List of Samurai Champloo episodes 1-12

After the title credits, there is a short introduction before the first episode, stating, "This work of fiction is not an accurate historical portrayal."

A colorful sunset stretches across the screen as an execution is prepared in the town below. We are suddenly introduced to two unfortunate characters addressed as Vagabond Mugen and Ronin Jin, who are knelt in front of the local Magistrate to be beheaded. An interested crowd has gathered and is chattering in curiosity. Sentenced to death, Mugen and Jin see their respective blades descend upon their necks.

Rewind one day earlier.

We are introduced to Fuu, who is working as a waitress in a tea house. The son of the local magistrate and his posse have chosen to relax in the tea house for the day, as well as disturb the other customers and heckle Fuu.

A few blocks away is the magistrate himself, standing in the way of a construction project, as he hasn't received a pay off. Despite being given money, he throws it back at the poor worker and orders the three Yagyu swordsmen guarding him to kill the man. As the Yagyu prepare to kill him, Jin steps forward out of the crowd, blocking their way. He then asks them if following the orders of their lord is honorable, "even if [he] is a worthless piece of shit." Provoked, the Yagyu attack, and are quickly cut down. Jin then leaves, picking up three coins off the ground as payment.

Back at the tea house, Mugen has offered to take care of the men who are causing trouble for fifty dumplings. Though Fuu initially refuses, after she stands to lose a finger, she raises the reward to one-hundred dumplings. Mugen jumps into action, slicing off Ryujiro's arm, as well as killing several other guards. The magistrate's son laughs at Mugen, telling him that this is not the way things are done here. But Mugen couldn't care less, deciding to break all the fingers on the son's hand until he receives a challenge. After breaking four fingers, Jin enters the tea house and catches Mugen's attention. As they fight, the crazed Ryujiro sets the tea house on fire.

After the blaze that killed his son, the magistrate has decided to make Mugen and Jin pay for his death, putting them in a department store of torture before being beheaded the next day. Meanwhile, Fuu investigates the ashes of what was once the tea house. She has made up her mind to travel and find the Sunflower Samurai. But first she will need some assistance.

Making her way past the guards, Fuu tries to break Mugen and Jin from their cell, but fails to do anything but break the key. The next day, she manages to get ahold of some fireworks, hoping to cause a distraction during the execution.

Meanwhile, time is running out. We now know more about the two men and the circumstances behind their execution, but is Fuu too late? The blades of the executioners are already being swung down, but Mugen ducks out of the way, kicking the sword from the executioner's hands. Cutting himself free, Jin kills his executioner and frees Mugen. Postponing their fight, the two proceed to fight their way out of the courtyard, killing the corrupt magistrate in the process.

A lone white butterfly flutters gracefully in the tiny crack of moonlight that has managed its way into a dark and gloomy prison. Oniwakamaru lays on the floor idly watching the butterfly flutter away, as Ryujiro opens his cell. In an effort to invigorate Oniwakamaru, Ryujiro asks him if he is ready to punish those that picked on him, which makes Oniwakamaru's eyes open wide.

On the road heading to the next town, Mugen, Jin, and Fuu put their money together to see if they can get something to eat. However, Fuu finds herself bombarded by questions of who the Sunflower Samurai is, what he means to her, and what clues they have to go on, all of which is dismissed as their stomachs growl. They stop at a little tea house along the road and get a plate of dumplings. However, as they fight over servings, a hawk steals their lunch.

Two men next to them at the tea house are talking about a rumor of an ogre that has attacked the men that are missing from their party. At first they ask Inuyaka to take care of the ogre, but he fumbles and is startled by the bark from a small dog. Mugen then offers his service, in exchange for a platter of dumplings. As the trio is casually eating, the tea house owner informs them of a small hut up the road where they can stay the night for free. However, this has all been orchestrated by Ryujiro, who has Oniwakamaru strangle the owner afterward.

