Rurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends - Ending Explained

The Turn: Kenshin is brought to the beach to be executed in front of Shishio, but it is revealed to be a ruse. One of the executioners is actually Saito Hajime in disguise. Kenshin breaks free, and the battle on the beach begins.
The Climax: Kenshin, Sanosuke, Aoshi, and Saito fight Shishio simultaneously on his ship. Shishio overpowers them all but his body temperature rises to critical levels.
The Resolution: Kenshin hits Shishio with the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. Shishio, refusing to be defeated by a human, spontaneously combusts due to his overheating body, laughing maniacally as he burns. Kenshin and Kaoru escape the sinking ship. The government salutes Kenshin, acknowledging his service, and he returns to the dojo with Kaoru, finally finding peace.

Critics have discussed the ending as a commentary on Japan's modernization. The government's final salute to Kenshin can be interpreted not just as respect, but as the state acknowledging it can no longer rely on 'assassins' to solve its problems—marking the true end of the samurai era. Alternatively, some view Shishio not as a villain, but as a tragic necessary evil who forced the Meiji government to consolidate its power and face its own hypocrisy regarding how it treated its former warriors.