The end of the shogunate era, Edo.
Inside the Genbukan, one of the three major Dojos of Edo and the home of Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Today was an extremely special day.
All the disciples in the Dojo had stopped what they were doing and come to the Dojo’s training field, watching from a distance.
This was because two people were currently standing inside.
One was an elderly man with a dignified face, Chiba Shusaku, the current head of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū Dojo.
And the person before him…
“Teacher Chiba, I’ll be in your care.”
A soft voice, slightly immature due to youth, rang out.
Reflected in Chiba Shusaku’s gratified yet complex gaze, the youth appearing before him was a male only thirteen years of age.
Due to his age, he seemed somewhat small in front of Chiba Shusaku, and his features gave off a very youthful impression.
But it was such a youth who was currently nurturing a terrifying sword intent within him, and today…
was the day his sword would be unsheathed!
“Although I also vaguely felt it was about time for you to come seek the menkyo kaiden certificate, still…”
As he spoke, Chiba Shusaku, feeling quite emotional, adjusted his state of mind.
He drew the long sword at his side, pointed it at the youth, and said seriously, “Come, Mitsuyuki!
Let me see the sword in your hand!”
Indeed, this youth was Mitsuyuki.
And this scene was exactly what was recorded in the Heroic Spirit Training Manual—the event that shocked all of Japan when Mitsuyuki was thirteen!
“Yes, Teacher Chiba.”
Mitsuyuki bowed once more to Chiba Shusaku and placed his hand on Onikiri.
The moment his hand touched Onikiri, as if it knew it was finally being officially unsheathed today, Mitsuyuki actually felt the blade tremble slightly.
Onikiri…
seemed to be excited!
At this, the corners of Mitsuyuki’s mouth curled up slightly.
Ever since he took it from the clan at the age of four, Mitsuyuki had been nurturing the sword for nine years, and now was the moment for it to emerge!
With a soft ring, the slender Onikiri, engraved with eerie purple flame patterns, was unsheathed.
The beautiful blade instantly drew the gazes of the vast majority of the onlookers.
After all, this sword was a legendary spirit blade!
And the moment the sword emerged, the sword intent that Mitsuyuki had been building since early this morning reached its peak!
Calming the mind, gathering breath, sensing the power of heaven and earth, and guiding it with sword intent…
This was the Tennen Rishin-ryū technique from the same source as Okita Souji.
Simultaneously, in an instant, unifying mind, breath, and strength…
This was the technique of Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Then, from a state of mind like still water, Mitsuyuki swung the sword in his hand toward Chiba Shusaku.
This was the pinnacle of his current martial arts, his strongest strike!
Facing this strike from Mitsuyuki, even Chiba Shusaku, who was a Great Swordmaster like Kondo Shusuke, did not dare to underestimate it.
He swung his own sword at the same time, using the highest secret technique of Hokushin Ittō-ryū—Falling Flowers!
Clang—!
Amidst the sound of clashing weapons, Mitsuyuki and Chiba Shusaku completed their exchange of positions.
Then, under the watchful eyes of all the Hokushin Ittō-ryū students who subconsciously held their breath and widened their eyes.
have a name?”
“Not yet.”
Mitsuyuki shook his head and also stood up, sheathing the drawn onikiri.
“I see…
let me think.”
Chiba Shusaku pondered for a moment, then smiled at Mitsuyuki and said, “Since it is such a momentary strike, let’s call it ‘Shunkan’.”
“Thank you for the name, Teacher,” Mitsuyuki said.
The meaning behind this naming was that the Great Swordmaster had already recognized this strike of Mitsuyuki’s as having reached the level of a secret technique!
Almost the moment Chiba Shusaku’s words fell, the sword in his hand broke…
The outcome was clear!
…
[You obtained the highest graduation certificate, menkyo kaiden, from the current head of Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Having finally integrated the two swordsmanship schools for your own use and possessing your own secret technique, Shunkan, you felt the time was ripe.]
[And so, you chose…]
“A: Return to the family, B: Find another master, C: Journey the world with my sword, D: Intervene personally.”
Mitsuyuki, holding the Heroic Spirit Training Manual, pondered the options.
“If I return to the Watanabe, I could make arrangements before Shishio Makoto burns Kyoto, but that’s still five years away…”
“As for finding another master, while I could learn another style, it might not significantly improve my current situation…”
“In that case, it’s better to follow my previous life’s path and focus on gaining renown to leave behind heroic deeds.”
After a brief contemplation, Mitsuyuki made his decision.
Although the projection was only thirteen years old at this moment, Mitsuyuki knew that the projection’s current strength would only be stronger, not weaker, than in the previous simulation!
He naturally had enough capital to embark on a journey through this chaotic world!
“That night, you met with the Hokushin Ittō-ryū master, Chiba Shusaku, again and expressed your intention to leave.
He seemed to have anticipated it and did not stop you.”
“The next morning, you left the dojo, but you did not immediately depart Edo.
Instead, you visited the Tennen Rishin-ryū dojo to bid farewell to your former teacher, Kondo Shusuke.”
