The two were attracted by the school's goal for the children, striving to achieve their own ideal of a samurai while struggling against themselves. They also gained the attention of two military academic students who became disillusioned with the academy and the people attending it, Katsura Kotarou and Takasugi Shinsuke. After gathering more students, all mostly poor, the school earns the attention and scrutiny of the wealthier people in the village.
Gintoki became Shouyou's first student of his newly opened school, Shoka Sonjuku, where he learned basic swordsmanship and academics. Taking a liking to Gintoki and seeing himself in the child, Shouyou gave Gintoki his sword and asked him to follow him. During one search, Gintoki encounters Yoshida Shouyou who had heard the rumors about the child and came to investigate. He gained the nickname 'Corpse Eating Demon' from the nearby villagers due to being commonly seen wandering in deserted battlefields searching corpses for food and weapons to survive. It is also unknown how long he was doing this. It is unknown where he was born, what happened to his parents, and what he was doing before becoming a child scavenger. 9.1 Gintama The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya.
