01x04 - The Fighter for Hire - Sanosuke Sagara

[bunniefuu]

Ahhh! Stop that!

Oro?

Stop chopping wood next
to me while I'm practicing!

I can't focus!

But I have to do this.

At least do it with an ax!

And the surface of this wood is too clean!

Stop using your sword skills for chores
when you don't teach me any of them!

Stop fighting, guys!

Oro?

We don't have to fight anymore!



From now on, we can live in peace!

What's going on here?

Did the ugliness spread to your brain?

What I'm saying is,

we don't have to worry about
expenses for a while!

I was cleaning the closet and found this!

My grandfather drew...

Doodles?

It's an ink painting!

My grandfather taught kenjutsu too,
but he did some painting on the side.

I can sell this for a lot of money.

Oh, thank you, grandfather!

Women and money.

Huh? What?




This calls for a celebration!
Let's go have some sukiyaki!

I was being humble and
you took advantage of it!

You hag!

You can't call me anything else but
a hag cause you're too stupid!

What!?

Well well.

Rurouni Kenshin

Episode 4:
The Fight Merchant - Sagara Sanosuke

The Meiji era of Culture and
Enlightenment had many effects.

"Akabeko Gyuunabe Bar & Restaurant" Like the
introduction of a variety of new dishes.

Among them was gyunabe,
now called sukiyaki.

It was something the ordinary
people could afford,

which won great popularity and
showed the influence of western cooking.

We'll never gain our rights that way!

We have to be more radical...

But that means sending
Itagaki-sensei to his death!

Yeah!

Okubo of the Department
of Internal Affairs

didn't even pardon the Great Saigo!

Who wouldn't want to die and
become a legend like the Great Saigo!?

You fool!

There is nothing to gain
from becoming a legend!

Welcome!

Oh, it's you, Kaoru.

Long time no see, Ms. Tae.

You're looking better every time.

Is that man over there your sweetheart?

No! He's just staying at the dojo.

If Itagaki-sensei dies,
freedom will die as well!

No way!

Even if Itagaki-sensei dies,
freedom will not die!

Actually, if sensei dies in such manner...

They sound like supporters
of the Civil Right Movement.

Sounds like gibberish to me.

They are just drunks.

Well, don't mind them.

Sukiyaki for three?

Yes, and three coffees please.

You're in a good mood, Miss Kao...

Kenshin?

Kenshin!

Ororo...

Try saying that again!

Maybe you didn't notice,
but you threw a bottle at somebody!

Apologize first,
then you can talk about it!

What right does a brat like you have to

mouth off at the
defenders of human rights!?

Don't give me that brat crap!

I'm telling you drunks to apologize!

Calm down.

How dare you call us drunks!

We are the defenders of...

Shut up!

If you're drunk, then you are a drunk!

What did you say!?

Gentlemen...
Please don't cause any trouble.

Shut up!

Ms. Tae!

Careful!

The movement is for
the sake of the weak.

Supporters of the cause
shouldn't act like this.

Or is the freedom you're talking about the
freedom to get drunk and cause trouble?

What did you say!?

Are you looking for a fight?

Sure, that doesn't sound too bad.

Usually I get approached for a fight.

But I hate guys who pick on the weak.

And I really despise the
ones that yap about

pretty things like
freedom, justice, and equality.

Let's take this outside!

It escalated to a weird situation.

Should I stop this?

He wanted to do it,
so maybe not.

Let's see what you've got.

Take a shot.

Stupid brat!

Eat this!

Coward!

He's got a hidden suntetsu!

Quit barking!

A suntetsu is supposed
to be a hidden weapon!

It's true what they say.

But...

It doesn't matter.

This is all you've got using a suntetsu?

What did you say!?

H... hey...

Yo... your right arm...

Y... you!

What did you do!?

I didn't do anything.

Are you alright!?

This is nothing!

Fighting for freedom is much harder!

You're right!

I'm proud of you!

If I go full force,
it would be bullying.

I'll take you out with just one finger.

Don't underestimate me!

Eat this!

Yet another boring fight.