Dragging a passed out Fuu on a cart, Jin and Mugen meet Hotaru on an intersecting road. She has broken a sandal, which Mugen fixes. Mugen stays with Jin and Fuu until they reach the old broken down shack, then leaves, saying he has some "errands" to run. Meeting Hotaru at an inn, he shares a drink with her before getting intimate. However, as they kiss, Mugen realizes that he has been poisoned. Hotaru informs him that her lipstick contains a substance called Single Night's Mushroom (a mushroom known as Hitoyo-take, C. curtus; related to C. atramentaria), which is normally benign, but which, since it was consumed with alcohol, would kill him by morning. She reveals that she is working for Ryujiro and that he has the antidote, as well as Fuu. With time running short, Mugen spares her life and rushes off to find Fuu and Jin.

As Ryujiro and Oniwakamaru capture Fuu, Jin has decided to take a hot bath in an onsen. Jin finds out he isn't alone in the hot spring, meeting Inuyaka again. After a not so subtle talk of the fireflies hovering above, Jin stands to leave, but his departure is cut short by Inuyaka's claim to know of The Sunflower Samurai. Leading Jin into the bamboo forest, Inuyaka reveals himself as a hired assassin, which does not surprise Jin. They begin fighting, with Inuyaka surprising Jin with his fighting style but ultimately becoming a stalemate.

Meanwhile, when Fuu listens to Oniwakamaru's story and offers him a firefly, Oniwakamaru gains the feeling that he is finally no longer alone. But Ryujiro breaks up the kind moment, telling Oniwakamaru that Mugen is nearly here. As Mugen searches among a row of pickets, Oniwakamaru slashes at him with his Bisento. Oniwakamaru easily overpowers Mugen, who is starting to feel the effects of the poison Hotaru gave him. With a powerful slap to the face, Mugen goes down hard.

As Ryujiro starts tormenting Mugen, he is bumped into a creek by Fuu. As Ryujiro is about to decapitate Fuu, Oniwakamaru protects her by strangling Ryujiro. A poisoned and weakening Mugen takes this opportunity and rushes Oniwakamaru who is ready for Mugen's attack. But Fuu pleads for them to stop. Oniwakamaru does, but Mugen doesn't, and stabs Oniwakamaru through his gut. Inuyaka suddenly feels something amiss and ducks his head toward the scene at the creek. Citing that his employer has deceased, Inuyaka withdraws from his fight with Jin.

A large cascading waterfall catches Jin's eye. But his view is interrupted by Mugen. "Aren't you a little relaxed to be showing your back to me!" he yells as they both draw and slash at each other. But the two collapse after their stomachs growl. Comically, Fuu asks them what they're doing, only to get a response of, "Morning exercises."

With Fuu constantly chattering and scolding them, both Mugen and Jin decide it best to run away from her, ditching Fuu at a fork in the road.

As Mugen gets into town, he heads straight for the local restaurant, and sits at a table already taken by a troop of Yakuza. Mugen starts digging in as the four yakuza stare at him in confusion. The elderly owner darts to Mugen's side in concern, informing him that they are Yakuza, but Mugen doesn't care. Angered, the four yakuza stand up and begin to pick a fight, but are cut short by boss Nagatomi. Nagatomi realizes that Mugen could kill all four of them at once, which has caught Nagatomi's interest. Offering Mugen something better to eat, they head off to Nagatomi's parlour.

A pair of dice roll by in a gambling parlour, as the tattooed croupier's start taking bets. Daigorou is spending the last of his money on the evens and odds game. He calls evens, in the hopes of winning back some of his cash; but the roll ends up being 7 odd, and Daigorou's money is swept away. Ishimatsu pats the old man on the shoulder, telling him that he has to pay up on his gambling debt.

Nagatomi and Mugen both enter the gambling ring, with Nagatomi hoping to impress Mugen with his facilities and the power of his manipulations on his gambling circuit. With crab and other foods laid out in front of Mugen, Nagatomi tries to sell Mugen a masterful plan to take over the whole country. But Mugen has already seen through the proposition. Still, he accepts Nagatomi's offer.

