Udou Jin-e, better known as Kurogasa, was a hitokiri during the Revolution who never really stopped killing afterward. He targeted high-ranking Meiji government officials—which has led some to wonder if he actually fought for the Tokugawa during the war. He claimed to be Shinsengumi, though his bloodlust was so intense he killed his own squad members without hesitation.
You'd recognize him by his distinctive look: long scarf, straw hat, and flowing kimono. His real edge came from a supernatural ability called the Shin no Ippo, a technique that let him project his "swordsman's spirit" and hypnotize opponents with his eyes. He could use it offensively to paralyze people or defensively to boost his own strength.
When Kurogasa crosses paths with Himura Kenshin during an assassination attempt on a government official named Tani, he becomes obsessed with fighting him. But he won't settle for a half-hearted match—he demands Kenshin come at him with everything he's got. When Kenshin refuses, Kurogasa walks away. The next day, he kidnaps Kaoru to force Kenshin back into his Hitokiri Battousai persona.
Their duel in the forest quickly turns desperate. Kenshin still holds back, unwilling to kill, so Kurogasa uses his Shin no Ippo to paralyze Kaoru's lungs. That finally pushes Kenshin over the edge. The Battousai emerges, and he completely dominates Kurogasa, breaking his arm. As Kenshin raises his sword for the kill, Kaoru's desperate pleas snap him back to himself. Kurogasa, seeing his chance slip away, picks up his sword with his other hand and stabs himself through the heart.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
