Shibuumi

Shibuumi is ambitious, corrupt and willing to use murder as an instrument of political advancement. Public office gives him legitimate authority, but he operates an illicit network of hired killers behind that respectable exterior.

He judges people primarily by their usefulness. Assassins are disposable tools for removing rivals, while information is valuable insofar as it can increase his influence within the government.

His confidence depends heavily on his political position and his ability to manipulate others. When confronted by someone whose loyalty cannot be bought, his authority provides far less protection than he expects.

Shibuumi is not established as an exceptional combatant in the Meiji period. His principal weapons are political influence, money and access to professional assassins.

He is skilled enough at political maneuvering to rise within the government while concealing his involvement in illegal killings. His contacts allow him to employ dangerous fighters including Jin-e and Akamatsu.

That indirect approach also creates his central weakness. Shibuumi depends upon hired violence and therefore has little control when an operative such as Saitou follows a completely different agenda.

Shibuumi is revealed as the politician behind assassinations carried out against people obstructing his political ambitions. His involvement retroactively connects him to the earlier Kurogasa murders committed by Jin-e.

He later employs Akamatsu and approaches Saitou to deal with Kenshin. Akamatsu resents Saitou receiving the more important assignment and attacks Kenshin himself, while Saitou uses the situation to test his old Bakumatsu rival.

[Saitou is actually operating under Toshimichi Ookubo, not serving Shibuumi loyally. Once Shibuumi realizes the truth and attempts to bargain his way out of the situation, Saitou kills him under his doctrine of Aku Soku Zan.](#spoiler)

Jin-e Udou works as one of Shibuumi's assassins, killing political opponents who stand in the way of his ambitions.

Arundo Akamatsu is another mercenary employed by Shibuumi and participates in his plan against Kenshin.

Hajime Saitou appears to accept work from Shibuumi. In reality, Saitou is using the arrangement as part of his government assignment and ultimately turns against him.

Toshimichi Ookubo is the powerful statesman whose interests Saitou actually serves during the operation.

Kenshin Himura becomes a target once Shibuumi recognizes him as an obstacle and a dangerous surviving figure from the Bakumatsu.