“Afterward, just as you were about to leave Edo, someone you didn’t expect stopped you and drew their sword, challenging you…”
Inside the Tennen Rishin-ryū dojo,
In the backyard, under the familiar cherry blossom tree.
Okita Souji, dressed in a kendo uniform, her beautiful hair swaying like cherry blossoms, drew her sword and pointed it at Mitsuyuki, who stood before her.
“What are you standing there for?”
Okita Souji, a young girl also thirteen years old, the same age as Mitsuyuki, raised the wooden sword in her hand and frowned, looking at Mitsuyuki.
“Draw your sword!”
Seeing that she truly intended to fight him, Mitsuyuki couldn’t help but cast a helpless, pleading glance at Kondo Shusuke, who was not far away.
And also Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, who were watching the show… In fact, even in this simulation, they weren’t strangers to each other.
After all, the Hokushin Ittō-ryū dojo was also in Edo.
Mitsuyuki naturally often went home to check in.
The main reason was to ask Kondo Shusuke for advice on how to combine Tennen Rishin-ryū and Hokushin Ittō-ryū.
Kondo Shusuke played a crucial role in his ability to unleash that Shunkan sword strike, which had reached the level of an ultimate technique.
It was just that, for some reason, Okita Souji, who had been exceptionally close to Mitsuyuki in the previous life,
Only Okita Souji,
Always seemed angry with Mitsuyuki in this life.
And Okita Souji was clearly a very easygoing, cheerful, and approachable child, so everyone had always been puzzled by this.
At this moment, facing Mitsuyuki’s pleading gaze, Kondo Shusuke and the other two almost simultaneously turned their heads away, pretending not to see. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
They were clearly ready to watch the show.
Mitsuyuki sighed helplessly, smiling wryly at Okita Souji, and said, “Souji, you’re not my opponent…”
“How do you know if you don’t try!” Okita Souji snorted, saying, “Miss Okita won’t give up so easily… And, you traitor!”
“Traitor… How am I a traitor?” Mitsuyuki was stunned.
“I don’t know either, but I just feel like you’re a traitor,” Souji said, hesitating for a moment.
Her golden eyes, looking up, reflected Mitsuyuki before her.
At that instant, many ‘past’ memories seemed to flash before her eyes, so she finally couldn’t help but exclaim, “You betrayed me!”
Mitsuyuki was taken aback when he heard this.
He looked at Okita Souji before him, and then… fell silent.
“So that’s how it is… In that case, I still owe you a sword strike.”
Mitsuyuki, seemingly understanding something, said with a faint smile, “I remember I said back then that I would come back to see you when I found my sword intent, but… it’s still a bit too early, Souji.”
Mitsuyuki looked at her and said, “It’s a bit early, so… catch up, Okita Souji.”
Just like before.
“And at that time, I will naturally unleash my sword upon you!”
The connection between swordsmen has never been through words, but through the sword!
When Mitsuyuki said this, Okita Souji, who had been slightly stunned, actually put down the wooden sword in her hand under the gaze of the three people nearby.
“Alright.”
Okita Souji replied very straightforwardly.
She wasn’t truly foolish; she naturally understood the gap between herself and Mitsuyuki at this moment.
But when she heard that Mitsuyuki was leaving, it was as if a voice was frantically urging her, urging her to keep him there.
At the same time, just as this agreement was made, Okita Souji also found that the inexplicable irritability, unhappiness, and anger that surged within her whenever she met Mitsuyuki.
Finally disappeared.
It was as if… she had been waiting for Mitsuyuki to say those very words.
“You wait, Mitsuyuki!” Okita Souji looked at Mitsuyuki seriously, his figure reflected in her beautiful golden eyes.
“I will definitely catch up to you!”
…
“Under the cherry blossom tree, you made a new promise with that girl.
You would wait for her, and she would one day pursue you and come before you.”
“You bid farewell to everyone, left Edo, dressed in a black samurai uniform, carrying Onikiri, and once again became a wandering swordsman, stepping into the chaotic world.”
“After some time, you once again arrived at that remote village.”
“You found that the village had completely changed from its former poverty.
It was filled with the joyful sounds and laughter of the villagers, and even when facing a stranger like you, they were willing to accept you.”
“You saw many familiar figures and faces, but they undoubtedly didn’t recognize you.”
“You didn’t mind this.
You simply watched everything before you with a smile, then pressed down on your straw hat, and once again embarked on your journey.”
“You traveled along, passing through many familiar lands, seeing many people you knew but who were utterly strangers to you.
Finally, you arrived at that small town, the town that held many memories for you and where you found your sword intent.”
“You met the current lord of this small town, and he respectfully addressed you as Young Master… He was a member of your Watanabe.”
“Ever since you finished your apprenticeship at the age of four and gained influence in the family, you had sent the sword master who supported you to this place, and he had been developing it according to your instructions.”
“Therefore, this place had long become a secluded paradise, just like before, even more beautiful.”
“The only difference was that, in that paradise of the past, everyone knew you, but now… no one remembered you anymore.”