“Kuhhkh…!”
The last delinquent crashed into the wall and slid to the floor.
It turned quiet when for the first time in several minutes, nobody came charging down the corridor.
Bodies were scattered from one end of the hallway to the other.
Some lay sprawled across the floor, while others were slumped against lockers or crumpled near the walls.
Gokudera rolled his shoulder until it popped.
“Tch.”
His shoe nudged an unconscious delinquent aside.
“That was annoying.”
Nearby, Rekka brushed dust from his sleeve and glanced down the corridor.
“At least they finally stopped coming.”
He looked at the pile of defeated students.
“Starting to feel like we were fighting waves of zombies.”
Yamamoto rested a metal pipe across his shoulder and looked around.
He blinked confusedly.
“…Huh?”
Ryohei turned to him.
“What’s wrong?”
Yamamoto scratched his cheek.
“Where’s Tsuna?”
Gokudera’s head immediately snapped toward him.
“What?”
“Tsuna isn’t here.”
The smile on Yamamoto’s face faded as he glanced around again.
“He was with us earlier, wasn’t he?”
All of them searched around before realizing Yamamoto was indeed right.
Tsuna was gone.
Rekka frowned.
“He was just behind us while we were charging toward this place.”
Gokudera looked around as his eyes twitched repeatedly.
“JUDAIME!?”
His shout echoed across the hallway as he paced around irritably.
“When did he disappear!?
Nobody saw?”
Ryohei shook his head.
“I can’t believe I lost track of Judaime!”
Gokudera grabbed his hair.
“I FAILED AS HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN!”
Yamamoto laughed awkwardly.
“I didn’t know he was pretty talented at getting lost.”
“That isn’t funny!”
“It kind of is.”
“IT ISN’T!”
Before Gokudera could continue arguing, they heard a group of people approaching them.
Several footsteps echoed from the opposite end of the hallway.
Looking at where the sound came from, they saw a group of girls walking toward them.
Their footsteps were steady and unhurried unlike the delinquents that had rushed in frenzy earlier.
At the front of their group walked a girl with long dark hair tied into a ponytail with a wooden katana resting across her shoulder.
Her eyes passed over the unconscious delinquents before stopping on Yamamoto and the others.
The air between the two groups tightened.
Gokudera stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.
“You want something?”
Even if they were girls… once they mess with us, I will not hesitate to beat them up.
The girl stopped several meters away, her gaze not backing down.
“So you’re the people causing all this chaos.”
Ryohei stared cautiously.
“Who are you?”
Before the girl could answer, the girls behind her yelled loudly.
“Watch your mouth!”
One of them pointed respectfully to the girl at their front.
“This is Aoi Kuneida-sama!
The leader of us Red Tails!”
“The strongest girls in Ishiyama!
One of the Toshoshinki!”
Aoi lifted one hand.
The girls immediately quieted as if they were unwilling to disobey her.
Aoi’s attention remained on the Namimori group.
“I’m Aoi Kuneida.”
She lightly tapped the wooden katana against her shoulder.
“And I’d like to know why students from Namimori High are invading our school.”
Aoi’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“From what I’ve seen, you’ve beaten half the campus.”
“Closer to most of it.”
Gokudera replied.
Rekka immediately drove an elbow into his side.
“Don’t make it sound impressive.”
Aoi sharpened her expression.
“So?”
The wooden sword settled against her shoulder.
“What’s the reason?”
Ryohei answered this time.
“One of your students kidnapped my sister.”
Several Red Tails exchanged surprised looks.
“What!?
Is that true!?”
Ryohei nodded with his fist clenching tightly to the point the muscles in his forearm stood out.
“She was tied up and used as a hostage because some bastard couldn’t beat us fairly.”
Aoi’s eyes hardened.
“Who kidnapped your sister?”
“Hajime Kanzaki.”
The girls immediately reacted explosively.
“THAT FUCKING TRASH!”
“He deserves to die!”
“That’s why men are…”
Aoi simply stood there as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
“That bastard…”
The words barely escaped through her clenched teeth.
Gokudera smirked ferociously.
“So you already knew he’s trash?
That saves us from explaining.”
“I knew he was arrogant.”
Aoi exhaled slowly.
“I just didn’t think he was stupid enough to kidnap an innocent girl.”
“He threatened to kill her too.”
Rekka added which made several girls visibly recoil in anger.
“Seriously?”
“That’s disgusting.”
“Okay, that’s it.
Let’s skin him alive and make sure he can’t live anymore as a man.”
Aoi’s grip tightened around the wooden sword, a cold light flashing across her eyes.
The moment it faded, however, she suddenly stepped forward.