Meanwhile, Sousuke is day dreaming about his teacher Osuzu. However, they are interrupted as the Nagatomi gang have come to collect the gambling debt Daigorou has built up but can't pay off. Osuzu goes to check on Daigorou, but only alerts Ishimatsu to an alternative way to collect the debt. Daigorou believes that the only way to solve this problem now is to ask boss Kawara for help. But Kawara is unable to help him, as Daigorou cannot prove that he was cheated in the gambling parlour. Kawara is then consulted by his men, that Daigorou is not the only one that has been cheated, but others as well. This weighs heavily on Kawara, but he still says nothing.

Jin has finally come into town. Sitting down at the same restaurant that Mugen had caused a ruckus in not a few hours ago. The owner tells Jin of the good old days when the Kawara gang ran the peaceful town, but that it has since been brought into chaos since the Nagatomi gang came into power. The old man then gives a bowl of soup to Jin for listening to his story and tells him to become a bodyguard if he wants to make some money. At that moment, another group of Nagatomi gang members enter the restaurant for a meal, but are held up by Sousuke Kawara, who demands that the gambling contract be given to him. The yakuza are playful with him at first, but when Sousuke draws his sword he is immediately struck down. After Jin finishes the bowl of soup, he asks Sousuke if he wants to hire a bodyguard. Jin demonstrates his capability by de-pantsing the yakuza with his sword and taking the contract of Daigorou's debt. Sousuke thanks Jin for his help, but starts crying after being scolded by him.

The yakuza that were held up by Sousuke and Jin come back to Nagatomi to report the unknown bodyguard, which causes Mugen to smile, volunteering for the job of dealing with the bodyguard. This does not sit well with Ishimatsu; barely past introductions they are fighting each other over who will deal with the bodyguard. But Nagatomi stops them, sending Ishimatsu to collect Daigorou's daughter to pay off his debt.

Finally, Fuu gets into town, and is immediately warned by a fortune teller to be aware of vase's. Not soon after, Fuu inadvertently breaks a vase and is captured and forced to work as a prostitute in a brothel to pay off the cost of the vase. At the same time, Ishimatsu and company take Osuzu from her home to also become a prostitute, he also informs Daigorou of Sousuke's independent actions.

The previous episode is recapped, starting up with Mugen and Jin beginning their destined battle. Sousuke reaches out to Osuzu, but she decides that it is best to stay in the brothel rather than escape. Sousuke is then caught by Ishimatsu's manriki, pulling him out of the holding cell. The Nagatomi gang has come out in full force, surrounding Jin and Sousuke, but Mugen won't allow it. He wants to kill Jin himself, and begins slashing his way through the crowd, killing a fellow member of the Nagatomi gang. The distraction allows enough time for Jin to light off some fireworks. In the chaos, Jin and Sousuke escape with Mugen chasing after them intently.

Ishimatsu demands that Mugen be fired as he has just killed a fellow member. But Nagatomi waves it off, saying that it was a good thing that he was able to show him off to the gang. Jin and Sousuke are also discussing the nights events. Learning that all they have to do is get to Nagatomi, as the rest of the gang would simply fall apart afterwards. Meanwhile, Fuu chats with Osuzu about a good way to escape. But Osuzu doesn't want to escape, she knows that if she does, that the Nagatomi gang will kill her father, Daigorou.

Mugen is mystified the next morning when Nagatomi tells him that he will no longer have to draw his sword. Nagatomi tells Mugen that with him by his side, nobody would think of opposing him. But Mugen has lost interest in the agreement. As he leaves, Ishimatsu tries to give him a word of advice, but Mugen dismisses it as he is only making excuses.

In front of the brothel, two Nagatomi gang members heckle Fuu and Osuzu; which is the final straw for Sousuke, who charges and stabs a Nagatomi gang member in the back. Bringing a head to the conflict between the two gangs. Boss Kawara meets with boss Nagatomi, together they decide to settle this conflict with a gamble. If Kawara wins, Sousuke will live; but if Nagatomi wins, Kawara will have to take responsibility for Sousuke's crime. After the meeting, Nagatomi feels that the gamble is excellent. This way, the Nagatomi gang can take over legitimately by simply losing. Nagatomi has even plotted a way to forcefully provide a dealer.

