History Film / RurouniKenshinTheLegendEnds

After seemingly losing Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei) and failing to prevent Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) from setting sail to Tokyo, Himura Kenshin ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO Takeru Satoh]]) finds himself at his lowest point. Fortunately, there is a silver lining: the possibility of learning one last technique from his former master, Hiko Seijuro XIII (Masaharu Fukuyama). To master it, Hiko orders Kenshin to seek out the one value he doesn't possess, a task that proves to be difficult. Meanwhile, Shishio sets out to control the Japanese government, demanding that they find and execute Kenshin, or risk having their cover-ups leaked to the public. Nonetheless, the fate of the entire country depends on Kenshin, who can finally prove himself as a true pacifist if he defeats Shishio first.

After seemingly losing Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei) and failing to prevent Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) from setting sail to Tokyo, Himura Kenshin ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO Takeru Satoh]]) finds himself at his lowest point. Fortunately, there is a silver lining: the possibility of learning one last technique from his former master, Hiko Seijuro XIII (Masaharu Fukuyama). To master this move, Hiko orders Kenshin to seek out the one value he doesn't possess, a task that proves to be difficult. Meanwhile, Shishio sets out to control the Japanese government, demanding that they find and execute Kenshin, or risk having their cover-ups leaked to the public. Nonetheless, the fate of the entire country depends on Kenshin, who can finally prove himself as a hero who won't kill, if he defeats Shishio first.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Ito Hirobumi was implied by Shishio himself to be the man behind the unsuccessful attempt to silence him, and was supposedly the mastermind behind many assassinations/"liquidations" during the Bakumatsu, and even during the Meiji period. As is shown by other examples in this page, it is suggested that he himself is a nasty piece of work when push comes to shove ([[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment things which were never explicitly documented in Japanese or even less-sympathetic historical records]]).

* RealityEnsues: Considering [[{{Shonen}} the source material]] and since ConservationOfNinjutsu has been at play for most protagonists, the fate of the Juppongatana battling the Meiji police forces is a remarkable example. It does not matter if most of you are supposedly-skilled warriors or samurai acting individually as a OneManArmy: you will lose against a well-organized and well-equipped peacekeeping force.

* BookEnds: The second-last, slow-motion scene of the first film consists of a worn-out Kenshin [[PietaPlagiarism carrying an unconscious Kaoru in his arms]], as he walks away from a dark forest to the right of the screen. Here, a similar camera shot is used for Kenshin and Kaoru. Only this time, Kaoru is walking away with a wounded Kenshin, arm-in-arm, to the left of a sunny beach.

After seemingly losing Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), and failing to prevent Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) from setting sail to Tokyo, Himura Kenshin ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO Takeru Satoh]]) finds himself at his lowest point. Fortunately, there is a silver lining: the possibility of learning one last technique from his former master, Hiko Seijuro XIII (Masaharu Fukuyama). To truly master this move, Hiko orders Kenshin to seek out the one value that he does not possess, a task that proves to be difficult. Meanwhile, Shishio sets out to control the Japanese government, demanding that they find and execute Kenshin, or risk having their cover-ups leaked to the public. Nonetheless, the fate of the entire country depends on Kenshin, who can finally prove himself as a man who refuses to kill, if he defeats Shishio first.

Having seemingly lost Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei), and failed to prevent Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara) from setting sail to Tokyo, Himura Kenshin ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO Takeru Satoh]]) finds himself at his lowest point. Fortunately, there is a silver lining awaiting him: the possibility of learning one last technique from his former master, Hiko Seijuro XIII (Masaharu Fukuyama). But to truly master this move, Hiko orders Kenshin to seek out the one value that he does not possess, a task that proves to be difficult. Meanwhile, Shishio sets out to control the Japanese government, demanding that they find and execute Kenshin, or risk having their cover-ups leaked to the public. Nonetheless, the fate of the entire country depends on Kenshin, who can finally prove himself as a man who refuses to kill, if he defeats Shishio first.

''Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends'' (るろうに剣心 伝説の最期編, ''Rurouni Kenshin: Densetsu no Saigo-hen'') is the third ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' live action movie adaptation. As the narrative of the film immediately follows ''Film/RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno'', the main cast remains the same (involving Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Aoki Munetaka, Yusuke Iseya, Yosuke Eguchi, Min Tanaka, Masaharu Fukuyama and Tatsuya Fujiwara). It premiered in Japan on September 13, 2014.

Unless otherwise stated below, tropes from the source material about the Kyoto Arc and the first two movies (as well as those related to the plot and characters) also apply here.

* BreakingOldTrends: The previous two movies had their title cards appear after an ActionPrologue, with the transition being a blinding light. Kenshin's red cross-shaped scar can also be seen behind the title, while orchestral music. Here, the title is shown in the first few seconds of the movie, which is a {{Flashback}} of Hiko Seijuro XIII meeting a young Kenshin for the first time.

