Episode 354

Introduction[]

The countdown to Earth's destruction has begun. But will Takasugi's appearance turn things around?

Plot[]

Another ship crashes in the SS Heavenly Bird, bringing Bansai, Matako, Takechi and other Kiheitai members on board. Takasugi announces that he was not on anybody's side and commands the Kiheitai members to attack.

On a moonlit night, a younger Matako asks to join Takasugi on his journey to seek revenge against the country for killing her family. Takasugi asks if the girl was willing to shoot herself in her head, as what he was trying to accomplish was somewhat like a suicide mission, and encourages her to live out the rest of her life wisely instead. The next day, he sees Matako arrested by a few Bakufu officials, apparently for her interaction with Takasugi. Bansai confronted the man and spurred him on to rescue Matako. As he distracts the officials by playing a requiem for her, Takasugi frees Matako and the girl runs away. However, they realised that she was used as a bait to lure and arrest Takasugi and Bansai.

In prison, the two men mock each other for being captured for the sake of saving a girl; Takasugi recruits Bansai into the Kiheitai. Unbeknownst to them, a prison official Takechi, listens in to their conversation. Takechi leaves the prison compounds and is stopped by Matako, who threatens to kill him unless he releases the two men. To her surprise, Takechi returns her gun. Back in prison, Takasugi, Bansai and other Joui Rebels were released from their cells. Bansai was shocked that Takasugi managed to win over a Bakufu official and the group fight their way out of prison, forming the current Kiheitai army.

In the present day, Takechi remarks that the Kiheitai banded together to destroy the world but now appeared to be trying to save it. Matako replies that the Kiheitai was born to save a nobody like her and their goal was to cut down the rotten no matter what.

In another flashback, the Joui 4 discuss by a campfire how they would always be classified as rebels despite their great love for the country. Takasugi remarks that only Bakufu lapdogs would be considered the national army and they were more suited to be traitors. Gintoki and Takasugi get into an argument.

On SS Heavenly Bird, Takasugi joins Katsura and Sakamoto in the fight. The Kiheitai leader said that without Gintoki on board, he was free to do whatever he wanted, which includes doing everything in his power to defeat Utsuro. Taksugi tells Katsura and Sakamoto to go after Enshou, while he and the Kiheitai would stop the Flame of Kagutsuchi. He spots Nobu Nobu and apologises for his betrayal; he tells the shogun that his friends would never betray him. Nobu Nobu runs alongside Katsura and the Joui Rebels, and recognises that they were the ones who rose up to protect the country. He promises that their country would never abandon them again and calls them the national army, but Katsura cuts him off, telling the shogun that they were satisfied with their title as the rebel army. Nobu Nobu smiles and said that he would join the rebel army to stand up against the universe.

Takechi said that the Flame of Kagutsuchi was based on old technology which had loopholes that they could exploit. However, Earth must not yield to the threat and take down its shield, or else their effort would be in vain. On Earth, Gengai leads the Yato tribe to a case of cylinders which apparently serve as countermeasures to the nanomachine virus.

Characters[]

• Sakata Gintoki
• Kagura
• Shimura Shinpachi
• Kiheitai
  • Takasugi Shinsuke
  • Kijima Matako
  • Takechi Henpeita
  • Kawakami Bansai
• Kaientai
  • Sakamoto Tatsuma
  • Mutsu
• Jouishishi
  • Katsura Kotarou
  • Elizabeth
• Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu
• Shijaku
• Enshou
• Hiraga Gengai

Trivia[]

• At the start of the episode, Gintoki and Kagura drain water from one of Edo's pond, which is a parody of a hit Japanese documentary Ike no Mizu wo Zenbu Nuku Daisakusen, or “The Great Plan to Drain All the Water from Ponds”, which takes audiences on a trip through the surprisingly exciting world of draining ponds.
• When the pond was fully drained, they discover Ikeda Asaemon and Shachi trapped at the bottom of the pond. The two characters were depicted in Episode 347 to be rushing to Kabukicho's aid, but were never actually shown in the subsequent battles. 
• The flashback scene of Takasugi and Bansai in prison was first shown in Episode 322.
• Baramos the Demon Lord is a villain character from Dragon Quest III.
• The TV in the ending theme plays Episode 1 to Episode 25.