`Saitoh

"A wolf will always be a wolf, the Shinsengumi will always be the Shinsengumi, and a manslayer will always be a manslayer. Isn�t that right, Battousai?"

-Saitoh Hajime

Name: Saitoh Hajime (I've seen this name spelled three ways - Saito, Saitou, and Saitoh)
Alias: Fujita Gorou (I've also see this name spelled a couple of ways - Gorou and Goru)
Nickname: The Wolf of Mibu, the Lone Wolf of Mibu, Wolf, The Lone Wolf
Jobs: Manslayer/Assassin, Ex-Leader of the Third Squad of the Shinsengumi, Police Chief of the Mejii Era
Technique: Gatotsu
Age: 35
Birthday: January 1, 1844
Astrological Sign: Capricorn
Height: 183cm
Weight: 71kg
Blood Type: O
Relations: Wife (Tokio)
Motto: Aku Soku Zen ("Slay Instantly Evil", or translated into conversational English "Slay Evil Instantly". I've also seen this one spelled a couple of ways and translated both "Kill" and "Slay".)
First Appearance: Episode 28 in the anime, Volume 7 in the manga
Voice Actors: Suzuoki Hirotaka (Japanese), Sparky Thornton (English)

Saitoh Hajime is one of three Rurouni Kenshin characters modeled after a real person of the same name. Since I've had someone ask before - the other two characters modeled after real people were Okita (Leader of the First Shinsengumi Squad) and Captain Souzou Sagara (leader of the Sekihoutai). In the anime, Saitoh was the Leader of the Third Squad of the Shinsengumi during the Mejii Revolution. His motto, Aku Soku Zen, was the motto of the entire Shinsengumi, and Saitoh continues to live by it even during the Mejii Era ten years after the war.

He was one of the strongest enemies Himura Kenshin had to face, and the only one who could not be defeated by Battousai, nor in turn defeat Battousai. Their fight eventually ends in a draw and is never fully settled in the anime or the manga.

Saitoh's sword style in the anime, the Gatotsu, was created by Watsuki and is not a real sword style. However, it was patterned after the sword style used by the real Shinsengumi. The Gatotsu is a left-handed thrust and has four levels; the first, the regular Gatotsu, is simply a thrusting technique. The second is a diagonal strike from above. The third is used in arial strikes. The fourth style of Gatotsu is called "Zero Stance", and uses the springs in the upper body to attack at extreme close range.

After the Revolution, Saitoh began to work for the government as a special police officer and assassin. Ten years later, he meets with Himura Kenshin once more, this time as an ally against Shishio Makato. He accompanies Kenshin to Kyoto to battle against their new rival together in hopes of maintaining peace in Japan.

Saitoh later reappears in the Revenge Arc manga as well, working still as a police officer, who ends up taking on the Kamiya case alongside Shinomori Aoshi against Enishi.

Saitoh's personality is fairly easy to understand - he doesn't hide himself behind a lot of facades and masks. Though he does first pretend to be a polite medicine salesman, it's only an act - and his true nature is revealed very quickly.

Random Saitoh Facts

- His favorite food is Kake-Soba, Japanese nnoodles.
- He has a wife, Tokio.
- He lives by the Shinsen Gumi philosophy, AAku. Soku. Zan. even though the faction was dissolved.
- He works in the police force under the namme Fujita Goro.
- He carries a Katana.
- He perfected his fighting technique, the GGatotsu.
- He is known as Mibu's Wild Wolf.
- He kills corruption without mercy.
- But he does have mercy, or at least he isnn't a cold hearted bastard. He spared Sano (on a few occasions) and Misao.
- He doesn't mind using people.
- He is insightful and manipulative.<
- Kenshin and Saitoh met 10 years before Kennshin moved to the Kamiya Dojo.
- Saitoh was working for Kawaji and Okubo Tooshimichi the whole time, even when he was supposedly helping Shibumi assassinate Kenshin.
- That is why he killed Akamatsu and Shibumii at the end of episode 30.
- Saitoh was sent to gauge Kenshin's abilityy, not fight him like he did at the Dojo.
- Kenshin was helping bring in the Meiji govvernment.
- Saitoh isn't a serial killer. He kills corrrupt people who threaten to disturb the time of peace in Japan. He killed Akamatsu, Shibumi and tried to kill Shishio for those reasons.
- He is not a corrupt police officer. He worrks for Kawaji the Police Commissioner, and only kills people who (as stated above) threaten to disturb the time of peace in Japan.