As Mugen leaves town, he suddenly remembers about Fuu. Feeling a new sense of responsibility, he dashes back into town and breaks down the brothel doors only to find out that Fuu is gone. Jin is also preparing to leave, paying back the old restaurant owner from yesterday. However, boss Kawara stops Jin before he can leave and asks him to help Sousuke after tonights gamble.

After Fuu escapes the brothel, she is picked up by a two man taxi and taken to the gambling parlour. The deciding gamble is underway for the two yakuza gangs. With Kawara's dealer "running late", Fuu is gladly accepted as the dealer when the two man taxi pulls up to the gambling parlour. Quickly thrown into the dressing room, she is changed quickly and thrown out onto the deck as the official dealer, much to Jin's surprise. However, Fuu takes this new role well; seemingly having a lot of experience with dice as she throws them across the room and nabs the dice with the holding vase, awaiting the call from the two yakuza bosses. Nagatomi picks odds, while Kawara goes with evens. The result, is 7 odd, Nagatomi has won.

Boss Kawara reveals that he had hoped for this, having no intention of letting his subordinates suffer under Nagatomi's rule. Kawara commits seppuku to maintain the honor of himself and his gang. While Nagatomi shows his true self, deciding to go to war with the Kawara gang now that they are at their weakest. However, Mugen erupts through the gambling parlour doors, claiming to have had no choice to come since nobody came after him. Mugen and Jin start a huge fight as Nagatomi runs away. However, Ishimatsu wakes up to Nagatomi's true nature and slays him.

The opening to this episode is started off by a narrator describing an artist from Europe that was deeply affected by Ukiyo-e art, his name was Paul Gauguin, who later inspired Vincent Van Gogh to paint sunflowers.

The narrator continues, "with that said.." and the scene cuts to Fuu, who is complaining about the fare to cross to the next island by ferry.

We are introduced to the narrator, Sakami Manzou, who is an undercover police officer. They call him "The Saw" because he doesn't care how sharp his blade is. Manzou has come to this town because there is an increasing number of cases of young women disappearing in the area. Which he also suspects Fuu to become a victim of.

Meanwhile, Fuu has convinced an artist to buy all the food she can eat. Mugen and Jin are also thankful to the artist for buying their meals too, but now have to go out and find money for the ferry. The artist introduces himself as Hishikawa Moronobu and begins working the charm like no other. Detective Manzou believes that this is how the women are lured in.

The scene switches to a group of thugs, who are about to be shaken down by Mugen. After beating them up publicly, Mugen makes them hand over any cash they have on them, even forcing them to jump to see if their pockets clang. But Mugen forgets about the ferry fee, and buys a bunch of grilled squid and beef with the money. However as luck would have it, he finds the man he shook down before and attempts to do it again.

Moronobu introduces Fuu to his art shop, showing her the kabuki models first. However, Fuu takes interest in Moronobu's actual art, especially his sunflowers. This begins to win Moronobu over, especially after he finishes the painting, which makes him sad when he actually has to go through with the scam. Moronobu eventually attempts to save her, but is found out by the mistress that seems to be running the scam.

Meanwhile, as Jin idly watches European ships docked in the harbor, he is challenged to a game of shougi by an old man who bets a sack of money that Jin can't beat him. Eventually, they have to turn in for the night.

Jin and Mugen hold up in an old shack for the night, with Mugen raiding a wishing well. Jin also seems to be practicing for the finish of the shougi game. The next morning, Mugen investigates Moronobu's home only to find Moronobu being escorted home, beaten and bruised by the thugs Mugen had shaken down yesterday. Moronobu explains the entire scam to Mugen; the drawings of the girls are held up at the harbor, they use the drawings as a slave trading catalogue. However, Mugen is hot on the trail of the three thugs. Hacking and slashing his way to catch up to the runner from yesterday. Eventually destroying the thug with a few kicks to the head. Monzou the Saw also brings down the slave traders, although in a very comical way.

