The dense shush-shush of a wooden sword cutting air echoed. Kaigaku was shirtless, sweat dripping from his tensed muscles into the sand. His eyes were locked forward, every swing delivered with a ferocity that bordered on hatred. He wasn't practicing; he was hacking at an invisible enemy.
"Take a break, Junior."
Izumo Tatsuya's voice drifted from the side. He had just finished a round of meditation under the waterfall, his hair still dripping. He handed Kaigaku a water ladle. "Training more seriously now? That's good. Just remember, you can't get fat on one bite—the foundation needs to be built stone by stone."
Kaigaku stopped, took the ladle, and gulped down the water greedily. He wiped his face roughly and managed a strained smile as he looked at Tatsuya.
"Thanks, Senior... You're right. I was too impulsive before." His voice carried a calculated sincerity. "I embarrassed Master and you with that stunt in the village. You woke me up that day. Now, I just want to train hard and catch up to you."
Tatsuya looked at Kaigaku's lowered head. His smile didn't fade as he patted the boy's sweat-soaked shoulder with moderate force.
"Good. As long as you have that realization. Remember, power is for protecting, not for showing off or venting personal grudges." He spoke casually. "Think more about why you're swinging that blade. When your heart is aligned, your strength will find its proper path."
Kaigaku nodded repeatedly, though internally the words felt like sandpaper. This guy is still looking down on me... Power is everything. Once I have it, who will dare look down on me? What do you "talented" types know about the struggle?
Kuwajima watched from the side, leaning on his cane. He snorted. "Remembering it with your mouth is useless. Tatsuya! How is your Seventh Form? You sat under that waterfall for half the day; don't tell me you were just slacking off!"
"How could I, Master!" Tatsuya immediately chirped, approaching with a grin. "You know me. Total concentration, mind and body as one! As for the results... hehe, the ear-ringing and dizziness have decreased a lot!" He mimicked cleaning out his ears exaggeratedly.
"Less lip! Go finish yesterday's swings. Fifty sets." Kuwajima was merciless.
"Understood!" Tatsuya grabbed his wooden sword and ran to the side, his form so perfect it was beyond critique.
Watching Tatsuya move with such effortless grace was an eyesore to Kaigaku. He took a deep breath, suppressed his burning envy, and returned to his own hacking.
Ten days passed in a blur of sweat and wood-cutting. It was time for Tatsuya to leave again.
"Master, I'm off," Tatsuya said, bowing respectfully to Kuwajima at the dojo entrance. "I'm heading to Mount Sagiri to visit Master Urokodaki and check on Sabito and Giyu. By the time I've been there for ten days or so, my Nichirin Sword should be ready."
Kuwajima grunted, eyeing Tatsuya's bulging pack. "It's rattling. What's in there?"
Tatsuya grinned and opened a corner of the bag like he was showing off treasure. "A new tea set for Master Urokodaki. Some high-grade blade oil for Sabito—he was a bit... rough with his sword last time. As for Giyu..." He pulled out an oil-paper wrap. "Authentic Taiyaki as promised, plus a bottle of our Momoyama-specialty medicine! And for little sister Makomo..." He pulled out a small box wrapped in elegant cloth. "A new hair ribbon."
Kuwajima's gaze softened slightly. "Hmph. Plenty of thoughts in that head of yours. Just don't forget why you're going. Sparring is fine, but don't just play. Training must not stop for even a single day!"
"Don't worry, won't forget!" Tatsuya promised, then turned to Kaigaku. "You stay here and keep Master company. Don't slack off."
Kaigaku forced a smile full of "reluctance." "Safe travels, Senior! I'll work hard. I hope you have a... pleasant exchange at Mount Sagiri!" Go. Go and never come back, he thought coldly.
Tatsuya nodded, then said to Kuwajima, "I've talked to the Kakushi. Once my custom blade is forged, they'll send it straight to Mount Sagiri."
"Understood. Now get lost! Don't keep your friends waiting!"
"Shiun-sai! Lead the way!" Tatsuya called to the crow.