To everyone’s surprise, she bowed towards Ryohei and the others.
Her bow wasn’t deep, but it was sincere.
“On behalf of Ishiyama…
I apologize.”
Ryohei and the others stared in surprise.
Aoi straightened.
“That isn’t how a fighter behaves.”
Her firm voice carried through the hallway.
“Kanzaki shamed this school.”
Several Red Tails immediately nodded.
“If somebody did that to one of us—”
“We’d beat them ourselves.”
“That’s crossing the line.”
Aoi looked directly at Ryohei.
“Your sister… Is she okay?”
The tension in Ryohei’s shoulders eased slightly.
“She is now.”
Aoi nodded while sighing in relief.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
The girls behind her also visibly relaxed.
Aoi planted the tip of her wooden sword against the floor.
The sound echoed softly.
“I’ll make sure something like that never happens again.”
The conviction in her voice left no room for doubt.
“We don’t tolerate that kind of trash.
Even if we’re a bunch of delinquents.”
For the first time since meeting them, Gokudera’s posture loosened.
“Tch.”
He looked away.
“I guess there are still decent people in this school.”
The tension finally began to fade.
At least until Yamamoto stepped forward to meet Aoi.
His eyes had lit up at some point during the conversation, especially when he saw the wooden katana resting on her shoulder.
“You’re a Sword User, right?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Aoi replied while grabbing her wooden sword.
Yamamoto grinned.
The same grin he wore whenever something interesting came up.
“Then how about a spar? The source of this chapter is g.com.
You know, I’m something of a swordsman myself.”
The hallway froze.
Gokudera slowly turned.
“We lost Judaime…”
His eye twitched.
“And THAT’S your priority?”
“Sorry.”
Yamamoto rubbed the back of his head.
“But meeting another strong Sword User is exciting.”
He shrugged.
“Besides, Tsuna’s strong enough to handle himself.”
“That’s not the point!”
Aoi studied him for a moment before smiling.
“Interesting.
I’ll accept your challenge.”
Several Red Tails gasped in excitement.
“She accepted!”
“This guy’s finished.”
Yamamoto scratched his cheek.
“That doesn’t sound encouraging.”
Aoi twirled the wooden katana once.
The weapon spun through her fingers before settling back into her grip.
“Let’s see what Namimori’s swordsman can do.”
Then suddenly—
“Ciaosu.”
A familiar voice suddenly interrupted.
Everyone looked up and saw a tiny figure standing casually atop a nearby window.
“A baby?”
Aoi’s gaze lingered on the tiny hitman.
For a brief second, the stern expression she carried softened.
A baby cosplaying as a hitman…?
So cute…!
The thought slipped into her head before she could stop it.
A faint blush touched her cheeks.
“Reborn-san!”
Gokudera looked relieved.
“What are you doing here?”
“To provide support.”
Reborn reached deep into Leon’s mouth and then tossed an item out.
Yamamoto caught the item which was actually a bamboo sword.
He smirked at Reborn, familiarizing his grip with the sword.
“Prepared as always, huh?”
“Use that well.”
Reborn adjusted his hat.
“Try not to embarrass yourself as Tsuna’s guardian.”
Yamamoto laughed.
“I’ll do my best.”
A few minutes later, an open field somewhere in the school had transformed into an arena.
Students lined the edges with Red Tails on one side and Namimori on the other.
At the center stood Yamamoto and Aoi.
The afternoon breeze drifted across the open space.
Neither moved as the noise around them gradually faded.
All that remained was the distance separating them.
It was then—
Both suddenly vanished from their respective spots.
CLACK!
Sword against sword, the two sword fighters fought head-on without holding back at the start.
The impact alone exploded across the place which made every person watching the spar to exclaim in surprise.
“Fast!”
“I can’t believe that guy can keep up with Aoi’s speed!”
Gokudera and the others were also surprised, never expecting Aoi to be able to keep up with Yamamoto.
Another collision occurred as both of them struck powerfully with their swords.
CLACK!
CLACK!
CLACK!
CLACK!
The weapons blurred as each exchange came faster than the last.
Yamamoto stepped in with his sword descending downward.
Aoi pivoted to avoid Yamamoto’s strike by inches.
She counterattacked immediately with her wooden katana sweeping toward his ribs.
Yamamoto blocked in time with his sword, but the force behind her strike still rattled his arms.
His eyes widened.
Strong!
The next strike came before he’d fully recovered.
Aoi advanced relentlessly without giving enough time for Yamamoto to breathe properly.
The wooden blade cut through the air with sharp whistles.
Yamamoto blocked desperately as each strike pushed him backward.
The spectators felt gusts of air brush past their faces.
WHOOSH!