At the beginning of this episode, a man breaks out in song. The point of the song being, that Mugen, Jin and Fuu have arrived in Edo. Upon finishing the song, the screen cuts to an overpass in Nihonbashi, showing a strange group of men wearing baskets over their faces, and unique pairs of shoes called clogs. This appearance is necessary, as westerners were not allowed to be seen in Japan unless they had a signed passport.

Just arriving in Edo, Fuu catches sight of a competitive eating contest, hungry from the trip, the trio believe they get to eat all they want for free, but there is a participation fee. They wind up handing over their swords, with Jin being the most hesitant. But Mugen reassures him, all they have to do is win. However, as they go to their competition seat, Mugen notices a man wearing the unique shoes from earlier.

The competition officially starts with the ringing of a gong. Narrated in a play by play fashion by two announcers, Ichimon and Oshou, of which they both have rejected vegetarianism. After announcing the names of some of the more distinguished eaters, Jin is the first to be eliminated. Eventually, the other contestants start dropping like flies. Either passing out or submitting to defeat. Even Mugen, despite being cheered on by Jin, passes out and falls backwards. Eventually, the annoyance of a fly gets the best of Fuu, who makes the sign of submission inadvertently.

Afterwards, the trio is completely depressed, and Fuu has ballooned to an enormous size. But the day lightens up as the strange man who won the competition introduces himself as Jouji. Jouji wants to see the sights of Edo, and despite argument by Fuu and Mugen, Jin sells Jouji into believing he is the Edo tourist map, if only to get his swords back. This is obvious after Mugen tells Jouji that Japanese gods Fūjin and Raijin are Kaminari Man #1 and Kaminari Man #2.

Meanwhile, a the police and the strange group of basket heads from earlier are both looking for the man calling himself Jouji. Despite having competed and won in an eating contest earlier that day Jouji takes the group out for dinner, where they are found by the police. However, they escape capture and Jouji is dazzled into seeing a play. But after the show, Jouji goes to see the girl on the stage, but finds out it is really a man. Jouji then reveals that he came to Japan because he is a homosexual. A lifestyle that is frowned upon by people in the Netherlands. After Jouji finishes his story, the police find the group; however the arrest is interrupted by the strange group of men from before, this time revealing themselves to be Dutch as well as Jouji.

Mugen, Jin, Fuu and Jouji all manage their way out to the main stage, but are surrounded by police. As the moment comes to a climax, an official rushes forward with signed documents pardoning Jouji. His real name is revealed to be Isaac Kitching, and he is head of the Dutch East India trading company.

At the opening of this episode, Mugen Jin and Fuu have entered a gambling parlour in hopes of winning it big from their last bit of money. Desputing on either "3" or "5", Mugen and Jin almost come to blows before betting. Luckily Fuu's flying squirrel chooses a chip for them and wins the pot. Afterwards, Jin questions whether or not the squirrel pushed the chip up or not, but he dismisses it as impossible.

With their winnings, the group decides to splurge on good food. But Fuu gets pickpocketed right after ordering. When she finally realizes it, Mugen and Jin start desperately charging after random people on the street in hopes of catching the pickpocket, but they fail to find him. Afterwards, the pickpocket strikes again, but this time the victims are a group of low scale opium dealers.

Mugen and Jin are still not satisfied with their effort of finding the pickpocket, and charge into a sick woman's home in an effort to catch the thief. On the other end of town, the pickpocket named Shinsuke is trying to sell the opium he stole to someone else, but he is promised a small payout. Fuu finds out later that night, that Shinsuke is stealing from people so that he can buy better medicine for his dying mother.