->''"If you can't see what you lack, you can't win. If you win by luck, you won't defeat your hitokiri self. It mustn't win. You'll always feel suffering and grief and you'll kill again."''

* MauveShirt: Saito's NumberTwo in the Kyoto police force, Takano (first introduced in ''Kyoto Inferno''), spends a notable scene hacking away at Shishio's mooks just like Saito before being [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice impaled at the stomach by Fuji's naginata]]. He still even manages to [[FamousLastWords throw words]] at Fuji in a DyingMomentOfAwesome:

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Before saving others, save yourself."'']]

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Japan's future rests on your sword!"'']]
->''"I have a foe I must defeat. Shishio Makoto, ex-hitokiri, threatens this nation. If he gains control, many will suffer. Ending Shishio is my mission! There's no time!"''
-->-- '''Himura Kenshin'''

** Kenshin's realization that he was unable to save Kaoru from the sea (and thus thinking she died) was almost a down-scaled version of his period of despair in the Jinchu arc. Unlike this time, he has his master Hiko Seijuro to snap him out of it.

** [[spoiler: Saito kills Fuji in their battle. In the source material, Hiko Seijuro spared him and pulls a RedemptionEarnsLife HeelFaceTurn. Likewise, Anji presumably dies when the Rengoku exploded]].

* HermitGuru: Hiko Seijuro, of course, with his being publicly a humble potter and [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial not-actually-the-master-of-a-very-powerful-kenjutsu-school]].

* LateArrivalSpoiler: Masaharu Fukuyama being cast as Hiko Seijuro was an industry-wide secret at the time of production, not to be revealed up until the final scene of ''Kyoto Inferno'' (he was even credited as "Mystery Man" in the credits to avoid giving it away). ''The Legend Ends'' opens exactly with him finding a young Shinta/Kenshin amidst a sea of dead slave traders and bandits.

--> '''Ito''': ''I thought you could buy us more time. [[IDidWhatIHadToDo I'm sorry, Himura... but I need to sacrifice you.]]''
--> '''Kenshin''': ''[[DeadpanSnarker You planned it from the start. Why only say it now?]]''
--> '''Ito''': ''Shishio never planned to expose us. He means to take this nation by force. [[SadisticChoice If the public knew a manslayer acted on government orders... trust in the government would evaporate. That is his goal. He wants the public on his side when he attacks Tokyo with a huge force. But if we begin the attack now... heavy damage will be inflicted on Tokyo.]]''
--> '''Kenshin''': ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Ito-san... What makes you think I'll let myself die without a fight?]] '''[[BadassBoast If I can get near Shishio, I have a chance to win.]]'''''

--> '''Fuji''': ''[[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why waste your life like this...huh?]]''
--> '''Takano''': ''[[HeroicSacrifice Someone... has to... protect... this new era!]]''

** Among Hiko's possessions in his hut is a full set of samurai armor/''yoroi''. Creator/NobuhiroWatsuki penned a one-shot entitled ''Sengoku no Mikazuki'' (Crescent Moon of the Warring States), which featured the (presumably) first Hiko Seijuro, who himself wears a full set of armor (and whose possessions were likely handed down to subsequent users of the ''Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu'').

--> '''Shishio''': ''That's truly your best trick... burying things discrediting the government.''
--> '''Ito:''': ''That's politics...''
--> '''Shishio''': ''So burning me was politics, too?''
--> '''Ito''': ''There's nothing more to discuss.''
--> '''Shishio''': ''I see... Due to government politics, my sweat glands are utterly destroyed.''
--> ''(later, after his henchmen slaughter the Meiji police force)''
--> '''Shishio''': ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Your Meiji government covered up its misdoings! You lied to the public that Japan is a beautiful country. Don't try to justify your actions!]]'' ''(swings his Mugenjin and ignites it)''

--> '''Hoji''': ''"Densetsu no... saigo da!"'' (''"The legend... ends here!"'')

--> '''Saito''': Is Battosai a mere pawn now?
--> '''Kawaji''': Watch your words, Fujita!
--> '''Saito''': ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Those politicians have forgotten the honour of a warrior/samurai]].''

----

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!!Tropes associated with ''The Legend Ends''

** [[spoiler: Saito kills Fuji in their battle. in the source material, Hiko Seijuro spared him and pulls a RedemptionEarnsLife HeelFaceTurn. Likewise, Anji presumably dies when the Rengoku exploded]].

*** this can be subverted, however, if the awakened Okina's reaction to hear the news of Kenshin were considered (His line implied he knew where Kenshin would be if he was alive, while in the manga he was the one who told Kenshin Hiko's location. This could be interpreted as a part of [[CrazyPrepared Kenshin's plan]] should he failed to defeat Shishio on the first attempt).

** [[spoiler: It was heavily implied Okina died by succumbing to his still-unhealed wounds after trying to take on Aoshi while still heavily-bandaged. This was magnified by his disappearance from the film after that scene]].