Rekkal was surprised.
“She’s so powerful… How can each of her swings create such powerful wind?”
Yamamoto’s grin widened.
The pressure from her speed and power—every exchange made his blood race.
A strong opponent.
Exactly what he’d hoped for.
Aoi noticed something admirable about Yamamoto.
Even while trading heavy blows.
Even while she read his every movement.
This guy enjoyed the fight.
Instead of losing fighting spirit, it was burning even stronger with each exchange they did.
CLACK!
Their swords met again.
Aoi’s eyes sharpened.
She realized Yamamoto’s fundamentals were excellent and solid.
Years of disciplined practice showed in every movement.
But she also saw the essence his sword lacked the most.
Yamamoto’s physical strength was now catching up to his swordsmanship.
That was undeniable.
However, his current swordsmanship was purely for competitive sports unlike Aoi’s swordsmanship aimed at killing people.
Yamamoto also subtly realized—that primitive violence was what placed the great disparity between them.
CLACK!
The two continued to slash against each other without stopping.
The spectators watched in complete silence.
Yamamoto kept getting pushed around at first, but as the spar between them continued, his skills gradually improved.
Every clash of their swords merely served to sharpen his sword.
His sword was molting like it was adapting to Aoi’s swordsmanship.
Gradually, its edges sharpened enough until it couldn’t be fully called an Orthodox Sword meant for sports.
Yamamoto’s sword gained the edge of a Killing Sword.
When it evolved, Yamamoto managed to enter a stalemate with Aoi where neither side gained the upper hand.
Until finally—
Aoi exhaled as she stepped away from Yamamoto.
As her breathings changed, something in her shifted.
The shift was subtle at first.
Yet the moment it happened, Yamamoto felt it.
The grin faded from his face as his hands tightened around his sword.
The atmosphere grew even more intense when Aoi lowered the tip of her wooden katana and slowly drew it back toward her waist.
Rekka blinked.
“What’s she doing?”
Across the courtyard, several Red Tails exchanged knowing smirks.
“Here it comes.”
“Kuneida-sama’s serious now.”
“It’s over.”
Gokudera frowned.
“What’s over?”
Nobody answered.
A strange stillness spread through the courtyard.
The chatter disappeared.
The rustling trees quiet down.
Even the spectators unconsciously held their breath.
Aoi closed her eyes as a vast amount of air filled her lungs, immense strength filling her entire body.
The moment she inhaled, Yamamoto felt something brush against his skin.
It was not the wind—instead, it was something else that was far more dangerous.
For a split second, pale pink flower petals seemed to drift around Aoi.
An illusion.
Yet strangely vivid.
Even from the sidelines, Gokudera and the others could faintly feel what Yamamoto was currently facing.
The petals swirled and then bloomed vibrantly after Aoi opened her eyes.
A sharp glint flashed across them.
Total Concentration: Shingetsu no Kokyu (Heart Moon Breathing)….
She mentally recited as every spectator froze when they felt the intense pressure erupting from her.
First Ceremonial Form…
Her hand tightened around the hilt as the pink petals concentrated around her blade.
Yamamoto’s instincts screamed, every muscle in his body freezing in fear.
For an instant, everything seemed to stop moving.
Chrysanthemum Crescent Wave!
The sword left its sheath and made a brilliant arc cut through the air.
SHIIIIING!
The field exploded.
BOOOOM!
A crescent-shaped slash of pink flower petals surged forward which blasted loose gravel across the ground.
All the Red Tails stumbled backward, while Rekka and the others shielded their faces from the intense wind.
The shockwave raced forward like a storm toward Yamamoto.
Yamamoto’s eyes widened.
This attack…
was simply too powerful.
There was no way he could block or avoid the attack when it was simply overwhelming everything in front of it.
Fortunately, the sharp storm of flowers simply roared past him, whipping his hair and uniform violently.
For one terrifying instant, all he could hear was wind howling.
Dust drifted through the air as the courtyard stood frozen.
A long crack stretched across the ground where the attack had passed.
Several Red Tails stared proudly, while Yamamoto’s friends watched in amazement.
“…Whoa.”
Yamamoto laughed.
“That was amazing.”
If not for her intention to not hurt me, I would have been seriously injured there….
Meanwhile, the Red Tails erupted in cheers and praises.
“Did you see that!?”
“That’s Kuneida-sama’s strength!
Bow before the Queen!”
“There’s no way to stop that!”
“I told you he was finished!”
Even Gokudera couldn’t look away from the split in the ground.
His eyebrow twitched.
Even I…
don’t have a way to defend such a powerful attack unless I use my Storm Flames…
“That was ridiculous.”
Rekka was baffled.
