Hijikata was stunned for a moment, then immediately rushed to the entrance and exit of the stone crevice, and as soon as he pressed the stone at the entrance of the cave with one hand, he turned over, jumped out of the cave, and stood on the big stone.

He saw a small group of officers and soldiers not far away, and almost at the same time spotted him, and rushed over in a hurry, and some people shouted in unison:

"Naito-kun, so you're here!"

"It's great to see you're okay!

"Where's that Satsuma agent?!"

"Didn't you catch her?!"

......

Earthwork: "......"

He stood on the top of the boulder, looked around, but could not see the half-wet, snow-white shirt at all, and finally uttered such a specious remark, but there was no sign of the woman who admitted her in the end.

He felt his heart pounding so fast that he almost messed up his breathing.

At that moment, he finally vaguely understood one thing-

That night, in Shimahara, what kind of mood she felt when he left her behind, he really felt it now.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Is this your revenge, ...... Yukiba?"

When the name, which had been haunting his heart for many years, but never came out of his lips and teeth, turned into syllables again, and rolled over the tip of his tongue, his heart suddenly loosened, and then tightened, and there was a tenderness, mixed with a certain relieved emotion, and indescribable anxiety, eagerness, joy, incomprehension, and anxiety, all of which came up from the depths of his heart, soaking and tormenting him like a pot of boiling water.

He looked into the dark depths of the forest, as if he could see her again if he stared too much.

She's really not dead, so why did she show up after ten years, and she became Satsuma's secret envoy?!

Besides, what the hell is going on with that face?! It's beautiful, but it's ...... There is no resemblance to her back then! Is her disguise skill so high? Can she completely disguise herself as another person?!

Also, he doesn't believe that she really wants to work for Satsuma - which explains why she smashed Saigo's guards to the point of blood and kidnapped Saigo when she could have solved the meeting with Saigo Tsumichi more satisfactorily and safely, at least without conflicting with the other party.

But how did she become someone trusted by Satsuma's side?!

He still remembered that her uncle's family was working for the Choshu Domain, and the "elder brother" who came out of the mountains in Hakodate later, although it was true that his surname was also Kujo, and he threatened that she was the adopted daughter of the Kujo family - this also confirmed why the Saigo Congdao would call her "Miss Kujo" tonight, and since she appeared with a different face from the "Kujo Noriko" back then, then she took the initiative to reveal her identity to Saigo Congdao?—— but why did the Kujou family switch from supporting Choshu to Satsuma?!

...... What happened to her in the last ten years - in the lost ten years?!

This question haunted him repeatedly for months afterward. However, he never had an answer.

Later, although Saigo came to the front line, he never found a chance to meet his brother. The peace talks he wanted to promote also made no progress.

Later, after the army finally won the Battle of Taharazaka in the heavy rain, in which the Metropolitan Police Department's sword-drawing team and the "Shinsen-brigade" played a major role, Satsuma was almost defeated.

They no longer have the ability to go north. They were pursued by the officers and troops all the way, and they were stuck in torrential rain and muddy mountain roads, and they were struggling to move forward on the steep mountains like climbing walls, and there were constantly cattle and horses carrying luggage and ammunition from the narrow mountain paths and falling down the cliffs; this narrow and steep mountain road made it even more difficult to retreat, and the people were panicked, and as long as they heard the sound of cold guns flying by, they became a mess, and the women and children accompanying the army cried in fear and cried incessantly.

Eventually, the Sahats retreated to Renji with great difficulty, and established a base camp here, threatening to hold it for two more years due to the dangerous terrain.

However, with the deaths and wounded along the way, and the division of troops to the three prefectures of Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto, the strength of the Sasa army in Hitoyoshi was actually only 2,000 men. But the official army gathered more than 10,000 men.

When he got this information, everyone in Renji's base camp had an ugly face.

In the hall where the military meeting was held, only the person who brought the information about the exact number of officers and soldiers looked quite calm. The others were either pale or pale.

Saigo Takamori seemed composed—he was one of the "Three Heroes of the Restoration," and he sat on the first seat, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone in the room, making out the expressions on each of their faces, and finally he turned his gaze to the young man standing against the wall in the corner.

"Saburo...... No, Miss Kujo," his voice was low, with a hint of majesty in his tone that had long been accustomed to being a superior.

