Kenshin vs Sojiro

The second duel between Kenshin and Sojiro unfolds as a riveting encounter in the series. As the battle prolongs, Sojiro gradually gains the upper hand until a brief intermission unveils Sojiro's poignant past. In a surprising turn, Kenshin skillfully prompts Sojiro to question his allegiance to Shishio, causing Sojiro to become unfocused and emotionally vulnerable during the confrontation.

This particular battle stands out as my favorite in the entire series. While there is a version of it available in the New Kyoto Arc, it lacks the intense impact of the original animation. The initial confrontation had already established Sojiro's superior speed over Kenshin, but his greatest advantage was his emotional control - until Kenshin disrupts that equilibrium. This disruption ultimately provides Kenshin with the opportunity to retaliate by breaking Sojiro's sword, a fitting payback for the earlier incident when Sojiro broke Kenshin's original reverse blade.

Detailed information:

• Manga debut: Chapter 127
• Anime debut: 36