Kenshiro comes across two boys fishing. But the moment they see him, they get scared, and say that it's Hyoh! They run off, as Kenshiro wonders why they mistook him for Hyoh.

Rock's Message of Death!
Kenshiro, Hang on to Your Friend's Life!!

At his castle, Hyoh kneels before Han's grave. He tells Han that they were brothers in arms, and had mastered the way of battle together. He will wash away his grudge with Kenshiro's blood, and by using the North Star lapis lazuli fist, shall satisfy the art's lingering regrets. He tells Han to rest in peace. Nagato then reports to Hyoh that Gamon has been defeated by Kenshiro.

Nagato also reports that the villagers now appear to regard Kenshiro as a savior. Nagato tells Hyoh that he thinks it may be time for him to show his power. Hyoh considers the idea of Kenshiro being a savior absurd, and wants to know where Kenshiro is. Nagato tells him it appears Kenshiro is searching for him, and has been wandering alone in the western wastelands. Hyoh says to send the army out -they are departing, and will defeat Kenshiro!

Hyoh swears to crush Kenshiro with his own hands. A little later on, Hyoh and his army move out. They are seen by Shachi and Lin, and Shachi says its begun.

Hyoh's army has the best mobility and arms in the Land of Asura. Excluding Hyoh's own power, his army is his strongest trump card -and it's now on the move. Lin thinks Hyoh must be going after Ken. She starts to run off, but Shachi tells her to wait, and asks where she's going. Lin says she must tell Ken, but Shachi tells her not to bother. He thinks this is where things will get interesting.

Elsewhere, Rock's group arrive at Jukei's place. Leia and Tao come out, and Rock says he'd like to meet Lord Jukei. Leia says Jukei has gone training somewhere, but then Jukei comes back, walking on water. Rock says it has been a long time, and Jukei tells him his eyes gleam brighter and sharper than last time. Rock says he's come here to ask him for a favor.

Hyoh and his army have moved out to find Kenshiro, and the seven of them are going to move out. They intend to crush Hyoh's royal guards, but if they themselves fall, he asks Jukei to look after the remaining villagers. Jukei tells them they can't win. Kenshiro and Hyoh are probably equal in skill, but Kenshiro won't be able to defeat Hyoh -he'll never be able to defeat him! Rock asks why.

Jukei explains that it's because Hyoh is Kenshiro's true brother! It was back then, when the Land of Asura was under attack from a military superpower. He sent Raoh, Toki and Kenshiro away to Ryuken.

Jukei watches at Raoh and the others leave in a boat. But then someone runs up to him, saying that they can't find Hyoh! Out at sea, Toki points out someone is in the water.

Hyoh shouts out to Raoh, telling him to take care of Kenshiro. Raoh is about to help him, but Hyoh tells him to stay there, and go on. He says he'll be fine, but Kenshiro is still a baby. He wants them to take good care of Ken.

Raoh shouts that he understands. As the boat moves off again, Raoh promises himself that he will return to this land.

Back in the present, Jukei says that Hyoh was far too compassionate. But he was worried that the times would change, to an era where Hyoh's compassion would be his downfall. So he sealed away Hyoh's memories.

It was something he did with his own hand. The only men Hyoh calls brother now are Han and Kaioh, his fellow students in the North Star lapis lazuli fist. Leia and Rock realize that if Hyoh and Kenshiro were to fight, neither of them would know it would be a fratricide. Jukei says Kenshiro can't win -he can't kill his own brother. This was the greatest mistake he's made in his life.

Later on, Hyoh's army arrive at a small village, but Rock gets in their way. The army stops, and an Asura asks him if he dares to block Lord Hyoh's path. Rock introduces himself, and says he's here to take Hyoh's life.

Another Asura asks him if he's one of those who think Kenshiro is a savior. One car is sent out to run Rock over, but it falls into a hidden pit.

Another Asura is then shot with an arrow -Wayne is up in a tower, and takes aim. As the Asuras head into the village, several of them get shot...

