Gohei Hiruma

Gohei is violent, arrogant and contemptuous of people he considers weaker than himself. He values swordsmanship as a means of dominating and killing others, putting him directly at odds with the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu philosophy that a sword should protect life.

He is also highly susceptible to his own confidence. Gohei's imposing build and experience make him dangerous to ordinary opponents, but he drastically overestimates his ability when confronted by Kenshin.

Unlike his calculating older brother, Gohei is primarily the muscle of their partnership. Kihei develops schemes and manipulates their targets while Gohei supplies intimidation and direct violence.

Gohei is an experienced swordsman with substantial physical strength. His large frame allows him to deliver powerful strikes, and he is dangerous enough to terrorize ordinary civilians while masquerading as Battosai.

His swordsmanship, however, falls far below Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Gohei falsely associates himself with the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu while committing murders, but his methods violate the school's defining commitment to protecting life.

Gohei is also willing to use firearms and other underhanded methods when direct combat fails. His willingness to attack distracted opponents reinforces the difference between his conception of strength and the ideals practiced by Kenshin and Kaoru.

Gohei and Kihei devise a scheme to obtain the Kamiya Dojo's valuable property. Gohei commits murders while calling himself Hitokiri Battosai and claiming the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu as his style, causing the public to associate Kaoru's school with a killer.

Kenshin exposes the deception and reveals himself as the real Battosai. He defeats Gohei and the Kiheikan men without killing them, simultaneously clearing the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu's name and beginning his connection with Kaoru.

Gohei and Kihei later hire Sanosuke Sagara, then known professionally as Zanza, to defeat Kenshin. After Sanosuke loses and rejects their treachery, the brothers' attempt to interfere is defeated as well.

Much later in the manga, the Hiruma brothers resurface as hired muscle in Sanosuke's home region, only to be defeated again by their former hire.

Kihei Hiruma is Gohei's older brother and criminal partner. Kihei supplies the planning and deception while Gohei normally supplies the physical force.

Kaoru Kamiya is the target of the brothers' original scheme. Gohei deliberately damages the reputation of her school by committing crimes under the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu name.

Kenshin Himura exposes Gohei's false Battosai identity and defeats him decisively.

Sanosuke Sagara is hired by the Hiruma brothers to fight Kenshin, but eventually turns against them after recognizing their dishonorable behavior.