Clash of the Titans
As Kenshin rushes deeper into Kanryu’s mansion, Sanosuke stops, turning toward a figure blocking the hallway. Towering, scarred, and shirtless, the man cracks his knuckles and grins. “You’re not going any farther,” he says.
It’s Shikijo, the Oniwabanshu’s muscle—an immovable wall of raw power. The air between them hums with tension. Sano smirks. “So you’re the next one, huh? Looks like this is my fight.”
Kenshin nods silently and moves on. This battle isn’t one of swords or strategy. It’s a test of will and strength—two brawlers with the same weapons: their fists and their conviction.
The Iron Wall
The first blow lands like thunder. Shikijo’s punch hurls Sanosuke into a wall, shattering wood and stone. “You’ve got guts,” Shikijo laughs, “but guts won’t beat experience.”
He charges again, each strike heavier than the last. Sano manages to block, but his arms throb from the impact. “He’s like a damn cannon,” he mutters, grinning through the pain.
As the fight rages, Shikijo reveals his past. Once an Ishin Shishi, he was defeated by Aoshi Shinomori and offered redemption through the Oniwabanshu. “He showed me what real strength was,” Shikijo says proudly. “Not the kind that destroys—but the kind that survives.”
Sanosuke spits blood and smiles. “You got it half right, old man. Real strength isn’t about survival. It’s about fighting for the people who can’t.”
The Fists That Protect
Shikijo hesitates for a moment—just long enough for Sano to swing with everything he has. His punch lands square in Shikijo’s chest, sending the giant crashing backward. The floor splinters beneath him as dust fills the air.
Breathing heavily, Sanosuke stares at his fallen opponent. “You’re strong, no doubt about that,” he says, wiping blood from his lip. “But Kenshin’s strength… that’s something else. He uses his power to protect, not to prove himself.”
Shikijo chuckles weakly from the ground. “Protecting others, huh? Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing.” He closes his eyes, smiling faintly. “Go on. I’ll keep the rest from following.”
Sanosuke nods. “You’re not so bad, old man.” And with that, he heads toward the next floor, leaving behind one warrior who finally found peace in defeat.
Final Thoughts
Duel of the Masters is pure, old-school power—a brutal clash between two fighters who live and die by their fists. But beneath the punches lies something deeper: a battle of ideals. Shikijo fights for pride and redemption; Sanosuke fights for people, for purpose, and for the belief that strength means protection, not domination.
Their fight ends not in hatred, but in respect. The Oniwabanshu’s wall has fallen, and now only the final guardians stand between Kenshin and Megumi’s freedom.
All images are personal captures taken from my own physical copy of the manga.