'The master's sworn junior brother… Should I be calling him Master? This relationship really is complicated.'
"So you're Shin-chan. I'll treat today's assessment seriously. Please show your full strength."
With so many figures from the kendo world gathered today, it was impossible for Mizukagami Sozan to go easy. If he really held back, everyone would be able to tell at a glance.
Besides, Mizukagami Sozan himself wanted to see Shin-chan's true strength.
Wearing such an extravagant samurai outfit, with a sword at his waist that clearly wasn't ordinary, he hoped this wasn't just some guy relying on women.
"Remember, in kendo matches, the strike ends at the datotsu point. This assessment is merely to test Shin-chan's strength."
After instructing his junior brother, Musashino Giken turned to address the crowd.
"This is the successor of Musashino Dojo, Nohara Shinnosuke."
"Well then, this assessment shall now officially begin!"
Shin-chan, who had been training in kendo under Musashino Kenta since the age of five, was the rightful successor of the Musashino Dojo.
No need for extra talk, everyone had waited long enough. Musashino Giken directly announced the start of the assessment.
After Shin-chan and Mizukagami Sozan saluted each other, Musashino Giken declared the official beginning of the test.
Musashino Giken had full confidence in this junior brother of his. As someone licensed with full transmission from the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu, and with decades of dedicated research in kendo, his strength was unquestionable.
As for how strong Shin-chan really was, Musashino Giken didn't have a clear idea either.
But from the moment Shin-chan had instantly cut through a wooden sword that day, it was clear his talent and strength in kendo far surpassed the norm. That's exactly why this test was being held.
If Mizukagami Sozan underestimated him, he'd definitely suffer.
Mizukagami Sozan's sword was a standard tachi, longer than Shin-chan's Fubuki. Though well-maintained, you could tell it had seen frequent use.
"You attack first."
Statistically, whether ancient or modern kendo, the one who strikes first holds a huge advantage. Close-range swordsmanship emphasizes a single, decisive blow. As long as the skill gap isn't too vast, striking first often means scoring and winning.
Clearly, Mizukagami Sozan had confidence in his own ability.
Shin-chan nodded without refusal.
Mizukagami Sozan was undoubtedly far stronger than Saeko Busujima, and was the strongest kendo practitioner Shin-chan had fought to date. But Shin-chan didn't believe this opponent could defeat him.
Controlling his speed and force, Shin-chan swung his sword Mizukagami Sozan blocked it naturally.
But the force coming through the blade made Mizukagami Sozan's expression change drastically, he nearly had the sword knocked from his hands.
For a swordsman, this was completely unacceptable.
Staring through the blades locked together, Mizukagami Sozan saw the message in Shin-chan's eyes.
If you don't get serious, you'll die.
Shin-chan expected him to give everything he had. Mizukagami Sozan had no choice but to fight with full strength.
With a twist of the blade, avoiding Fubuki, Mizukagami Sozan launched one of Kyoshin Meichi-ryu's three ultimate techniques, attempting to use his positioning to deliver a diagonal slash from Shin-chan's blind spot.
But midway through the slash, Shin-chan turned and blocked it.
A strike from the edge of peripheral vision, and yet Shin-chan reacted instantly, striking the blade with the flat of his sword and deflecting it.
Then with a light slide, his blade was already at Mizukagami Sozan's throat, and a faint trace of blood appeared.
Mizukagami Sozan, defeated.
Kendo matches often ended in a flash. That's why concepts like "best of three" existed. Under rules like "stop at the strike," matches usually involved several exchanges to determine victory.
But in this brief clash, even someone like Kazama, who didn't understand kendo, could tell Shin-chan's strength far surpassed Mizukagami Sozan's.
The moment Shin-chan unsheathed Fubuki, his aura had changed, becoming unfamiliar even to Kazama.
He hadn't expected Shin-chan to be so gifted in kendo. No wonder he was so obsessed with it.
Facing Shin-chan directly, Mizukagami Sozan could feel the pressure even more than the spectators. Though not completely overwhelmed, he could sense that Shin-chan had held back.
"This time, you attack first."
Shin-chan had a good idea of Mizukagami Sozan's skill now. Whether in technique or understanding, the man wasn't weak. If he initiated, it might give Shin-chan some pressure.
Mizukagami Sozan dared not be careless anymore. The mentality of a senior guiding a junior had completely vanished. He began to control his breathing, adjusting to his best state.
Kyoshin Meichi-ryu pursued absolute one-strike kills. It ignored unnecessary defense and focused on reading the opponent's breath and movement to predict the next action.
Moreover, the style required constant attunement to the sword's "rhythm" and "breathing," believing the sword to be a living thing.
But now, Mizukagami Sozan felt the sword in his hand tremble slightly.
Was he afraid?
But a swordsman must always have the courage to swing his blade, no matter the enemy. He gripped his long-time companion tightly.
The blade flashed like a full moon reflected in water. Mizukagami Sozan used his full strength, and even felt a breakthrough.
Kyoshin Meichi-ryu's symbol was the "mirror, representing both seeing the enemy and striking the enemy as one. Yet the clear mirror in Mizukagami Sozan's heart… could not reflect the figure of Shin-chan.
Facing this thunderous blow, Shin-chan was still a step ahead, and casually blocked it.
Two blades clashed, producing a crisp clang.
If Shin-chan wished, he could break Mizukagami Sozan's tachi at any moment. But there was no point in doing that.
It was purely a stats-based overpowering. To Shin-chan, Mizukagami Sozan's techniques offered some value, but not much.
Mizukagami Sozan didn't dare hesitate. He changed angles and slashed again.
Be it thrusts or strikes, Shin-chan easily parried them all. Though it looked evenly matched, in Mizukagami Sozan's heart, he no longer wished to continue.
After Shin-chan blocked yet another strike, Mizukagami Sozan could no longer hold his sword steadily.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out, the tachi fell to the ground and bounced slightly.
The spectators finally snapped back to reality.
Before they knew it, representatives from every school were standing up with mouths agape, stunned by the duel before them.
Mizukagami Sozan's strength was widely acknowledged. He was one of the last remaining kendo masters of Kyoshin Meichi-ryu, a frequent champion in major kendo competitions.
Among those present, the vast majority didn't believe they could defeat Mizukagami Sozan with certainty.
But this young man, unknown to the kendo world, had defeated him so easily.
No wonder Musashino Giken had invited them all here to witness this assessment.
Musashino Giken wanted to make a statement, to show that the rise of Musashino Dojo was inevitable.
And everyone could see, Shin-chan was powerful. Yet his sword style bore no trace of any school's influence, he was like a flawless, uncut gem.
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