The next day, Fuu goes back to Shinsuke's home, only to be found snooping by his sick mother while Shinsuke is out. He is visiting a doctor for his mothers medicine, but the medicine he is giving her isn't enough. After his visit with the doctor, Shinsuke is found by Fuu and by the opium dealers. However, Fuu screams for help as the dealers close in, but winds up becoming Shinsuke's hostage as the police get there.

While held up in an abandoned building, Fuu talks with Shinsuke and tries to help him. But not only are the police after him, Mugen and Jin have been attracted by the crowd, and the opium dealers are also trying to find a way in. As Shinsuke finds himself suddenly surrounded by dealers, Mugen breaks through the police baracade and rushes the dealers who are in his way.

We are introduced to Saganshougen Nagamitsu, who is declaring his intent to fight and kill the man who slayed Mariya Enshirou, which happens to be Jin. He does so in a hip hop style, requesting for lighting and a base line before throwing down a sly rap. However, the man he is shouting at isn't Jin, but he still charges him regardless.

Mugen Jin and Fuu enter town starved, tired and homeless. At their limit, they stop and rest, only to be greeted by the proprietor of a pawn shop. Mugen and Fuu willingly hand over their swords, but are refused on the bounds that their items are worthless. Preparing to force Jin into handing over his swords, however the pawn dealer is instead captivated by Jin's glasses.

Using the money from Jin's glasses, the group begins chowing down at a restaurant. Not soon after, Nagamitsu enters with his little brother, Shinpachi. Upon seeing Fuu, Nagamitsu blushes and shyly sends Shinpachi over to try and get Fuu to come to his table. But Fuu refuses, forcing Nagamitsu to make his introduction personally, which he does in an over-the-top style. However, Ogura quickly rushes to the door and calls Nagamitsu, another challenger has appeared. Nagamitsu leaves Fuu a note and rushes off.

After Nagamitsu leaves, Fuu starts flirting her new found popularity to Jin and Mugen, who don't seem to care. Soon after, the waiter brings over a jug of sake from a sexy lady who loves to drink. She then offers Mugen and Jin an invitation to go drink better sake with her, Mugen accepts, dragging a blushing Jin with him. Fuu, abandoned and furious, leaves to go see Nagamitsu; who is trying his best to back out of the challenge but still wins out of luck. Nagamitsu invites Fuu to go with him to a romantic hill setting, but after she finds out about Jin's past, and Nagamitsu's goal to kill Jin, she runs off trying to find Jin and Mugen.

Meanwhile, Mugen and Jin are off getting drunk with Budoukiba, who has introduced them to wine. Jin is already out after a few drinks, but Mugen and Budoukiba are chatting idly about wine and other things. Quickly flaunting her curves, she is able to distract Mugen enough to drop a quick working drug into Mugen's drink that causes him to pass out.

That night, Fuu is taking a bath and wonders if what Nagamitsu says is true, that Jin killed his teacher, Mariya Enshirou. She eventually dismisses it. In the morning, Fuu wakes up to find Mugen and Jin passed out at the front of the Inn. Waking up with hangovers, Jin and Mugen find that their money has been stolen by the woman from last night. Enraged, Fuu forces them to work by performing tricks with their swords while they are visibly hung over and blind folded.

Later that day, Jin goes back to collect his glasses from the pawn shop, but Nagamitsu is already there trying to sell his carriage. Upon sight of Jin wearing his glasses, Nagamitsu is in disbelief. However, it isn't Nagamitsu who challenges Jin, it is his lacky Ogura who was once a student of Mariya Enshirou's as well, hoping to avenge his slain teacher. Stepping outside, Jin and Ogura fight it out, but Jin defeats Ogura who tells Jin that many others, who were also Mariya Enshirou's students, are out to get him.

An old man sits in his office, idly looking over some journals he has kept. Yamane has worked at the Hakone Checkpoint for 30 years, and never once let anyone sneak through. For this he was called Yamane the Ogre, but now after 30 years he is retiring. However, Yamane notes that there was one special day that even if you were a thief or a criminal, anyone could pass freely.

Rewind 30 years.