...by Hans. José leaps out of the well and starts attacking Asuras with his swords. Nearby, two Asura get hit by a smoke grenade.

Sancho jumps up and punches the two Asura down, and takes control of their vehicle. As Lopez kills some Asura with his whips, Franco gets under an Asura's vehicle, and sticks some dynamite to it.

As it rolls over him, it explodes seconds later. Rock takes down some Asuras, and tells everyone to take Hyoh down. Sancho attempts to drive his car into Hyoh's tank, but another car gets in his way, causing him to crash and flip over.

Wayne attempts to shoot Hyoh, but his arrow gets destroyed by Hyoh's fighting spiritual energy. Nagato orders the tank crew to fire on the tower, which is soon destroyed, killing Wayne. Meanwhile, Hans is still firing away.

However, a powerful Asura called Kujin appears. He runs forward, and despite being shot several times, is able to get through to where Hans is, and kills him.

Some Asura throw projectiles at Lopez, which break his whips and hit him. They then throw more projectiles, which strike Lopez and cause him to stagger backwards. As he dies, he falls down the well behind him. Meanwhile, Franco has also been injured, but he pulls out some more dynamite, and lights it.

He blows himself up, along with the Asura around him. Rock and José are the only ones left, but Rock wants to fight Hyoh -he asks him if he's a coward, who can't fight for himself. The Asuras tell him he'll pay for his remarks, but Hyoh tells them to wait. Hyoh says he likes Rock's spirit, so he accepts his challenge. He asks them what's wrong -why won't they come?

Rock and José charge, but before they can get close, Hyoh blasts them with a projectile.

As they hit the ground, Hyoh asks them why they'd stand before them if that's all they've got. José tells Rock to go and find Kenshiro, whilst he keeps Hyoh busy. He tells Rock to not let Hyoh and Kenshiro fight -if he doesn't pass this on, then their deaths shall be in vain. Nearby, two Asura talk about how Rock can't defeat Hyoh.

They fail to see Sancho is still alive. He grabs them and says he'll take them with him, as he drops a grenade. Seconds later, there's an explosion, which the Asuras turn around to look at. José tells Rock to go now. As he leaps towards Hyoh, Rock runs back to his horse.

As José charges, Hyoh says he'll at least send him off with one of his secret techniques. He taps the end of José's sword with his finger, shattering it. He then sends out a beam of energy through his finger:

HOKUTO RYUUKEN: YOSHIN KYOKUHA

(North Star Lapis Lazuli Fist: Cursed Needle Zenith Destruction)

José is completely obliterated by Hyoh's attack. Nagato asks if they should pursue the other man, but Hyoh says it's not necessary, as he doesn't have long to live. He now bears the death of his friend, so they can let him go. Rock has managed to get bacon his to his horse, but is badly injured.

He thinks about his friends, and that he won't die until he sees Kenshiro. Later on, he finds Kenshiro. Kenshiro asks what happened, but Rock says they're no time. He asks for him to listen -Hyoh's army is coming soon.

He tells him that he must not fight with Hyoh, as he can't beat him. Kenshiro asks what he means, so he tries to say what Kenshiro's relation to Hyoh is, but dies before he can.

Kenshiro makes a grave for him, and places Raoh's medallion on it. He wonders why Rock threw away his life to stop him from fighting with Hyoh -what was he trying to tell him? And just who is this Hyoh?

Elsewhere, two Asura complain about the fierce wind. They don't like the reconnaissance job they've got to do, especially now that they know it's Kenshiro, not Raoh, who has come here. The wind suddenly stops, and the two realize it's just gotten dark for some reason. They then see a giant shadow before them.

They turn around, and see that the first supreme leader, Kaioh, has appeared!

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Finally, Kaioh, the first supreme leader of Asura, has moved! Hurry, Kenshiro! The evil fighting spiritual energy attacks Lin! Fist of the North Star 2: "Announcing the Creator of the New Century! My Name is Demon Kaioh!!"