Instinctively, Hijikata understands the good sense in Saitou's decision to move to the front, and he doesn't question it. Somewhat paradoxically, both his controlling nature and his preference for not being in sole and unquestioned leadership are exactly what make him so good in that role.

Not long after Spy returns and Saitou moves to the front, it seems that someone got wind of where they're headed. While they're walking down a hallway, U-men appear from both sides -- one with a fiery aura surrounding them, one manipulating the shadows into something that looks disturbingly solid, several others. All of them are heavily armed.

Hijikata throws a brief burst of hurricane-force wind at them, blowing the barrels of their guns off-target as he raises his weapon. One of them seems unmoved -- moving with superhuman speed, he charges towards the three teachers.