Chapter 13: Sparring

Chapter 13: Sparring

In other words, Kazama wasn't just pursuing Wind Release; he was after its razor-sharp cutting power—a force so unstoppable it could sever anything in its path. To put it simply, he wanted to cut through everything.

Applied to his sword, it meant cleaving anything with a single strike. Applied to his arrows, it meant absolute penetration. That was Kazama's vision of Wind Release.

With that realization, he swung his wooden sword. The floating leaf in its path vanished instantly. Confused, Kazama looked around for it until Yataro pointed it out—it was embedded in the wooden blade itself. The strike had partially cut through, but the lack of force left it stuck.

"That's progress!" Kazama's eyes lit up. As expected, once he cleared his thoughts and addressed the problem correctly, his training finally started producing results.

Unlike Naruto, who relied on brute-force persistence, Kazama's mind was too easily distracted. Naruto's training style worked for people like him and Rock Lee, who had single-minded determination. But for Kazama, it was far more effective to analyze and refine his approach.

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Time Passed Swiftly

Days blurred together as Kazama juggled his Academy lessons and intense training. With his understanding of Wind Release clarified, he pushed himself through rigorous practice until he finally achieved mastery over Wind nature transformation.

"Grandpa, how about a little sword duel?" Kazama challenged Kosuke.

Kazama rarely provoked his grandfather. He had tried before, only to get beaten down every time. After several failures, he had learned his lesson.

Kosuke smiled warmly, his weathered, iron-hard face radiating kindness. "Alright. Let's see how much you've improved."

Kosuke's teaching method was casual—if he was in the mood, he taught a little more. If he wasn't, he simply ignored Kazama. Unless Kazama messed up badly, Kosuke never pushed or pressured him.

The only time Kosuke had forced instruction was when Kazama's sword training was going off track. That was when he drilled the fundamentals into him. Otherwise, Kosuke let Kazama figure things out at his own pace.

Fortunately, Kazama had a strong work ethic. While he wasn't obsessive, he trained with serious diligence. Now that he had mastered Wind Release, he was eager to show off a little.

More importantly, Kazama needed to prove that he could handle ninjutsu—this was his chance to extract some useful techniques from his grandfather. After all, he had no Wind Release jutsu yet.

Graduation was still two to three years away, but Kazama refused to step into the field armed only with basic Academy jutsu. He needed to train his techniques now while he still had time.

Once the main story characters arrived, their ridiculous growth speed would leave him in the dust if he wasn't fully prepared.

"Grandpa, get ready!" Gripping his well-worn wooden sword, Kazama charged in without hesitation, delivering a heavy diagonal slash from upper left to lower right.

Kosuke, wielding nothing but a random wooden stick, effortlessly raised it, blocking the blow with minimal movement.

Kazama's strength was still far from his grandfather's level.

Unfazed, Kazama pressed on, switching to a full-force offensive. He ran through the thirteen fundamental blade forms, starting with simple slashes before mixing in chops, thrusts, deflections, sweeps, and counters.

Japanese swordsmanship and the Chinese-style blade techniques Kazama favored had clear distinctions. The biggest difference was that Chinese saber techniques emphasized one-handed combat, offering greater flexibility and adaptability.

Knowing that his strength couldn't match Kosuke's, Kazama opted for the faster, single-handed approach.

Kosuke's sharp gaze quickly identified the difference. However, he remained silent. If Kazama wanted to commit to one-handed swordplay, then Kosuke would test its effectiveness firsthand.

Back and forth they went—wooden sword against wooden stick—exchanging dozens of blows. Kosuke remained in a purely defensive stance, subtly evaluating Kazama's technique.

Kazama, in turn, seized the opportunity. Sparring wasn't just about practice—it was about refining combat instincts. With a veteran warrior like Kosuke, this was an invaluable chance to sharpen his skills.

"Eightfold Hidden Blade!" Kazama roared, executing a technique centered on deception—its movements deliberately masked to make the attack unpredictable.

With his basic techniques fully demonstrated, Kazama finally switched to his signature styles.

This was one of the two major saber styles Kazama had learned in his university martial arts club. The other was the Six Harmony Saber Technique.

"Mountain-Cleaving Strike!"

"Nightfall Assault!"

"Draconic Blade Dance!"

"Defensive Guard!"

"Whirling Head Strike!"

One after another, Kazama unleashed complex, unpredictable attacks, completely different from Kosuke's traditional techniques.

Kosuke's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He hadn't taught any of these techniques—so how had Kazama learned them?

Despite Kazama's fierce barrage, Kosuke's defense remained unbroken.

Kazama wasn't holding back—he had no intention of hiding his skills.

With his Chinese saber techniques exhausted, Kazama moved on to Japanese swordsmanship.

Having rigorously practiced Kosuke's foundational teachings, Kazama had even extended and adapted some moves, thanks to inspiration from films and anime.

Sheathing his sword, Kazama shifted his stance, adopting the low, crouched posture of Iai (quick-draw sword techniques).

"No way I'd forget something this famous," Kazama thought, smirking. Back in university, he had found it oddly familiar—until he realized he had seen it countless times in anime and samurai films.

"Oh? Quick-draw techniques?" Kosuke muttered, intrigued.

Kazama slowed his breathing, focusing. Chakra gathered at his feet.

The Flying Heavenly Sword Style relied on superhuman speed—something Kazama didn't have. But he had a "budget version" of the Body Flicker Technique, which was better than nothing.

Kosuke remained motionless, his stance steady. His narrowed eyes made it impossible for Kazama to read his movements.

Kazama had no choice. The moment had arrived.

With a sharp exhale, he launched forward.

The ground shattered beneath his feet as his chakra-fueled momentum propelled him forward.

In an instant, he drew his sword, intercepting Kosuke's descending wooden stick before following through with a downward slash.

CRACK!

Kazama's blade severed Kosuke's wooden weapon.

"Good. You've got potential," Kosuke praised. "But… it's still not enough."

Casually, he picked up another wooden stick.

This time, Kosuke shifted into an offensive stance.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

A chilling pressure radiated from him—a sharp, overwhelming presence, as if Kazama were staring into the edge of a masterfully honed blade.

His body instinctively locked up.

"What's wrong? Can't move?" Kosuke asked, his voice calm but imposing.

Kazama snapped out of it, realizing he had been paralyzed by Kosuke's sheer presence alone.

Steeling himself, he readopted his stance.

Kazama knew—there was no point in defending.

This was a man who had slain countless foes on the battlefield. Trying to block his attacks would be pointless.

"If I can't block… I'll counter."

The Flying Heavenly Sword Style was built on offensive counters.

If Kosuke was going to attack, then Kazama would match him blow for blow.

"Oh?" Kosuke smirked, sensing Kazama's determination.

"He's forcing me to attack first."

Kosuke's battle instincts kicked in—his opponent was drawing him in.

And so, without hesitation—

He struck first.