The Ultimate Fatal Rival! The Waylay of the Desperate Fangs.

Saitou has a plan. While Sano heals and Kenshin remains in the dark about Saitou's plans, Fujita Goro dines at a restaurant where a fighter by the name of Akamatsu meets up with him. Akamatsu is mad because Saitou had gotten the job to assassinate the Battousai instead of him, only because Saitou was a member of the Shinsen Gumi. Fujita, really known as Saitou, wanting to end Akamatsu's rant, suggests that they share the kill and fee. The plan is that Fujita will have a message delivered to Kenshin that tells him a duel will take place in a field between the two. When Kenshin arrives at the location, Akamatsu can kill him, and he and Fujita will split the reward. Akamatsu likes that idea and gets ready for his part in the act.

A hidden chain takes down Kenshin. Cheap trick! The message is delivered to Kenshin and he departs, leaving Yahiko to do his chore of getting tofu. In the field, Kenshin awaits the arrival of Saitou, but from behind him flies a chain. Easily, Kenshin dodges and turns to see the attacker is Akamatsu. Once the man with a stitches on his face introduces himself, Kenshin easily dodges Akamatsu's attacks and cuts his chain in half. The rurouni doesn't want to fight anymore, as Akamatsu remains weaponless, so he departs, telling Akamatsu to change his way of life. Akamatsu, however, is not through yet. A hidden chain is pulled out and wrapped around Kenshin. Kenshin is swung all over the field, crashing into the ground and stones until it seems as though he is knocked out. Akamatsu checks on the rurouni and chuckles at his victory, not understanding why a politician had to hire killers like Jin'e and Saitou to deal with the Battousai when he could do the job all along. Akamatsu figures that the politicians didn't want Kenshin to expose their actions in the Bakumatsu. That's all Kenshin needed to know. His eyes open up, frightening Akamatsu and in a few moments, the battle is over.

Saitou awaits his prey. Later in the day, Yahiko comes home with the tofu and tells Kaoru about Kenshin's departure. As the two converse, police officer Fujita Goro appears at the Kamiya Dojo's entrance, asking for Himura Kenshin. When Kaoru tells Fujita he's not home, the policeman explains that he's been recently assigned to the area and has received some information that Kenshin is targeted. Both Kaoru and Yahiko assume that the person was the one who attacked Sanosuke, so when Fujita asks if he may come in and wait for Himura, Kaoru invites him in. This is the beginning of Saitou's plan.

When the time is right, the battle will begin. Kenshin arrives home after his win over Akamatsu, only to find Saitou waiting in the dojo. Ten years ago was their last battle. Since then, both men have changed in their own views. Kenshin views Saitou as more cowardly than before and Saitou views Kenshin as a mere weakling. Kaoru and Yahiko are shocked that Sano's attacker was present with them all along. Saitou begins to taunt Kenshin, trying to incite him. For quite some time, from Kenshin's battles with Jin'e to Raijuuta, Saitou has been watching Kenshin and is prepared for the former Battousai. Kenshin tries to stay clear from a battle, but Saitou threatens that he could have killed Kenshin's friends while he was away. There is no choice but to fight; Kenshin draws his Sakabatou and enters battle. Saitou, armed with his katana, charges with the horizontal attack, the Gatotsu when the sun sets in Tokyo. Using his incredible speed, Kenshin leaps up, ready to hit a Ryu Tsui Sen, but Saitou shows a new trick of his, an anti-air Gatotsu.