Hijikata Toshizo, initially one of the vice-captains of the Shinsengumi under Kondo, Serizawa Kamo and Niimi Nishiki. But Serizawa and Niimi abused their status as protectors of Kyoto and tarnished the reputation of the entire Shinsengumi. Hijikata investigated and found enough evidence to convict Niimi, and ordered him to commit seppuku. Then Serizawa and his followers were assassinated by a group of people including Okita, and Kondo became the sole Captain, with Hijikata as his vice-captain.
