In order to avoid having to work with people, he makes his living as a pottery artist alone on a mountain (a profession that he is reported to excel at). As a soldier however, he knew that many of the men Kenshin might be ordered to kill would not deserve to die, and he understood the effect that would have on his idealistic, kindhearted student.
Though she wished to be at his side forever and to run away from her domain's state of affairs with him, Hiko declined for the sake of all within Kitakata against the threat of Nagumo, despite his own feelings for her. However, during his fight with Fuji, Kaoru notices that he reversed his sword so that only the dull edge hit the giant warrior and so he spared his life and also said that Fuji survived his attack because of his humongous size. Initially, Hiko simply refuses point blank to have anything to do with him, but as Kenshin begs him, he sits down to listen to Kenshin's reasons for returning. The thirteenth successor to the sword art of Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū, Hiko serves as Kenshin's teacher and surrogate parent.

Isshinta countered that his obligations to his domain were not wrong, and that it was the greedy ambition of Iwano that came between them. Set in Japan during the Meiji period, several of the characters are real historical figures who interact with the fictional characters. He then takes the boy as his apprentice, and trains him for the next six years. One day, as the war drew to a close, he was traveling through the meadow-turned-graveyard where he had first found Kenshin. This became a source of anger and disappointment for Hiko, who knew that, at only 14 years old, Kenshin was not prepared mentally or emotionally to deal with what he would have to do and see as a soldier. He manages to both block a strike from Fuji, who was capable of cleaving the Aoi-Ya inn in half, and push Fuji's sword aside. Physically, Hiko is a tall man with a somewhat angular face and a very developed physique. He was correctly able to predict exactly what would happen to Kenshin if he participated in the revolution, was able to correctly identify Kenshin's psychological problems during their second training, and was able to both explain to Kenshin what was wrong and help him overcome it. He is also equally proficient in hand-to-hand combat, able to seamlessly use both unison.

Despite this handicap, when Kenshin strikes at Hiko with his "entire body and soul" at one point (devoting all his attention that he falls afterwards and passes out), he only manages to graze one of Hiko's bracers.
Himura Kenshin (緋村 剣心, Himura Kenshin? One important aspect derived from the story also appears to include the origin of inspiration used in the Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Sojourning along with Isshinta back to his home village, it would be known now that Hiko Seijuro and Natsu would become the new damiyo of Kitakata. His philosophy as a swordsman is that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryū should be used to protect people from suffering, but only if it is used independently from any political power. There, he finds a freshly made cross with a woman's scarf around it. However, Kenshin would hear none of it, believing that it was his duty as a powerful swordsman to stop people from being hurt however he could. Appearing in Nobuhiro Watsuki's premier work, Crescent Moon in the Warring States, that laid the foundation for Rurouni Kenshin, his existence was also credited in the series. Facing certain death and Iwano's victory to be fulfilled, Hiko contemplates his last moments- Until he realizes that the new moon bears no crescent moon at all. He is level-headed, calm, and carries himself in a regal demeanor, not unexpected of a samurai of his class and prestige in his times, though not above being a bit arrogant, judgmental, and condescending. Impressed by the boy's inner strength and kindness, Hiko asks him for his name. Kenshin therefore left, and as a result did not complete his training. He loves sake, himself, and teasing Kenshin, and while he is frequently seen drinking copious amounts of sake alone, he never becomes drunk. His absolute mastery of this style even makes him one of few wielders in history able to use the In addition to pushing himself to peak human conditioning, Hiko possesses tremendous sheer physical strength, able to block the gigantic swinging blade of Fuji and repel it. He agrees to complete Kenshin's training, spoiling the moment somewhat by mentioning that he only agreed to do it because he didn't want to be bothered with killing Shishio himself. While incognito as a potter, he assumed the alias Ni'itsu Kakunoshin (新津 覚之進). When he arrives, he is surprised to find that, not only did the boy not commit suicide, but Kenshin had stayed behind to bury the dead himself. A highly versatile swordsman, he is proficient in a variety of attack methods, including wielding his blade backwards or with either hand with equal efficiency. The manga series Rurouni Kenshin features a large cast of fictional characters created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Also, unlike Kenshin, he appears to have absolutely no compunctions about killing his enemies, as seen during his first meeting with Kenshin when he slaughters a group of murderous bandits in cold blood. Wishing Isshinta to leave the battlefield alive to the one that waits for him, and feeling that his time has come, Hiko gives him the Fuyutsuki for travel collateral, despite his objections. Hiko and Kenshin do not meet again until about fourteen years later when Kenshin comes to finally complete his training. However, his story does not sway Hiko, who condemns Kenshin's choices and actions in the strongest terms.