, as they've heard rumors of the man with the X on his face and already know what Zanza can do, so they flee, leaving only Mikio behind.

Yahiko knocks Mikio out cold. For most of the battle, Yahiko dodges Mikio's sword, getting cut a few times, until his shinai is cut in half. Tsubame, with Kaoru, watches on from the alley's entrance, cheering on Yahiko. Determined to win, Yahiko takes one of the bokkens dropped by Mikio's men and gives a good hard swing to Mikio's knee, knocking him down. To claim victory, Yahiko knocks Mikio out with a swipe to the neck. Kaoru runs up to Yahiko and praises him for winning. Yahiko looks behind him, already knowing that Kenshin and Sano are there, so their "hiding" wasn't very well done. Once everyone is regrouped, Tsubame tells Yahiko that she has more courage because of him and will now move on in life, not feeling sorry or sad. Yahiko wishes her luck, but Sano breaks up the touchy scene by teasing Yahiko that he has a girlfriend. Kaoru joins Sano in his taunts, and to make Yahiko even more angry, they call him 'chan'.