"Good work. It's not easy to get such detailed information. He even had time to say a polite word, but the falcon-like gaze remained fixed on the face of the young woman dressed as a man.

“...... Last time, you infiltrated the official camp and delivered a message to Shingo, but it seems to have failed. Ichizzo, it doesn't seem to be planning to let us go......"

He continued, laughing hoarsely.

When the young girl disguised as a man heard this, she did not change her leisurely stance, but replied so calmly:

"It's a pity. ...... Judging from the latest conclusions based on the information from all sides, it seems that Okubo-sama has no intention of listening to your wishes to speak on behalf of the Shishi clan. ”

Saigo Takamori was silent for a long time.

“...... What about Shingo?" he asked in a low voice.

"Although I have heard the report from the last time you came back...... But is Shingo ready to do that, just like Ichizo, and abandon everyone in Satsuma?!"

The young girl, whom he politely called "Miss Kujo," tilted her lips as if she were very reluctant to bring up this hurtful subject again.

“...... Of course, Shingo-sama wants to persuade you to reconcile. She said unexpectedly.

"As your brother, of course, he doesn't want to see anything bad happen to you—so he wants you to give up your desire to speak on behalf of the people of Satsuma and apologize to the government. Then, perhaps, Lord Okubo will ask His Majesty to pardon your ......"

She spoke calmly, but the irony of the remarks did not diminish at all. There was a commotion in the room, and finally it was Saigo Takamori who raised his hand to calm down the small commotion.

"It's impossible. He replied simply and directly.

“...... Shingo is still too naïve. ”

There was a vague smile that seemed to pass across Miss Kujo's face. She stood up straight with the help of her feet, and seemed to bow her head politely to Saigo Takamori, as if she was very sure and admired for his answer.

"You're not wrong at all—" she said.

"Even if you give up here, the government will not let you go. Because what you insist on is what they cannot tolerate. The smile on her face vanished, and her tone sounded cold.

Then there was another chaotic clamour. In the end, according to the situation of the battle, it was decided that Saigo Takamori would leave Hitoyoshi for the time being, and Kirino Toshiaki would lead the army to retreat to—no, they insisted that it was a "march"—Miyazaki, in preparation for the next battle.

After everyone retreated, Saigo Takamori noticed that Miss Kujo was left behind.

This is also very easy to understand - because the people walking in front of her are all big names in the Sajun army, even if she is nominally a member of the old Chinese Kujo family, but here she is only responsible for those shady means, even if she disguises herself as a man "Saburo", the title she gets is very low, and she is not qualified to walk in front.

However, after Saigo Takamori saw her, he changed his mind and stopped her.

In the empty hall, he asked, "...... Shingo, how are you now?"

Miss Kujou seemed slightly stunned, and then a much more sincere smile appeared on her face.

"Shingo-sama is very good. She replied.

"Over there, it seems to be very important...... Although there was some embarrassment because of this incident, he was not removed from his post and investigated. They still respect him as if he were a big man......"

There was also a brief smile on Saigo's round face.

"That's fine. He whispered.

"Shingo, let's be an official of the army with peace of mind...... In the future, it is up to him to become what he can become. ”

Miss Kujou tugged at the corner of her lips.

“...... I think maybe Shingo-sama can do a lot of bad things, and people hate it. In that case, you might as well recall him as soon as possible. She said.

Saigo Takamori was stunned for a moment, and then let out a burst of hahaha laughter. He wasn't angry at the almost rude speculation, but just looked at her as if he was amused.

"Is that what you think of Shingo?" he asked meaningfully, examining her expression.

Miss Kujou snorted coldly.

Saigo Takamori was not angry, but slowly pressed the table, took advantage of the strength to get up from the chair, walked to the window, and looked out.

"Shingo is an ambitious fellow......," he said, "and I think he can do some terrible things in the future." I can't see it, though. ”

Miss Kujou immediately turned her face to look at him as if she were surprised, as if she did not expect him to be so blunt in her prediction of her future fate.

Although Saigo Takamori didn't look back, he also noticed Miss Kujo's strange gaze, so he smiled slightly.

"I heard that Fushang was very close to Choshu at first?" he abruptly changed the subject.

"Hanjiro said that he had heard about you from Takasugi-kun...... To be precise, he is now entrusted with a heavy responsibility for you, maybe because of the words that Takasugi-kun praised you in the first place. ”

Miss Kujou's gaze flickered inexplicably at the words. Then, she asked, "Oh?!, I wonder what Takasugi-kun said about me?"