Jin and Fuu are explaining to Mugen the necessity of a passport to leave Edo. Since none of them have such a thing, it has become a concern as to what they're going to do. Desperate, the trio didn't even think to question a scalper who offered them a passport, especially when he threw in lucky travel charms with the deal. They are then arrested on the spot for having such a bad forgery.

The older version of Yamane recalls the three, especially Mugen, who would not go quietly as he was being arrested.

Kinumasa, the top checkpoint official at the time, was very brash and quick when it came to dealing out punishment to those who attempted to cross the checkpoint without a valid passport. However, there was a rule that said capital punishment is not to be enforced at the checkpoint on people who have committed serious crimes. Unfortunately for Kinumasa, one of the people he had executed and placed in a pile of dead corpse's had a warrant for his arrest.

But Yamane hatches a plan, forcing Mugen to deliver the head of the wanted man to officials in the next town and come back before the sun goes down. If he does so, Jin and Fuu will be freed, if he doesn't they will both die. Warned about the possibility of being chased by Tengu, Mugen starts stretching before he departs.

Mugen sets out with the head, thinking he's being followed, he winds up jumping out in front of a regular guy who is apparently jogging for his health, not realising that Yamane has been following him from the trees. The second time though, he is being followed by the Tengu the checkpoint guards spoke of. Following the chase, Mugen realizes that he's become lost and as he tries to work his way through a marijuana field, he falls into a trap.

The younger Yamane, out of breath from trying to chase Mugen, hears the sound of drums. Upon approaching the source of the beat, he finds a large group of militant priests, all disguised as tengu shrowded in the purple haze of their pipes. He soon finds out that Mugen was indeed captured and has to find a way to break him free but instead becomes captured and tied up just like Mugen. Poppoing his shoulder out of place, Yamane escapes his binds and sets fire to the cell they're locked in. Shouting for help, the guard unlocked the cell, only to be knocked unconscious by Yamane.

The fire begins to spread across the militant priest's hideout and into their marijuana fields. Intent on catching Mugen and Yamane, the priest's forget about fighting the fire until it's too late. During their fight, Mugen begin's feeling the effects of the smoke. Colors begin filling his world as the fights breaks down into a hallucination.

The sun has begun setting, leaving Jin and Fuu to prepare for the worst; Fuu asks them to wait just a little longer, as a figure can be seen in the distance jogging quickly toward the checkpoint. But Fuu's hopes are suddenly crushed as it winds out only being the man who was jogging for his health. Just as Jin and Fuu are about to be executed, the purple haze that consumed Mugen has found its way into the Hakone checkpoint. The narration of elder Yamane returns, explaining that everyone became equal and that the revolution that the militant priests had dreamed of had finally happened, if only for one day.

Munetada Tajima has just unknowingly enjoyed his last evening meal. As he strolls by the riverside in thought, a strange man known to the public as a street killer stands in his way and challenges him to a duel. Tajima remarks, confidently, that he “could use a little after-dinner exercise,” and charges the street killer, who will come to be known as, Shouryuu. Shouryuu parries Tajima's attack with a wave of ki channeled through his sword. At first, Tajima is puzzled as to why the man is no longer attacking. But a moment later, he starts to hemorrhage blood out of his face and collapses into the river.

As the trio wanders into town, they meet a priest named Zuikou who puts them to work after giving them food and a place to stay at the monastery. Still, Mugen feels taken advantage of because of their circumstances and inadvertently knocks over a brass statue that destroys a wall and nearly lands on Jin.

As Fuu heads into town to gather the repairs, she overhears a reward for the capture of the street killer that has been targeting people around the area and killing them. When she gets back, she tells Mugen and Jin of the street killer, which sparks Mugen to leave and find him for the reward.

Mugen and Fuu head back into town to try and find a lead on the whereabouts of the street killer, but instead come up with the idea to hang around the strongest guy in town as he'll be the next targeted. They are lead to believe that the strongest man in town is Momoi Seishirou, nick-named "The Human Dynamo". But after being mistaken as the street killer, Mugen defeats Seishirou's men easily, and finds out that Seishirou really just made up "The Human Dynamo" nick-name.

