Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin (released in Japan in February 2014) is a spin-off game set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history (known as the Bakumatsu period), a period when the Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end and imperial rule was restored (Meiji Restoration).
Sakamoto Ryoma is living undercover, with a false identity, as "Saito Hajime" in Kyoto. One year earlier, on the eve of the coup d'état of Tosa, Ryoma's foster father, the man who raised him, was murdered before his eyes. The only lead he had to discover who the killer was is that he used the Tennen Rishin style of fighting. This is a style used by the Shinsengumi, so Ryoma infiltrates their ranks, becoming captain of the 3rd Shinsengumi unit, in attempt to find the killer.
Big thanks to Kevin Debrabandere for creating a PDF for the entire Ishin guide. You can download the PDF version of the guide here. Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
The chapter starts off at the Satsuma base of operations within Kyoto. We see Saigo Kichinosuke and a man called Katsu Rintaro - a retainer in the Tokugawa Shogunate - talking. Katsu tells Saigo that they have come down to Kyoto in order to get Satsuma into action, since after all this time they still haven't made any moves. He says the Choshu domain won't defeat the Shogunate and need the military power of Satsuma. Saigo says "That doesn't sound like something a man from the Shogunate would say". Katsu mentions that, as Saigo already knows, he's not truly on the side of the Shogunate and that he plans to help bring down the Shogunate from the inside, using his position as a Shogunate retainer. He tells Saigo that, should they win the war against the Shogunate, he will stand at the top of the new country. He then introduces the man to his right, saying he will give Saigo weapons brought in from England to help take down the Shogunate - he is introduced as "Sakamoto Ryoma".
Next, we see Ryoma and Nakaoka in Ryoma's room at Terada Inn. Nakaoka says he's worried about the fact Katsura knows about Ryoma's true identity, since Takechi told him - he thinks he might tell the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi and Choshu domain are great enemies and it wouldn't go down well if the 3rd captain of the Shinsengumi is found out to be on good terms with a top leader among the supporters of the Emperor. If they found out, it would be a repeat of what happened with Matsubara - Ryoma would be killed and then the military power of the Shinsengumi will be reduced further, as the Choshu domain wishes. Ryoma doesn't think Katsura is the kind of guy who would use such methods. He also says that regardless of whether of not Katsura comes out and tells them, his time moving within the Shinsengumi is limited, because all the captains now know that Ryoma is hunting down those who use the Tennen Rishin style. Ryoma says he needs to continue hunting for the masked man from a year ago with what time he has left in the Shinsengumi and says he has to meet with Kondo Isami - because even if he isn't the killer, he'll probably know the identity of the man he's looking for.
After leaving the room, Ryoma says he should head over to the Shinsengumi HQ.
You can now do Substories 34 and 43.
[1]
When you get near the entrance of the HQ, Ryoma sees a group of Mimawarigumi, led by "Sasaki Tadasaburo", demanding to see Kondo Isami. Ito tells them that Kondo is busy and isn't at the headquarters.
Inside the HQ, Ryoma bumps into Nagakura, who explains the Mimawarigumi to him. He says that while the Shinsengumi is formed of ronin, the Mimawarigumi is formed of people from noble families. He also tells Ryoma about Sasaki Tadasaburo, and how he's a skilled fighter. Ryoma goes on to ask about Serizawa Kamo. Nagakura explains that before they were known as the Shinsengumi, they were called the "Miburoshigumi". At that time, there were 7 of them from the Shieikan dojo and another 3 from Kamo's group (including Kamo himself). Kondo made Kamo a commander and tried to unify the groups, but Hijikata opposed it. Ryoma asks if Hijikata is the one who killed him, but Nagakura says he doesn't know who did the actual killing - maybe it could have been Kondo or maybe it could have been Hijikata, but they don't need to know. He warns Ryoma it is an unspoken law within the Shinsengumi that they must not speak about Kamo. Ryoma asks why someone like Nagakura stays in the Shinsengumi and he says he indebted to Kondo, saying he would not be here now if it weren't for him. Ryoma mentions he'd love to meet Kondo, Nagakura tells him where Kondo's room is, but says there's no one there.
[1]
Go to Kondo's room. As Ryoma is about to open the door, Ito shows up and asks what he's up to, reminding him that Kondo isn't here because he's busy. Ryoma asks what he has to do to meet him and Ito tells him to just wait for him to return, whenever that will be... Ryoma thinks to himself that Hijikata, being Vice Commander, might be able to get him an audience with Kondo, so he should go and ask him.
[2]
Go to Hijikata's room. Ryoma tells Hijikata he'd like to meet Kondo just once, saying he hasn't been able to introduce himself to the commander since becoming a captain. Hijikata tells Ryoma that Kondo is a busy man, but the day will come when Ryoma can meet him, so he should just wait for his chance.
After leaving the room, Ryoma says that didn't get him anywhere and he'll have to find another way of meeting Kondo.
[3]
Go here and speak to Okita, who is playing Mahjong. Ryoma tells him he's searching for Kondo and asks where he needs to go to meet him, but Okita says he has no idea. Ryoma thinks to himself that he's not getting anywhere inside the HQ, so he should look for info outside.
As you are about to leave the HQ, Inoue tells him the commander has issued a job for Ryoma to complete. He asks him, "Have you heard the name 'Sakamoto Ryoma'?". Ryoma tells him he hasn't heard the name before. Inoue tells him he's an Ishin-Shishi from the Tosa domain and that he's second in command in Takechi Hanpeita's Tosa Loyalist Party. He also mentions that a year ago he assassinated Yoshida Toyo and abandoned Tosa. Ryoma's job is to investive more about this "Sakamoto Ryoma".