“EXTREMELY AMAZING!
Someday, I’ll also be able to punch like that!
Ryohei’s eyes were shining with determination.
Reborn stood on the window with his arms crossed.
A faint smirk tugged at his mouth.
Interesting… So this is the power of swordsmanship from Japan…
The place where Vongola Terzo created his swordsmanship before eventually earning the title of Sword Emperor Of the Sky.
At the center of the courtyard, Yamamoto lowered his bamboo sword.
“I surrender.”
With no hesitation or excuses, Yamamoto completely accepted his defeat.
Aoi blinked.
“You satisfied?”
Yamamoto laughed.
“I’ve learned a lot with my fight with you.”
For several moments, she simply looked at him.
Finally, a small smile appeared.
“You’re strong.”
The reaction from the Red Tails was immediate.
“She actually acknowledged him!”
They looked more shocked by that than the attack itself.
Aoi ignored them.
“If not for my grandfather’s training.”
She lightly tapped the wooden sword against her shoulder.
“And the fact that I learned real swordsmanship.”
Her eyes met Yamamoto’s.
“I probably would’ve lost.”
Yamamoto immediately shook his head.
“No.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“It was my complete loss.”
Aoi stared before laughing softly.
“Fair enough.”
For a moment, the two simply stood there.
Not as opponents, but as fellow swordsmen.
Aoi’s expression sharpened.
“You should keep training.”
Yamamoto nodded determinedly.
“Your fundamentals are excellent.
All of them are polished to perfection.”
Aoi pointed her sword toward him.
Yamamoto listened quietly.
“But I’ve also noticed your body is still in the process of catching up with your sword.
There were discrepancies in your movements.”
The bamboo sword shifted slightly in his grip.
Yamamoto nodded.
Every powerful strike she performed from earlier still lingered in his arms.
The difference in physical conditioning had been obvious.
Aoi continued.
“And learn real swordsmanship.”
The smile disappeared from her face.
“Not purely for sports…
but for fighting.”
The word landed heavily.
“Learn how to wield a sword for killing.
If you want to defeat me.”
Reborn nodded.
He also knew Yamamoto’s current swordsmanship was limiting his true potential.
Aoi’s eyes gleamed.
“If you manage to do all that, then challenge me again.
I’ll welcome you anytime.”
The bamboo sword tightened in Yamamoto’s hands.
“Really?”
“Really.”
The excitement that spread across his face was impossible to miss.
His thoughts drifted back to her last attack.
For some reason, It felt familiar.
Something tugged at the edge of his memory.
Yet every time he reached for it, it slipped away.
“Yamamoto.”
Gokudera’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“We still need to find Judaime.”
Yamamoto blinked and then laughed awkwardly.
“Right.
Let’s go!”
“You idiot, I felt like you forgot!”
“Only for a little while.”
“So I was right!”
“I was distracted.”
“Damn Sword Brain!”
The two continued bickering while the tension from the duel gradually disappeared.
Aoi asked.
“You’re looking for your friend?”
“Yeah.
He got lost.”
Yamamoto nodded.
The reaction from the Red Tails was immediate.
“Poor guy.”
“He’s definitely wandering aimlessly around somewhere.”
Yamamoto laughed.
“Probably.
But don’t worry, our guy is strong.”
Gokudera immediately pointed to a nearby building.
“Then let’s find him before he somehow starts another incident without us!”
“That’s a real possibility, but let’s take it slow.”
Rekka replied briefly before continuing his conversation with some of the girls from Red Tails, wisely using Aoi’s strength as their topic.
“REKKA, YOU’RE NOT HELPING BY FLIRTING WITH THOSE GIRLS!”
Gokudera snapped.
Aoi shook her head as the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
Strange group.
Yet despite all that, there was something straightforward about them.
Something she didn’t dislike.
She pushed the thought aside and turned toward her own group.
“Red Tails.”
The girls immediately straightened.
“We’re helping search.”
Aoi rested the sword against her shoulder.
“If they’re looking for someone, then standing around here won’t accomplish anything.”
The girls exchanged glances before nodding.
“Let’s go!”
“Poor Namimori guy.
Hopefully he hasn’t been kidnapped too.”
Gokudera visibly grew angry.
“Shut your trap!
Judaime doesn’t need your pity!”
The courtyard burst into laughter.
Even Aoi couldn’t completely hide her smile.
The groups began moving through the school.
…
Last chapter by the way.
We’ll continue on with Tsuna and Oga next week.
Guys, I’m hosting a contest starting now.
If you can help me create the best sypnosis for this fanfic, I’ll make it as the official sypnosis and feature your name with it.
We are currently at Chapter 36!