Hiten versus Shukuchi. Soujirou, God's Gift to Nature.

The Speed of the Tenken The fight between Kenshin and Soujirou quickly begins, since neither one wants to waste time. Before the two combatants stand in the Battou Jutsu stance, however, Soujirou informs Kenshin of the Aoiya's attack being a complete failure on the side of the Juppon Gatana. Soujirou promises to fight as all ten swords of Shishio's most elite group. Both Kenshin and Soujirou slash past each other with great speed. They're evenly matched in the Battou Jutsu technique, and this time, Kenshin's sword did not break. Soujirou praises Kenshin for becoming stronger, but warns him that he still cannot defeat Shishio. Using speed which cannot be seen by the human eye, Soujirou charges for Kenshin.

Kenshin's Kuzu Ryu Sen was evaded!? Soujirou uses his speed, known as Shukuchi, and tries to attack Kenshin. Kenshin manages to dodge, but that's only because Soujirou claims he wasn't using his full speed. Acting quickly, Kenshin executes the Kuzu Ryu Sen, but somehow, Soujirou dodged what Kenshin thought was the only technique of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu that couldn't be evaded. It was pure speed that Soujirou used, and with Kenshin left open, he takes a big slash at his back.

Senkaku's final words Yumi urges Soujirou to finish Himura, but Soujirou had stopped and began chuckling. Soujirou thinks back to what Senkaku says then charges at Kenshin. Thinking back to the past when Senkaku ran away after his battle with Kenshin, Soujirou had encountered the large fighter by a river. There, Senkaku had thanked Kenshin for saving his life, bringing Soujirou's mind into conflict. What the Tenken doesn't understand is why someone who had killed so much in the past became one who protects lives and doesn't shed blood anymore. Even though Senkaku was not told anything of importance by Shishio, Soujirou had slain him with his sword and vanished from the scene.

Something is holding Soujirou back... With his mind back into the present, Soujirou slashes Kenshin, but not with full power. Kenshin knows something is holding Soujirou back. Soujirou bluntly states that he doesn't understand Kenshin or his way of thinking. When Kenshin tells Soujirou that it must be that he once thought like him, Soujirou's face takes on the emotion of anger. Yumi herself is shocked, since Soujirou only has the emotion of happiness and no other. When Soujirou charges for Kenshin this time, he shouts that he doesn't want to be like the rurouni, but before he attacks, Soujirou suddenly jumps back and asks if they can take a short break because he has to time his sandal's lace.

What kind of past does the emotionless Soujirou have? Kenshin accepts the decision to take a short break. During the break, Kenshin's injuries are tended to by Sano. Elsewhere, Kaoru tends to the wounds and injuries for everyone that was hurt in the Aoiya battle. Kenshin knows that Soujirou's mind must be cracking, like how his did while fighting Saitou. Like how the Battousai was emerging from Kenshin, emotions are coming up for Soujirou. Yumi complains to Soujirou, asking what's wrong with him for not killing Kenshin by now. Soujirou himself doesn't know, all he can agree with is that Kenshin's thinking is wrong and Shishio's is right; the world is the survival of the fittest.