(this will probably get confusing if I use the same name for both men, so I'll refer to the real Sakamoto Ryoma as Saito Hajime whenever both are mentioned at the same time)
He tells Hajime that Sakamoto Ryoma appeared at the Satsuma base of operations in Kyoto and tells Hajime to head over there. He also tells him that when he completes this task, he will have the opportunity to meet Kondo.
After Inoue leaves, Ryoma supposes that Nakaoka might have some information, so he should head back to Terada Inn and ask him.
You can now do Substory 21.
Go back to your room in Terada Inn and Ryoma tells Nakaoka about the fake Sakamoto Ryoma and asks if he knows anything. He says of course he doesn't - if he did, he'd have told Ryoma right away. They talk about Satsuma and Saigo and Nakaoka mentions that Satsuma are actually working alongside the Shogunate to get Choshu people out of Kyoto - such is their great resentment towards them - yet there's a rumour that behind the scenes Satsuma is planning to take down the Shogunate and bring power to the Emperor.
After they talk, leave Terada Inn and Ryoma says he should speak with Saigo over at the Satsuma residence about it.
[1]
Go here and Ryoma tells the guy at the door that he's here to see Saigo, because he wants to ask about Sakamoto Ryoma. The man says he'll lead him to Saigo and takes him all the way to the shrine in Rakunai, where more guys appear. Turns out they hate the Shinsengumi - apparently they've killed a lot of guys from Satsuma and so there are a lot of people from there with grudges against them.
After the fight Hajime asks again to meet Saigo. This time, the man leads Hajime inside to meet with Saigo. Hajime says he has something to ask him - he says a man named Sakamoto Ryoma came to visit him and he wants to ask about this man. Saigo says he doesn't recognise the name. Ryoma tells him he's the guy who arrived alongside retainer Katsu Rintaro and says he should remember - it wasn't that long ago, after all. But Saigo says he's never met any "Sakamoto Ryoma" and asks Hajime to leave. Hajime asks why he's hiding the information, "is he really such an important man to you guys?".
After Ryoma leaves the building, he says he should head back over to the HQ, but as he walks off, Yamazaki calls out to him, telling him the commander has summoned him because he wants a report on his progress in his investigation into this "Sakamoto Ryoma" guy. He's waiting for him at Asahiya in Gion.
[1]
Go here and select the TOP OPTION to go inside.
Hajime meets with Kondo Isami and introduces himself. Kondo tells him he knows who he is - he summoned him here after all! He then introduces himself to Hajime. Hajime gives him his report on his Sakamoto Ryoma investigation, then Kondo tells him he's heard that Ryoma is heading towards Nagasaki. He then says it's not Hajime's fault he couldn't get any info - it's not easy making Saigo talk! He thanks Hajime for his work and says he's now found out something big - the "Sakamoto Ryoma" who visited Saigo in an imposter, "Isn't that right... 'Real Sakamoto Ryoma'?".
He says the Sakamoto Ryoma who abandoned Tosa a year ago and came to Kyoto to search for people who use the Tennen Rishin style is him, but the Sakamoto Ryoma who is getting hold of weapons from England is the fake Ryoma. Ryoma says he doesn't know what he's talking about, but Kondo says he doesn't have to worry - he's not going to reveal his true identity. He points out he doesn't care whether he's "Sakamoto Ryoma" or "Saito Hajime" - he just cares about his skill and how he can help with his plan. His plan is to change the capital of Japan from Kyoto to Edo - he believes this is the only way to finally save Japan. Things being as they are now, there will be a huge civil war. If that happens, Japan will have no military strength left to fight America and England. He says before they relocate the capital, they need to burn down Kyoto. He goes on to say that it doesn't really matter whether it's the Imperial Court or the Shogunate, but one has to go! Ryoma asks if he even understands what he's saying. Kondo tells him they can move the capital to Edo, where the Shogunate is based, when the Imperial Court is gone and Kyoto is burned down and there's no way for the Emperor to do anything. It turns out he created the Shinsengumi with this very plan in mind - he needed an elite group of people for this. Ryoma asks why he's telling him all about his plan. He says he wants to utilise Ryoma's skill in this and is prepared to make a deal with him - If Ryoma helps him out, he will hand over the masked man who killed Yoshida Toyo. Ryoma refuses to help out with his "ridiculous" plan, because it means sacrificing many lives of people in Kyoto. As Ryoma is about to leave, he asks Kondo if there really is no other way - a way that doesn't involve sacrifices. Kondo says he's naive and that Yoshida Toyo was right - Ryoma is not suited to being second in command! Ryoma, realising this guy must be the masked man after all, says this makes things easier for him - he can kill him here, then he'll have no reason to stay in the Shinsengumi. Ryoma then fights Kondo Isami.
After Ryoma wins, he tells Kondo that he isn't the masked man after all - the real man he's looking for was tougher than him. Ryoma asks who the real masked man is and Kondo says if he helps out with his plan, he'll tell him. Ryoma tells him that he wants to find the answer to why someone killed Yoshida Toyo by himself. He asks Kondo if he can stay in the Shinsengumi until he has all the answers he's looking for.
After Ryoma leaves, Inoue enters the room. Inoue asks if it's really okay to let him continue - after all, he knows so much now. Kondo says it's fine and that this guy might be able to get to the bottom of the "true mystery".