"Wings flap to the sky, caw! / Mount Sagiri friends wait nearby, caw! / Don't let the good times pass you by, caw!" The crow's rhythmic chant rang out as it took flight.
Three days later, on Mount Sagiri.
The sharp whiz of wooden swords echoed in the clearing. Three figures moved, clashed, and parted at staggering speeds. Tatsuya moved like a streak of lightning, weaving between two blue silhouettes.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
Giyu Tomioka struck first. His movement was direct and lethal, his wooden sword becoming a condensed blue line aimed straight for Tatsuya's chest.
"Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
Tatsuya didn't meet it head-on. Sparks flickered at his feet as he slid sideways, his wooden blade tracing golden arcs upward to parry and deflect the thrust.
"Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!"
The moment Tatsuya moved, Sabito was there! He delivered a heavy, vertical strike. The blue "water" felt like a crashing torrent, sealing Tatsuya's escape route while supporting Giyu.
"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
Tatsuya's eyes flashed. He didn't retreat; he countered! His figure blurred, turning into a zig-zag of golden light. His target wasn't Sabito, but Giyu, who hadn't fully reset his stance. The change was so fast it forced Sabito to abort his strike to intercept.
On the porch, Sakonji Urokodaki was using Tatsuya's new tea set to brew tea with meticulous care. Beside him, Makomo sat with her legs dangling, wearing her new hair ribbon. She was happily munching on a piece of Taiyaki "requisitioned" from Giyu.
"Master," Makomo said through a mouthful of bean paste, her eyes wide with wonder. "Big Brother Tatsuya is amazing! Sabito and Giyu have grown so much, but he's fighting both of them at once and looks... so relaxed?"
Urokodaki poured the tea. "Mm. Tatsuya's strength is indeed above theirs." His voice was calm behind the red Tengu mask. "His breathing is purer, his footwork more agile. Sabito is steady, Giyu is sharp, but Tatsuya's 'speed' and 'adaptability' are suppressing their combined effort."
Back in the fight, Sabito and Giyu regrouped.
"Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool!" Sabito roared, spinning his body to create a defensive vortex of air and pressure, trying to pin Tatsuya down.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!" Almost simultaneously, Giyu charged from the vortex's flank like a roaring blue dragon.
Faced with this pincer, Tatsuya grinned. He took a deep breath, golden sparks jumping across his skin.
"Seventh Form: Silent Listening!"
The world of sound was parsed and amplified. He sensed the eye of Sabito's storm and the peak of Giyu's momentum.
"There it is! Take this!"
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
Just as Giyu was about to hit, Tatsuya moved! He didn't aim for Giyu; he aimed for a split-second gap in Sabito's vortex. He shot through the weak point like a needle through silk, leaving only an afterimage for Giyu to shatter.
Thud!
Tatsuya appeared behind Sabito, his wooden sword lightly tapping Sabito's ribs—a lethal strike in a real fight. Simultaneously, his left leg swept out, tripping the over-extended Giyu.
Flop!
Sabito froze, feeling the tap on his ribs. Giyu face-planted, managing to catch himself on one knee in a wretched display.
Tatsuya sheathed his wooden blade and panted slightly. "I win! You two foxes are getting better at teamwork, though!"
Sabito shook his head, rubbing his side. "To find an opening like that... you're monstrously strong, Tatsuya!" He looked at Giyu. "Giyu, we need more practice. Our sync is still off."
Giyu stood up, dusting himself off. "Cunning."
Before Sabito could interpret, Tatsuya chirped: "I know, I know! He's definitely praising my high-level swordsmanship and sharp tactics."
Sabito looked at Tatsuya like a proud mother whose lonely child had finally found a friend. "You get him! That's exactly what he meant!"
Makomo cheered from the porch. Urokodaki took a sip of tea, watching the black-clad boy in the center.
"Kuwajima's disciple... he told me he had stamina issues, but I see he's practiced his 'Constant State' well." A trace of amusement touched his voice. "With such a powerful rival around, I'll have to design some truly 'special' training for my boys over the next few days..."