One flick...

Wha... wha...

Damn!

Causing a disturbance while
drunk I can overlook.

But if you intend to draw that,
my patience is at an end.

The movement is a great cause indeed.

But before you start to
reform the government,

you should first reform yourselves.

Now pay your bill and go home.

Thank you so much for helping.

I fought because I wanted to.

There's no need to thank me.

Hey, swordsman.

Is your head okay?

Yeah, it's nothing serious.

Good.

It would be too bad if you got
hurt from getting hit on purpose.

If you had dodged the bottle,
it would have hit the girl in the face.

So you didn't move,
to shield her with your head, right?

You give me too much credit.

Modest, huh?

I like you.

How about a fight?

Thank you, but no.

Well,

tell me if you change your mind.

I'm at the gorotsuki nagaya
on the edge of town.

See ya.

What was that?

Is he a good or bad guy?

I'd say bad, as in bad taste.

What a strange man.

Oh my!

You know him, Ms. Tae?

He left without paying his bill...

Hmm... so you want
me to destroy this guy.

"Sa"
Yes, I think you'll be able to do it.

Don't talk to me like I'm an assassin.

All I care about is whether
I can enjoy the fight or not.

But how did you guys manage
to break out of prison?

That just shows you the
extent of our grievance.

If he hadn't shown up,
it would have gone perfectly...

How pathetic.

So, this Kenshin guy,
is he any good?

My recent fights have been boring,
and I'm getting sick of it.

He's strong!

He took me out with a single blow.

Idiot!

k*lling you ten thousand times
wouldn't prove he's strong!

Please, just listen to me...

The man called Kenshin is really...

Is that so?

How about it, Mr. Zanza?

I think he'd be a worthy opponent.

Yes.

Worthy even of this,
which I haven't used in years.

The legendary Hitokiri,
Himura Battosai!

The street fighter Zanza has
been looking for a match like you!

Rurouni Kenshin

"Sa"

The legendary Hitokiri,
Himura Battosai!

The street fighter Zanza has
been looking for a match like you!

It's been two weeks since
he said that and left!

Where did that rooster head go?

I can't believe he would
get scared and run away.

"I'm looking forward to
the fight," he said.

What an idiot!

You are the idiot!

Keep up the copycat stuff and
I'll hang you upside down!

M... Mr. Zanza,
where have you been?

The fight.

A different fight?

No, you idiot.

A fight doesn't start with
kicks and punches.

But you wouldn't understand
even if I explained it to you.

The street fighter Zanza.

He's well known in the underworld
of east Tokyo as a hired fighter.

An impudent lone wolf,

who decides how much to charge
by how much he enjoyed a fight.

But he's strong!

They say that those who have
fought him experience so much fear,

they see the "Aku" character
in their nightmares for months.

If we use him, we can get rid
of that annoying man for sure.

That Himura Battosai!

We have a guest.

Wait, Kenshin.

What's going on?

I felt his chi.

It could not be hidden, this foolishly
straightforward fighting spirit.

I came to pick a fight.

The guy from before...!

I thought it might be you.

I told you that I'm not going to fight.

I can't accept that.

I'm here as a hired fighter.
I can't back out.

Especially since my target is
the patriot Himura Battosai.

The Choshu Ishin Shishi,
Himura Battosai.

Practitioner of the ancient
kenjutsu style Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu,

He was active from the age of 14 to 19.

First, he literally was a k*ller.

A coldhearted assassin lurking
in the darkness.

For the second half,
he defended the revolutionaries

from the Shogun's swordsmen
units like the Shinsengumi.

And so the k*ller who was meant to
remain unknown gained great fame.

Then, in the decisive Boshin w*r...

After the first battle of
Tobafushimi, he disappears.

To live as the Rurouni,
Himura Kenshin.

A real fight begins when
you know your enemy,

and choose the way to fight.

I went to Kyoto, the center of the
Bakumatsu bloodshed, to find out.

And have you decided how to fight me?

That's the problem!

My research only turned up a
vague account of your career.

Nothing about what
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is like.