Saigo Takamori snorted.

"Hanjiro, that guy is very cunning...... He said to me, 'Maybe Mr. Takasugi has a crush on that young lady from the Kujo family.' He replied.

Miss Kujou: ?!

She couldn't help but widen her eyes for a moment. But soon, she lowered her eyebrows and chuckled.

"That's it...... That's how Mr. Takasugi likes to joke. She replied lightly, as if she had soon lost interest in the subject, and after a pause she suddenly dropped a large bomb into the room:

"Ah, by the way, there's another piece of information, I don't know if you're interested-"

She paused, as if she wanted to organize the language a little, but in the end, she said simply:

“...... Kido-sama, I heard about ...... Very sick. Maybe it's been just two days......"

Saigo Takamori was startled, then exhaled and smiled bitterly with regret on his face.

“...... Is it. He sighed, "He must be quite angry to see us like this......"

Miss Kujou bowed slightly towards him again.

"It's a pity. She said. But her expression showed that she didn't seem to feel regret at all.

Saigo Takamori didn't seem to care about this either, he stared out the window as usual, and suddenly said:

“...... There's no point in staying, Miss Kujo. ”

Miss Kujou: "...... Huh?"

Saigo Takamori: "I don't know how you got out of the last time you went to deliver a letter to Shingo, but I don't approve of that kind of dangerous thing to be done by a woman alone." However, Hanjiro insisted that you can do it......"

Miss Kujou slowly curled the corners of her lips.

“...... Thank you so much for Kirino-sama's appreciation. She replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Saigo Takamori didn't bother to look at her expression at the moment, maybe he thought that this matter didn't matter at all.

"However, there are no more missions that require you to venture into it alone. Intelligence or something, it's all bad news anyway......" he actually smiled, "It doesn't make a difference whether you listen to it or not...... Just go. ”

"Just keep going south. If I can't go to Tokyo, I'll go back to Kagoshima. If I can have a decent end in my hometown, I can think of writing the final chapter of the samurai—"

Miss Kujou suddenly raised the corners of her lips and smiled unabashedly.

Saigo Takamori paused. Although he didn't look back, he could still feel the strange atmosphere coming from behind him. So he put his hands behind his back and asked with great interest, "What?

Miss Kujou's voice had a strange smile in her tone.

"Indeed, a decent end in my hometown is also a good ......ending that many people can't ask for," she said.

Saigo Takamori was a little surprised. He thought about it for a while, and he could only think of the friendship between the Kujo family and the Choshu clan in the past.

"Are you talking about Takasugi-kun? But he's not in Shimonoseki-"

Miss Kujo replied, "No, I'm not talking about Mr. Takasugi. ”

Outside the window, the sky suddenly darkened. A boom reverberated between heaven and earth, a sudden thunderclap that heralded another rainstorm.

The wind blew in a hurry, and in an instant it swept up the fallen leaves and grass clippings in the courtyard and blew far away. Miss Kujou's voice was also slightly indistinct in the wind.

"Far from home, there are people who fight to the death......"

"Not for anything, just for the sake of faith......"

"I've known people like that before. ”

Saigo Takamori sighed.

"Yes. That's a decent samurai...... right," he said.

"What happened?"

Miss Kujou smiled.

"Later...... Later, the story was not over. ”

She replied meaningfully.

"I'm also looking forward to the moment when the righteousness of the name returns to their hands—"

"Well, it must be a wonderful victory. ”

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

August 30:

This chapter actually has a foreshadowing

Then the next chapter starts again!

A little note:

"Shingo" is Saigo's former name.

"Ichizo" is Okubo Ritsu, who used to be called Okubo Ichizo.

"Hanjiro" refers to Toshiaki Kirino, who used to be called Hanjiro Nakamura, and was one of the famous four major people at the end of the Bakugaku.

"Kido-sama" refers to Kido Takayo, that is, Katsura Kogoro, the time in the text is about the end of May, at this time in history, he died within a few days, and before he died, he was still struggling with why Saigo could do such a thing.

Next update: tomorrow.

Thank you to the little angel who voted for me or irrigated the nutrient solution~

Thanks to the little angel who threw [mines]: Meow Meow, Gui Heshen 1;

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [the nutrient solution]:

2 bottles of mumps;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!