Chapter 35: Kendo Challenge? I Never Agreed to This

"Master, why are you still here? Hurry up and get to the dojo! Have you forgotten what you planned for today?"

A young man suddenly burst into the forge.

Shunichi, who had been testing his sword, and Satoru, who was watching, both turned their heads instinctively.

"Kotetsu? What are you doing here?"

Shunichi sheathed Suzumushi, his eyes filled with confusion.

The young man before him was Gojo Kotetsu, a paper cutter at the Gojo family's kendo dojo and one of his most promising disciples.

In modern Japan, traditional sword schools classified their disciples into ranks such as paper cutter, catalog, Kaiden, and Menkyo Kaiden.

To put it simply:

Paper Cutter (紙切): An apprentice still in the observation phase, only practicing basic forms.

Catalog (目録): Officially accepted into the school and allowed to learn its true techniques.

Kaiden (皆伝): A fully trained swordsman permitted to use the school's name in formal competitions.

Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝): The highest rank, granting permission to pass on the school's techniques and establish a dojo.

For example, Kotetsu had not yet reached Kaiden, so he wasn't allowed to introduce himself as a swordsman of Gojo Kyokushin-ryu. He could only say he practiced its techniques.

On the other hand, Shunichi was already a Menkyo Kaiden of Gojo Kyokushin-ryu, meaning he could teach in the Gojo family's dojo or even start his own outside the clan.

Looking at his disciple, Shunichi frowned in confusion.

For the past month, his attention had been completely occupied by Satoshi's forging experiments, and he couldn't recall making any specific plans.

Moreover, Kotetsu had come from the dojo.

Could this be related to the dojo?

"Huh? Master, you don't know? Didn't Master Kumaen inform you?"

Kotetsu's eyes widened in shock. His face turned pale.

He had assumed his master simply lost track of time, but he hadn't expected that Shunichi had no idea about this at all.

"A month ago, Master Yagyū Saemon of Yagyū Shinkage-ryu challenged you to a kendo match! Master Kumaen agreed to it on your behalf! The duel is happening today at the Gojo family dojo!"

"This match will determine whether you can enter the ranks of the Four Great Masters of Swordsmanship! You did prepare for it… right?"

Seeing Shunichi's blank expression, Kotetsu panicked.

Duel challenges between kendo masters were never taken lightly. Even a slight lapse in preparation could result in defeat.

Shunichi had always meticulously prepared for such battles in the past.

Yet this time, Master Yagyū was already at the dojo… while his master was still hanging out in the forge.

"Huh? Yagyū Saemon challenged my ranking? When did this happen?"

Shunichi frowned, trying to recall.

Thinking back, he vaguely remembered that before his falling-out with Gojo Kumaen, there had been some mention of a challenge from Yagyū Shinkage-ryu.

Back then, he had outright refused.

He figured the matter had ended there.

But somehow, Yagyū Saemon had shown up at the dojo anyway.

Judging from Kotetsu's words, it seemed that Kumaen had accepted the challenge on his behalf.

Shunichi's expression darkened.

Now that a rival school had come knocking at his dojo, he—as the dojo's Menkyo Kaiden, couldn't just back down, no matter how unprepared he was.

Still… he felt conflicted.

This fight didn't bode well for him.

Yagyū Saemon was his equal in skill.

The difference was that Saemon had prepared for this duel, while he had not.

The odds were not in his favor.

---

"Young Master Satoru, Young Master Satoshi! I have to go accept Yagyū Shinkage-ryu's challenge, so I won't be able to accompany you two for now."

After hesitating for a moment, Shunichi moved to hand Suzumushi back to Satoshi.

He had yet to fully understand his new Zanpakutō. Leaving it with its creator for safekeeping seemed like the logical choice.

However, to his surprise, Satoshi shook his head.

"Suzumushi is yours now. It's your partner. Every battle you fight is a chance for it to recognize you. For this kendo duel, use it."

Satoshi refused to take it back.

As the borrowed sword wielder, Shunichi could only truly grow if he fought using Suzumushi.

If the blade was left sitting in storage, it would serve no purpose.

Besides, Satoshi already had Sode no Shirayuki. He had no need for another Zanpakutō.

Everything had to be used to its fullest potential. If Shunichi learned to wield Suzumushi properly, perhaps he could unlock Shikai sooner… and eventually even Bankai.

That was the outcome Satoshi wanted to see.

Seeing Satoshi's unwavering stance, Shunichi didn't argue. He nodded firmly.

Yagyū Saemon was not just a kendōka, but also a sorcerer.

Shunichi's former cursed tool, Cicada's Cry, had been used up in the forging process.

If he replaced it with a random cursed sword for the duel, he might struggle to adapt.

Though Suzumushi differed in shape from Cicada's Cry, Shunichi felt a strange sense of familiarity when holding it.

At the very least, he wouldn't be fumbling with an unfamiliar weapon.

---

"Toji, let's go watch! We'll both have Zanpakutō eventually, so we should probably learn a bit about swordsmanship."

A glimmer of excitement flashed through Satoru's bright blue eyes.

He had always known that Shunichi's kendo skills were top-tier, but he had never seen their true extent.

Now, with the master of Yagyū Shinkage-ryu coming to challenge him, this was a rare opportunity to witness a high-level duel between masters.

Toji hadn't been particularly interested at first.

But hearing Satoru mention learning kendo piqued his curiosity.

"…Yeah, I've never actually seen a true sword master fight before."

Their excitement was mutual.

Both of them then turned to look at Satoshi, waiting to hear his decision.