Two weeks later, Yarimato had recovered somewhat, and by this time Takahashi-sensei had given Yarimato a new sword, and this time it was not a simple shikimizue, but a real katana.
Although it was simple, it could still mean the next step in Yarimato’s development on the path of the sword.
Continuing his lessons, Yarimato worked hard every day despite the difficulties.
One day, Yarimato sat down to rest and struck up a conversation with his teacher.
Yarimato: Takahashi-sensei, I never asked you how you met Suzu Jonetsu.
How long has it been since you last saw each other, and what did you talk about?
Takahashi sat down on a large rock, crossed his legs, and replied, “No one else came to see me except Suzu. He is the only one who visited me after so many years.”
Yarimato: How long has it been since you last saw him?
If he finished his training at the age of 18 and is now around 40, then it was a little over twenty years ago?
Takahashi: No, Suzu left me when he was 16.
He learned very quickly and had already mastered my “storm” style by the age of 15, and he learned the techniques in just one year of training, although he never managed to master my latest technique.
Yarimato: So, he left the dojo to learn something new?
Takahashi: Yes, you’re right, he told me about it, and I agreed and let him go.
Yarimato: Do you regret it?
Takahashi thought for a moment and replied after a few seconds: I don’t know, it was his choice, and I didn’t want to limit him, but after that I didn’t let anyone leave before their time.
Yarimato: How old was Suzu when he started his training?
Takahashi: He was only eight years old.
He climbed the mountain to me just like you did, but he didn’t ask for help.
He wanted to become the strongest swordsman and defeat all the other strongest warriors.
Yarimato: And did he achieve his goal?
Takahashi: Yes, he did everything he wanted to do.
Suzu was very gifted in general; he was smart and strong.
His power was unmatched, even though he was a problematic student because he often refused to train.
Despite this, he was still very strong, and fate rewarded him with one special feature: steel bones.
Yarimato: Steel bones?
Takahashi: Yes, his bones were wide and strong.
Suzu never broke anything, and he could even punch through a whole tree with his fist.
His skin was also quite thick, so some of his opponents’ blows couldn’t even penetrate it.
Yarimato: I didn’t know Suzu Jonetsu was that strong.
Takahashi: Yes, Suzu was someone people believed in even if he hadn’t done anything for them.
His only problem was that he already had a high opinion of himself and considered himself the strongest, and after so many years, his enthusiasm seemed to have cooled a little. Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.
Yarimato: And what did you talk about with him after so many years?
But Takahashi frowned and even got a little angry and replied: Nothing good.
Yarimato was a little scared when he heard this, so he decided to continue training.
A couple of months later, it was already the middle of winter, and the weather was very, very cold, so until it got a little warmer, Yarimato trained inside the dojo, continuing to practice his katana strikes and Takahashi-sensei’s style.
And so Yarimato decided to bring up the subject of Takahashi-sensei’s students again.
The teacher was sitting at the table drinking tea, and Yarimato sat down opposite him and began the conversation.
Yarimato: May I ask you about your other students, Takahashi-sensei?
Takahashi was in a good mood, so he didn’t mind talking about them.
Yarimato: Who was your second student?
Takahashi: To be honest, he was the most difficult and challenging student.
He came to me exactly one year after Suzu Jonetsu left.
His name was Kaminore Gojo, and he was only 10 years old.
Even then, he was quite strange.
He was very shy, very timid, and cowardly.
He wasn’t stupid; on the contrary, he was a genius.
He was often interested in other things and knew a lot.
For example, he would tell me about all kinds of intelligent topics.
I didn’t really understand, but it was still interesting.
Learning was very difficult for him, and he was quite weak and short.
Apart from his vast knowledge, he didn’t know how to do anything else.
Therefore, he barely managed to master my style, but he was unable to master any techniques, so after completing his training at the age of 18, Kaminore Gojo left the mountain without even saying goodbye.
He was always very reserved, quiet, and calm, so I didn’t even know how to help him.
Takahashi looked a little upset because he thought he had failed to teach Kaminore Gojo his techniques and that he had not even said goodbye before leaving him.
Yarimato: I wonder if you know what happened to them before they came to you?
Takahashi: Suzu dreamed of becoming the strongest swordsman because he wanted to prove to his father that he wasn’t weak, since his father had gotten rid of him when Suzu was still young, but I don’t know the exact details, so you’ll have to find out for yourself when you meet him.
As for what happened to Kaminore, I don’t know, but it was probably nothing good if he was so withdrawn and frightened.
Yarimato and Takahashi decided to sit in silence and, after drinking a whole pot of tea, they continued their conversation.
Yarimato: Ah, what about the last student before I came?
His name was Chikara Kori, and he came a year after Kaminore Gojo.
Chikara was also ten years old.
He was the most talented guy I had ever seen.
Everything he tried, he did better than any master.
Chikara was not only talented, but also gifted with beauty.
His blue eyes, snow-white hair, and neat face were something magical.
I had never met a boy like him before.
By the age of 14, Chikara had mastered my style, and by 16, he had learned all the techniques except for the last one.
Although he was able to repeat it once while fighting a ronin who had climbed the mountain, he was never able to repeat it again.
And so, for the last two years, he just kept training even though he had already learned everything he could.
I thought about letting him go since I had nothing left to teach him, but he didn’t leave and just stayed here until he was 18, and then he said goodbye and went on a journey.
Yarimato: What was his childhood like?
Takahashi: I don’t know for sure, but it seems that his father was a very important person, but a maid became pregnant by him, and when Chikara was born, he was thrown out onto the street, and I don’t know what happened after that.
Yarimato: I’m curious, you passed on your name, and that’s why my name is Yarimato Takahashi.
Why did you do that?
And why didn’t you do the same with the other students?
Takahashi looked into Yarimato’s eyes and replied, “Because Yarimato, you are my . . .”
But before he could finish, the maid brought another pot of tea and, placing it on the table, sat down next to him to pour tea for Takahashi.
Yarimato: You didn’t finish what you wanted to say.
Takahashi: Oh, right, I decided to give you my surname so that you wouldn’t forget who your teacher is.
Yarimato: I think you wanted to say something else.
Takahashi: I don’t think so.
Yarimato: Well, what about the names of your previous students?
Takahashi: Yes, Suzu is his real name, but Jonetsu is a name I made up.
I also gave Kaminore Gojo his first and last names because he didn’t know his real name.
And I gave Chikara the last name Kori because he didn’t know his last name, but he came up with his first name himself before he came to me.
Yarimato: So, did everyone renounce their past names to become your students?
Takahashi: Well, you gave up your name and took mine, so you could say that.
Yarimato and Takahashi drank tea, and Yarimato continued his training.