This episode starts with a murder scene. A man with a large hat is assassinating a bunch of people. There is only one remaining person left alive... He begs for his life, offering the murderer money. The man with the large hat just smirks and prepares to kill him. The terrified man starts running away but suddenly he freezes for no reason, allowing the assassin to easily slay him with his sword.
Back at the Kammiya Dojo, Ayame, Suzume, Yahiko, Kenshin and Sanosuke are all having lunch as prepared by Kauro. Sanosuke seems to be the only one who doesn't mind giving negative comments about Kauro's food which, as he says, is disgusting. Kauro gets annoyed with Sano's freeloading and starts throwing random things at him, while he uses Kenshin as a protective shield. Suddenly, the brawl is interrupted by the police chief (see episode 3), he reports that there is an assassin called the Kurogasa, who's been killing countless Ishin Shishi over the past ten years. He says that they need Kenshin's assistance in defeating him because he is no pushover opponent. Kenshin realizes that this man is probably a hittokiri from the Bakumatsu just like himself, thus it is a battle he cannot avoid.
It's night time. Kenshin is inside a house surrounded by armed police officers. He and a bunch of other people are body guarding a man called Tani, he is an important politician and Kurogasa threatened to assassinate him exactly at midnight. Sanosuke also arrives at the scene, he just can't give up a good fight, now can he? It is now midnight and a scream is heard from outside. Kenshin and Sanosuke look outside the window to find three bodies lying on the ground. Inside, there is no sign of the assassin. Everybody seemed relaxed, thinking it was a prank, just then the Kurogasa enters through the window, slaying a man who stood in his path. Tani commands his personal body guards to attack Kurogasa, giving them promises of high rank positions and big money. Being greedy, they run towards the Kurogasa but get slain before being able to attack. The men attempt to escape but Kurogasa appears to be using some kind of witchcraft with his eyes and paralyzes them all on the spot, none of them is able to move.
Everyone is frozen on the spot. Kurogasa says that it is wrong for one to run away after he has already drawn his sword. Sanosuke seems to be the only one who can even slightly move, Kurogasa is impressed by him and is about to "reward" him by killing him first. Just then Kenshin leaps from behind Sano, cutting the Kurogasa's hat in half. Kenshin knows this technique, it isn't witchcraft but hypnosis, The Shin No Ippo. He also knows the name of the assassin- Udo Jine. Jine seems pleased, he also knows who Kenshin is, he recognized him by his trademark cross shaped scar. Jine says that he no longer cares for the pigs and their money, he now changes his target to Kenshin- the legendary Hittokiri Battousai. He uses the Shin No Ippo on Kenshin but it is no use, Kenshin quickly breaks free of it. It appears that if one's spirit is equal or surpasses that of the user's, the opponent could easily evade being paralyzed. Suddenly, Sanosuke realizes the trick as well and also breaks free of the Shin No Ippo! He gets pissed at Jine and throws a statue at him, Jine easily moves aside and gives Sano a nice cut on both hands. Kenshin gets annoyed and runs towards Jine. After a short battle Jine realizes that Kenshin is nothing compared to what he was in the days if the Bakumatsu and decides to give him some time to practice before the real battle. He releases all the body guards out of his Shin No Ippo and escapes into the shadows.
After Jine leaves Kenshin and Sano sit down and chat about the situation. Sanosuke realizes that Kenshin planned all along to become Jine's target in order to save the life of Mr. Tani. Kenshin tells Sano that there is no way he could defeat Jine in his current situation And asks him to deliver a message to Kauro.
The next morning at the Kammiya Dojo Sanosuke tells Kauro that Kenshin needs to be alone until his big fight with Jine, he says that seeing her would have caused his heart to soften and he would lose the battle for sure. Kauro goes to look for him, remembering Kenshin's words: "I don't know when I'll start wandering again, because I am a rurouni." Yahiko and Sanosuke chase her but it is of no use, they can't find her.
Kenshin is sitting next to a river bank, thinking about his odds of winning with his no killing attitude. Suddenly Kauro arrives at the scene, very mad. She says that she will stay with him, but Kenshin tells her that there is no way he will win like that. Kauro understands the situation and agrees to leave, however, before she leaves she gives Kenshin her favorite ribbon, saying that she won't forgive him if he doesn't bring it back. Kenshin doesn't understand what she wants at first, but then he realizes that she just wants him to come back after the fight and not go wandering again... He smiles and promises to bring the ribbon back. They both exchange smiles but then out of nowhere Jine appears on a boat, kidnapping Kauro from behind! He tells Kenshin to get mad and return to his days as Hittokiri Battousai. Kenshin stands there and looks at him with murderous eyes.