Or why the coldhearted Hitokiri
turned into gentle Rurouni.

I haven't figured you out yet.

So I'm just gonna meet you
head-on in a fair fight.

Hey brother, do you really
think this Zanza guy can win?

His opponent is Battosai.

The outcome is already decided.

What do you mean...!?

Don't panic.

Zanza will lose,
but he's a very strong fighter.

Even if he's k*lled, he'll put up a good
fight and probably wound Battosai.

Immediately after the battle, the instant
he lets his guard down, I'll finish him.

With this that I bought in Yokohama!

I also don't understand.

Huh?

I've seen that you hate bullying the weak.

Why then make your living
as a street fighter?

And why do you wear the "Aku"
character on your back?

Your soul is straight and honest,
but right now, you're terribly warped.

What could have done this to you?

What you ask...

Hold on.

If you really want to know,
fight and beat me!

But let me say this.

I hate the Ishin Shishi.

You are hypocrites.

You did whatever you wanted,
all in the name of justice.

Getting rid of those in the way,
even if you had to distort the truth.

All those pretty words about the
equality of the four classes were lies!

So I want to destroy you,
the legendary Hitokiri, who is said

to be the strongest of the Ishin Shishi,
with all my heart!

I accept your challenge.

Kenshin!

But answer my one question.

Are the Hiruma Brothers
the ones who hired you?

Yes, how did you know?

Not many people in this
city know my past.

And dirty k*lling chi is coming
from behind the fence.

Show yourselves.

You really are a great swordsman.

Come out, you two.

We said, come out.

There you go.

Now hand it over.

Huh?

Don't "huh" me!

Ah!

Just as I thought.

I can read how a b*stard
like you thinks.

Listen.

You hired me for this fight,
but after it's paid for, it's mine.

Any stupid stunts like this...

won't be accepted.

Kihei...

The land will be mine, little girl!

The dojo is a little small.

Let's take this to the river.

My god, he stands out.

Yahiko.

Huh?

Were you... surprised?

Well, kinda.

But I'm not really shocked.

Even if you are the Hitokiri,
I'm not scared of you.

Actually, it's kinda comforting to know

there's a reason why you're
as strong as a demon.

Anyway, is everything okay?

Oro?

What do you mean "oro"?

Look at that thing.

It's gotta be a spear.

They say if it's a spear against a sword,
he'll have three times your strength.

It's not a spear, kid.

It's much better than that.

Oh yeah, let me introduce myself.

My name is Sagara Sanosuke.

In the underworld,
I'm known as Zanza.

Sanosuke with the Zanbatou.

Zanza for short.

Zanbato...!

Zanbato.

A giant sword invented
before the Sengoku era,

designed to take down a rider
and his horse in one swing.

It's the heaviest katana ever made.

Because of its weight, it's said that
no one has ever mastered it perfectly.

I've heard of this.

Zanza's "partner".

It's an antique from the Ounin w*r,
so it's not in perfect shape anymore.

Even though it's a sword,
it has no edge at all.

But I can use it to smash and crush.

Rurouni, Himura Kenshin.

Wielder of the Sakabato.

But you probably knew that already.

You've done your research.

Yes, so let me give you a piece of advice.

Throw away your pretty
thoughts of not k*lling.

Or you'll be the one...

That dies!

He's fast!

Of course.

No matter how big his Zanbato is,
it doesn't matter if he can't land a hit!

It's Kenshin's win for sure...!

You're as strong as I've heard.

No wonder you became a legend.

But...

This isn't good...

We have misjudged his strength...

His true strength is not the
great blows of the Zanbato,

or the monstrous power that took
down a large man with one flick.

He took a suntetsu between the
eyebrows and didn't even flinch.

His extraordinary endurance
is his strength!

Until now, Kenshin's
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu has

taken down every enemy
with a single blow.

But that one blow had
no effect on this man.

A true fight isn't like a duel.

The better swordsman doesn't always win.

It's going to be the one left on his feet!

You may give that speech...

when you're the one left standing.

Next Episode
And So, Another One Joins