Kenshin, Kaoru, and Yahiko visit Akabeko, a beef hot-pot restaurant, where a group of democratic rights activists gets into a heated argument. One of them throws a bottle of sake, and it hits Kenshin, causing a commotion. Sanosuke Sagara, who happened to be in the store during the quarrel, stood up and blew away the activists with a single flick to the forehead. Seeing Kenshin's strength, Sanosuke's curiosity is roused and he asks, "You wanna buy a fight from me?"

Kenshin receives a request from the police chief, asking for his help to take down "Kurogasa," a serial killer who has been repeatedly targeting former Revolutionary warriors. Kenshin and Sanosuke go to escort Jusanro Tani, who received a letter containing a death threat. As warned in the letter, at 1:00 a.m. sharp, Kurogasa appears. His true identity was Jine Udo, a vagabond slayer who had made a name for himself in the assassination business since the Bakumatsu Era.