A prostitute approaches Manji as he waits for Rin. Though Manji sees through the prostitutes ruse, he accepts her invitiation. But this woman, 'Makie Otonotachibana', seem to weak to be a warrior of the Ittou-ryu as she claims. After sparing Makie's life, she appears before Manji again with different eyes and hair.

Manji and Rin involve the four known as Mugai-ryu, who hold information on Kagehisa, in order to assassinate him. Lying in wait on the road that leads out of Edo, based on information only known to Rin, she and Shira close in on Kagehisa as he tries to flee from the others.

Burando succeeds in transplanting Manji's left arm onto the test body of Dewanosuke. From that starting point, more tests succeed. But Habaki puts pressure on Burando, and demands results. Habaki's blade closes in on the imperfectly immortalized Dewanosuke. Rin meets with Doua and Isaku in the street as she searches for Manji. That's when the official that Doua knocked over appreaches them.