Later on that day, Mugen approaches a bridge and witnesses a group of men running away, scared out of their minds. When he looks up, he can barely notice the image of a man walking away. Fed up, Mugen sits down at a small bar and orders some sake. With only enough money to get one cup, Shouryuu offers Mugen what is left over in his jug of sake and they depart together. As they walk back over the bridge from earlier that day, Shouryuu tells Mugen a story which he doesn't understand, but hints to him that Shouryuu is the tsuijigiri. Both drawing their swords, Mugen slashes at Shouryuu only to be struck backwards by a strong blast of ki. Despite being off balance, Mugen ducks under what would have been the final blow. Pleased by Mugen's skill, Shouryuu tells Mugen to meet him here by the next full moon, afterwards he runs away as the police come chasing after him.

When Mugen returns to the monastery , Jin notices the wounds on Mugen's hands. Zuikou then explain's who the tsujigiri really is. His name was once Ukon and he was a student in Zuikou's dojo. Ukon was called on to go on a journey by ship, but unfortunately the ship was wrecked. Ukon luckily washed up on the shore of China and was saved by buddhist monks. These monks taught Ukon how to use his ki in combat. 10 years later, Ukon returned to Japan under a new name, Shouryuu. He sought to prove how much better he was than everyone else, but he was treated as a heretic.

After listening to this story, Mugen becomes excited that he gets to fight someone like Shouryuu. The next day, Mugen begins training: chopping multiple pieces of wood, doing handstand pushups under a waterfall, bungy jumping, climbing stairs while carrying a statue, attacking multiple targets (trees), sleeping, and punching rocks.

The rain is pounding down on a woman's umbrella. She is standing on a bridge looking over a canal. She seems very gloomy, and even Jin suspects her of getting ready to jump off. Warning her that the water is actually very shallow, before continuing on.

Fuu looks up to a charm, wondering if Mugen and Jin are making any money, but she is quickly cut out of her thought as she has to make a delivery. Meanwhile, Mugen is at a beetle wrestling competition; cheering his beetle on, only to have it lose. He'll have to train it to make it wrestle better. Jin also arrives at an eel merchant's shop and fills in as a part time worker.

A few moments later, the woman from earlier arrives and orders a grilled eel. But Jin is unable to fix the eel for her, Jin is in fact unable to even catch the eel from the bucket. The woman then proceeds to show Jin how to cook a grilled eel. Eventually, they get a customer; one customer turns into three, three to five. Very soon, they have gained a crowd of people all scrambling to get some grilled eel, despite the rain. Finally, by the end of the day, she sits down and lets Jin cook her an eel. However, despite his best efforts, he makes the worst grilled eel she has ever had. Still, she eats all of it, and thanks Jin for the good memory; explaining that tomorrow she will have to start working in a brothel to help pay off her husband's debt.

The next day, Jin tries to return the umbrella to the woman from yesterday, but she doesn't need it anymore as she won't be let outside for a while. She introduces herself as Shino, and Jin seems to gain an interest in her. Mugen on the other hand, is back beetle wrestling with Fuu, who isn't as enthusiastic as Mugen. But when the beetle wins, Fuu is amazed that all it took was dragging around a rock for a day. Later that day, Jin comes back to visit Shino, but is beaten up by the bouncers. Jin walks back to the inn, completely depressed.

Upon walking into the inn, Jin asks for some money from Mugen, who (along with Fuu) is shocked when he finds out what it's for. However, upon discussing it with Fuu, Mugen is almost glad for Jin. Returning to the brothel, Jin has a big smile on his face, although he isn't well received; but upon flashing some money, the bouncers welcome him with open arms.

After his night with Shino, he entertains her with idea's of leaving the brothel with him, but she dismisses it as unrealistic. But after being visited by her husband, she realizes that she'll be in the brothel forever if she doesn't do something.