Next Morning
Commy Village
Early in the morning, after finishing breakfast, Ryu and Musashi left their house and began walking toward the largest mansion in Commy Village.
The massive mansion stood out in shades of crimson and purple. Dozens of sakura trees encircled it, their blooming petals filling the air with a vibrant beauty so enchanting that it left anyone who beheld the sight mesmerized.
Every time Ryu laid eyes on the mansion, he found himself admiring its breathtaking beauty.
The mansion was called the Five Clans Mansion, a place renowned throughout the village.
After Musashi and the Five Clans were expelled from Wano and settled in Commy Village, they built this mansion to host Five Clans meetings and conduct special events organized by the clans.
Among those events was the Young Talent Swordsmanship Competition, held today.
The Young Talent Swordsmanship Competition is a prestigious annual event in which participants under the age of sixteen compete to showcase their swordsmanship skills.
The winners of the Young Talent Swordsmanship Competition always receive valuable prizes offered by the Five Clans. However, the prizes vary each year, making this competition especially exciting for all the citizens of Commy Village.
Ryu saw the villagers standing before the Five Clans Mansion, anticipation shining in their eyes, particularly among the young teenagers who carried wooden swords at their backs and waists.
When the guards saw Musashi and Ryu approaching the mansion, they hurried over and bowed respectfully to Musashi.
"Musashi-sama, it is good to see you. We are honored that you have decided to attend this year's competition."
Musashi nodded he then asked the guards.
"Are Sanada-kun and the others in the mansion?"
A muscular looking guard smiled and nodded his head.
"Yes, my Lord, all four of them are inside, waiting for the competition to begin."
Musashi nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Ryu and said.
"Follow me Ryu-kun."
Ryu nodded obediently and followed Musashi into the mansion.
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In the mansion hall
Musashi walked into the mansion hall, which was so luxurious that it stunned Ryu—he had never seen such opulence in his life, not even in his previous life.
Suddenly, four elderly men entered the mansion hall. All of them were quite old; their faces were lined with wrinkles, and they wore simple kimonos.
They smiled upon seeing Musashi and Ryu, and the short, gray-haired old man stepped forward to greet Musashi.
"Musashi, what a surprise! You rarely attend any of the events we hold, so it's quite unusual for you to be here. I'm curious—what made you decide to come to this year's Young Talent Swordsmanship Competition?"
Musashi snorted at the question before replying.
"Because my grandson is going to compete in this competition, Sanada-kun, I decided to watch his performance to better train him in the future."
All four old men widened their eyes in surprise. They then turned their gaze to Ryu, examining him carefully.
After a few moments, a bald old man addressed Musashi.
"Musashi-kun, don't you think you're being too harsh on the boy? He's quite young… how old is he, six?"
Musashi snorted upon hearing this and replied.
"Ryu-kun is only three years old, yet he has already mastered the basics of swordsmanship. Now, he needs to broaden his horizons and gain experience. This competition is the perfect opportunity for him to do so. I don't care whether he loses in the first round or wins the entire tournament; what matters is that he gains experience by facing others who are also seeking the way of the sword."
The four old men widened their eyes in shock, then turned to Ryu, studying him with keen interest after hearing Musashi's words.
Then a gray-haired old man with long hair asked Musashi after letting out a small chuckle.
"Musashi-kun, are you aware of the prize we have prepared for this competition?"
Musashi snorted in distain and replied.
"I don't care about those useless prizes you're offering, Date-kun."
The four old men exchanged amused glances at one another upon hearing Musashi's response, then they all burst into laughter together.
Ryu looked confused at the sight of the four old men laughing heartily, while Musashi narrowed his eyes in anger and began yelling at them.
"You old farts what is so funny."
The four of them looked at Musashi with wide smiles, and the old man with the long gray mustache responded.
We've invited Isshin-san to watch the competition, and we've secured the ten great ores from Wano. The victorious participant will have the honor of selecting one of those ores, which Isshin-san will then forge into a katana, completely free of charge.
Musashi's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this. He then placed his hand gently on Ryu's shoulder and said to him.
"Ryu-kun, this is a great opportunity for you. Isshin-san is one of the greatest blacksmiths in Wano today. If you manage to win this competition, he will forge a katana for you of incredible quality—a true work of art. Trust me on this. Give it your all, kid, and don't let this chance slip through your fingers."
Ryu gave a small smile and nodded in acknowledgment to Musashi.
'Isshin-san must be an incredible blacksmith to earn my grandfather's praise—normally he never praises anyone. I have to give it my all.'
Sanada then turned to Musashi and said.
"Let's go. The competition will start shortly. It's time to see how much talent these kids have. I hope we discover a promising prospect in this competition."
Musashi and the other three smirked, nodded in unison, and followed Sanada out of the mansion hall.
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Poll
A) Mc create his own crew (1) vote
B) Mc join Hawkeye crew
C) Mc join red-haired pirates (2) vote
D) Mc join revolutionary army