Toshizou Hijikata, once vice-commander of the Bakumatsu-era Shinsengumi, emerges from decades of imprisonment in Abashiri with a singular goal: to carve the independent Republic of Ezo from Hokkaido’s frozen expanse. His body, etched with cryptic tattoos from his incarceration, holds a fragmented map to Ainu gold—a treasure he seeks to fund his vision of a refuge for outcasts and a bulwark against foreign incursion. Though aged, his lean frame retains the vigor of a warrior, crowned by long gray hair and a beard that frames eyes sharp with undimmed ambition. He strides in a green coat and black vest, armed with the katana Izuminokami Kanesada and a Winchester rifle, relics of a life steeped in conflict.

Renowned as the "Merciless Vice-Commander," Hijikata balances brutality with unexpected tenderness. He forges alliances with former foes like Saichi Sugimoto when strategy demands, yet privately mourns severed bonds, such as his fractured friendship with Shinpachi Nagakura—a comrade he pushed away to spare from the Shinsengumi’s ruin. His leadership thrives on unyielding resolve, prioritizing tenacity over numbers, and his battle tactics blend swordplay, marksmanship, and macabre ingenuity, like blinding foes with flung blood.

Born in Musashi Province, Hijikata’s youth as a medicine peddler and his "Baragaki" reputation for defiance evolved into Shinsengumi infamy. He enforced the group’s harsh codes, shaped pivotal events like the Ikedaya raid, and later feigned compliance in Abashiri to mask his escape plans. His final act—a sacrificial stand against Shirosuke Inudou—seals his legacy, passing his sword to Sugimoto as he falls, defiant to the last breath.

Though historically recorded as dying in 1869, this Hijikata endures as a spectral bridge between eras, his prolonged life a narrative vessel for themes of rebellion, legacy, and the clash of old and new Japan.