Kurata Tenzen comes across a pair of desperate minstrel boys, Sugisaku and his younger brother. They appear to be distraught after having lost the money they had collected that day. Kurata gives them some coins to help them out of their predicament. Sugisaku tells his master Choshichi about this, but upon hearing Sugisaku mention the name of Katsura Kogoro, who had been accompanying Kurata that night, Choshichi secretly informs the Shinsengumi about the temple that Katsura and his comrades use as a meeting place. In order to allow Katsura to flee, Kurama Tengu appears on the scene to fight off the Shinsengumi raid. And Sugisaku, impressed by the sight of the brave Kurama Tengu, physically intervenes to protect Kurama Tengu as a marksman with a pistol takes aim. Meanwhile, upon hearing of an "Assassination List" at the inn, Shiragiku hurriedly heads off to search for Kurama Tengu in order to warn him.