Nobuhiro Watsuki’s “Rurouni Kenshin Side Story: The Ex-Con Ashitaro” (Rurouni Kenshin Ibun: Ashitarō Zenka Ari) is a two-chapter spinoff off his Rurouni Kenshin manga.
Viz Media’s digital manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump announced on Monday that it will publish the “Yu-Gi-Oh! Transcend Game” and “Rurouni Kenshin Side Story: The Ex-Con Ashitaro” manga shorts beginning in next week’s issue.
The second chapter revealed that the manga’s true name is “Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido-hen Jomaku: Ashitarō Zenka Ari” (Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido Arc Prologue: The Criminal Ashitaro), and it is a prequel to an upcoming new arc for Rurouni Kenshin.
The manga ran in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump on April 11 and April 18.