Akamatsu Arundo is a mercenary of Shibumi, a corrupt politician. Arundo feels jealous that Shibumi orders Saitō Hajime to kill Kenshin, but Saitō tells Arundo that he can kill Kenshin. Arundo ambushes Kenshin, but after Kenshin defeats him, he begs for mercy and as Kenshin turns around, he uses his chain to immobilize him. Eventually Kenshin appears as though he is dead and so Akamatsu tells him why he was targeted, namely because Shibumi and others like him didn't want him as well as those involved in the war to disclose what really happen in it. After hearing this Kenshin gets back (having faked being dead) and defeats Arundo. Arundo discovers that Saitō is actually allied with Ōkubo Toshimichi. When Arundo, fearing for his safety, decides to cut ties with Shibumi and go out of the count