Chapter 12: Kendo experience
Through the system's explanations and clarifications, Kensei finally understood the current state of Sode no Shirayuki.
— "So this is an Asauchi! It seems that every Zanpakutō starts in this state upon being forged. Then, by learning its true name, one can achieve Shikai, and through subjugation, attain Bankai."
— "Good thing I studied the Shinigami system and know the details of every Zanpakutō. Otherwise, if I had to ask for my sword's name on the spot, who knows how long that would take?"
Gojo Kensei let out a sigh of relief.
"Sode no Shirayuki, from now on, we'll be fighting together in this world."
He gently called out the sword's name and slowly drew it from its cloth wrapping.
His action caused Gojo Takaya, who stood nearby, to worry, while Gojo Shunichi chuckled, and Gojo Satoru, watching from the sidelines, grew visibly tense.
"Satoru, are you nervous?"
An elderly man, sensing his emotions, smiled as he spoke.
For him, this was the first time he had ever seen Gojo Satoru show signs of nervousness—a rare occurrence for someone with such an unruly personality.
So, Satoru isn't immune to nervousness; it's just that only certain people can make him feel that way.
Shaking his head, the old man reached out and patted Satoru's head again, offering reassurance.
"Kensei is communicating with his Cursed Tool. Relax, I can tell that this weapon is extraordinary!"
"Satoru, have faith in Kensei! If nothing unexpected happens, his Cursed Tool should be even stronger…"
Satoru nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on Kensei, his resolve unchanged.
If anything unexpected happens, then I will become the 'unexpected' factor in this wager.
…
"Sode no Shirayuki? That's a beautiful name."
Having observed its entire forging process, Gojo Takaya was satisfied with the name. It matched the elegance and purity of the snow-white blade perfectly.
And with Kensei confirming the name, Takaya was certain—what he had seen before was not an illusion.
"Sode no Shirayuki? What does it matter how nice a name is, if it's just a weapon?"
Gojo Shunichi, on the other hand, scoffed at the name. To him, Cursed Tools were merely objects, nothing more. Why bother putting so much thought into naming one?
Whether it was Kensei's Sode no Shirayuki or his own Higurashi, they were just designations.
"Let's begin!"
"Uncle Shunichi, you should draw your Cursed Tool too."
Kensei raised his Asauchi. His six-year-old body holding an adult-sized katana looked rather out of place.
"Young Master Kensei, this is my Cursed Tool—Higurashi!"
Gojo Shunichi unsheathed his katana, taking his stance.
"Come at me, Young Master Kensei. I will defend. I'll show you the true power of Higurashi!"
…
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two katanas clashed repeatedly.
Kensei swung his Asauchi, attacking Shunichi relentlessly.
Meanwhile, Shunichi, wielding Higurashi, blocked every strike with ease.
Their swordsmanship was on entirely different levels—
Though both wielded katana, Kensei had virtually no sword training, while Shunichi was a recognized master of the art within the Gojo family.
It was this reputation that made Shunichi so dismissive of Kensei.
However, he wasn't deliberately using his superior skill to bully the boy.
After all, his opponent was only six years old!
Even if he loathed the child, his pride as a master swordsman wouldn't allow him to go all out.
— "But this kid's weapon… it's surprisingly tough! It can clash with Higurashi without chipping?"
— "Could this really be a Cursed Tool?"
Shunichi was skeptical. A normal weapon should have dulled or chipped under these repeated clashes.
Yet Sode no Shirayuki remained pristine.
But at the same time, he couldn't sense any Cursed Energy from it, which contradicted the traits of a true Cursed Tool.
Frowning, Shunichi continued observing Kensei and his blade, his confusion deepening.
Meanwhile, Kensei was overjoyed.
[You are receiving guidance from a Swordsmanship Master. Swordsmanship Experience +10]
[You are receiving guidance from a Swordsmanship Master. Swordsmanship Experience +10]
[You are receiving guidance from a Swordsmanship Master. Swordsmanship Experience +10]
Each clash granted him additional swordsmanship experience.
To Kensei, this was an unexpected windfall!
He hadn't expected this detestable man to be such a useful source of training.
The longer he fought Shunichi, the more swordsmanship experience he could farm from him!
Initially, Kensei had planned to achieve Shikai quickly and demonstrate Sode no Shirayuki's true power.
But now that he had discovered this loophole, his plans changed.
He had to squeeze every last drop out of this opportunity!
With that thought, Kensei increased the pace of his strikes while adding in some taunts.
"Uncle Shunichi, is this really your Cursed Tool?"
"If I strike a hundred times, will my Sode no Shirayuki chip?"
"Still don't want to admit that my sword is a Cursed Tool?"
Kensei's childish voice carried an innocent tone, baiting Shunichi into continuing the fight.
"A Cursed Tool? At most, it's just made of high-quality materials. That proves nothing. Talk again after you manage a hundred swings."
Shunichi scoffed. He still refused to acknowledge Sode no Shirayuki as a Cursed Tool.
More importantly, he doubted that a six-year-old could even swing such a heavy weapon a hundred times.
A child's stamina wouldn't last that long.
And sure enough, just as Shunichi had expected, after about thirty strikes, Kensei's swings noticeably weakened.
After all, he had already exhausted himself forging Sode no Shirayuki earlier. To now deliver a hundred consecutive swings was an immense challenge.
Even with Heavenly Restriction, his body was still limited by his age.
"Thirty-one… Thirty-two… Thirty-three…"
Kensei's arms ached, but each system notification gave him fresh motivation.
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