Drawing of the Forbidden Cho uses his whip-like Hakujin no Tachi to overwhelm Kenshin, who is injured as he struggles to evade the highly unpredictable weapon. He taunts Kenshin for maintaining his pacifistic ways as a killer, but his conviction persuades Seiku into giving him his father's katana. Seiku enters the temple to retrieve it while Kenshin resorts to elbowing Cho to knock him down. Deciding he will kill him and take the katana, Cho lures Kenshin by pretending to attack Iori, angering him into reverting to his Hitokiri Battosai persona. Kenshin draws the katana and uses his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu to defeat Cho. In the aftermath, everyone is stunned to learn that the katana is actually another sakabatō, allowing Kenshin to maintain his vow. While Cho is taken to Saito, Seiku and Kenshin reflect on Shakku's decision to create the weapon. A message on the handle reveals his decision to help Kenshin usher a new era of peace away from his murderous work; hence, the blade was created to support his vow to never kill.

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