Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014)
A pleasant day, Hivers! It's me again, @rufajane, back with another blog. I am sure that you are excited to know what will happen next in the story of Kenshin Himura and I am here to tell you the next part of the movie.
The Plot
This time, the story opens with a flashback: the wandering swordsman Hiko Seijūrō (Masaharu Fukuyama) discovers a young boy named Shinta burying the bodies of slain bandits and slave traders. When Shinta explains that death makes all people equal, Hiko sees potential in him and takes the boy as his apprentice, giving him the name "Kenshin".
In the present day, Kenshin regains consciousness at Hiko’s remote home. He asks whether Kaoru drifted ashore with him, but Hiko informs him coldly that she likely drowned. Realizing the threat Shishio Makoto now poses, Kenshin begs his master to teach him the final Hiten Mitsurugi technique, the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. Hiko eventually agrees, beginning Kenshin’s advanced training through a harsh duel.
Meanwhile, Shishio arrives near Tokyo aboard a massive ironclad warship and summons Home Minister Itō Hirobumi (Yukiyoshi Ozawa) to negotiate. When the ministers show disrespect, Shishio retaliates and executes one of them and imprisoning the rest, sparing only the prime minister. He demands that the government hand over the legendary Battōsai, threatening to expose their past assassinations if they refuse. But Saitō Hajime (Yōsuke Eguchi), still loyal to law and order, is disgusted by how easily the government bends to Shishio’s pressure.
Elsewhere, Yahiko spots a wanted poster for “Battousai” Kenshin, realizing he must still be alive. Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Misao rush toward Tokyo to look for Kenshin and track down Kaoru. A young woman suddenly approaches them with a familiar scarf, the one Misao had used to wrap Kaoru’s wounds. Following this lead, they arrive at a hospital and find Kaoru alive but unconscious.
Back at Hiko’s cabin, Kenshin’s training intensifies. Hiko reveals Kenshin’s deepest flaw: he has long abandoned the will to live, believing death is the only way to atone for his past as Battōsai. Without valuing his own life, he can never defeat Shishio. That night, Hiko tells him he must discover what he lacks or die as a failed student.
By morning, Kenshin still cannot see what is missing, so Hiko attacks him in earnest. In a critical moment, Kenshin instinctively defends himself not from fear of Hiko, but from the realization that he wants to live. Accepting this truth, Kenshin finally gains the resolve needed to learn the secret of the final technique.
At the same time, Kaoru awakens from her coma and travels back to Tokyo with Yahiko and Sanosuke. As Kenshin finishes his training, Misao arrives with news that Kaoru survived. She also warns him that he is now officially wanted throughout Japan for his past deeds as Battōsai.
Kenshin takes a secret route provided by the Oniwabanshū to return to Tokyo. On the way, Kenshin and Misao find Okina (Min Tanaka) gravely injured after confronting Aoshi Shinomori, who had been waiting to challenge Kenshin. Kenshin faces Aoshi in a fierce duel, but Okina’s injuries prove fatal. Misao later tends to Aoshi, urging him to return to the Oniwabanshū and abandon his destructive path.
On Shishio’s ship, Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara), Yumi (Maryjun Takahashi), and Hori make a grim discovery because Shishio’s burned body cannot sweat, he can only fight for about fifteen minutes before risking death.
Kenshin eventually reaches the Kamiya Dojo, where Megumi (Yū Aoi) welcomes him back. But soon after, police arrive to arrest him. Kenshin surrenders peacefully, hoping to prevent any more conflict. He is brought before Minister Itō (Yukiyoshi Ozawa), who explains that he attempted negotiations with Shishio, but failed. Shishio demands Kenshin’s execution in exchange for sparing the government for now.
Kenshin persuades Itō that he can defeat Shishio if given the chance, but Itō proceeds with the planned execution anyway.
When Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko return to Tokyo, they are horrified to learn the execution is happening that same day. Shishio’s men also attend the event to ensure the government keeps its promise.
But the execution turns out to be a façade. The moment the blade falls, Saitō intervenes, helping Kenshin break free and defeat Shishio’s undercover agents. Sanosuke arrives soon after, and the three head out by boat toward Shishio’s ironclad.
Once aboard the battleship, Kenshin encounters Sōjirō (Ryunosuke Kamiki) again, leading to an intensely emotional rematch. Kenshin wins, shaking Sōjirō’s long-held beliefs about strength and weakness.
Kenshin then confronts Shishio, Yumi, and Hori in the inner chamber of the ship. Shishio initially overpowers him, but soon Saitō joins the fight, followed by Sanosuke and Aoshi. Even with all four of them combined, Shishio remains nearly unstoppable. When he hits his fifteen-minute limit, Yumi tries to shield him, but Shishio impales both her and Kenshin in a brutal moment (she intentionally stab the girl he loves, Yumi, altogether with Kenshin).
As the Meiji forces begin firing on the ship to sink it, Shishio mocks Kenshin for aiding a corrupt government. Kenshin acknowledges the government’s flaws, but insists that the violent era of assassins like them is over. Summoning everything he learned from Hiko, Kenshin unleashes the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. Though he doesn’t strike a killing blow, Shishio’s overheated body ignites from within. Consumed by flames, Shishio burns to death before them.
Kenshin, Saitō, Sanosuke, and Aoshi escape the sinking ship and make it safely to shore. They are greeted by Kaoru, Yahiko, Misao, and government officials. For the first time, Itō formally addresses him as Himura Kenshin, declaring Battōsai “dead” and honoring the group as heroes.
Aoshi and Misao return to Kyoto. Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke go back to the Kamiya Dojo. Kaoru reflects on the changing seasons and the end of Kenshin’s life as Battōsai. Kenshin expresses his desire to remain at the dojo and live peacefully in the new era and gently invites Kaoru to walk into that future with him.
But what if the enemy waiting in the shadows knows Kenshin better than anyone alive and hates him more than anyone ever has? We'll talk about this in my next blog. Sayōnara!
