Natural Swordmaster 93

Title: So Strong It’s Despairing, Let Your Strongest Step Forward!

Picking up the katana that had fallen to the ground, Suikyō Munen somewhat doubted his life.

Wasn’t this an exam for Shinnosuke? Why did he feel like he was the one being tested? When sparring with the opponent just now, he had unconsciously unleashed his full power.

But despite his best efforts, he couldn’t pose the slightest threat to Shinnosuke. This reminded him of when he had just started practicing kendo, facing his teacher, and his bokken had been sent flying with a single strike.

An insurmountable difference in strength, a complete destruction in speed, technique, and power.

Musashi Geiken, who was watching, was very excited. Shinnosuke being able to defeat his junior disciple wasn’t too surprising to him. What excited him was that Shinnosuke could defeat Munen so easily.

He understood Munen’s personality very well. His junior disciple would definitely not give up. The sword flash like a full moon just now was the best proof of that.

Shinnosuke’s strength clearly far surpassed Munen’s. Then, where was the limit of his power?

“The test ends here. Nohara Shinnosuke’s strength has been well proven. He can become the next successor of the Musashi Dojo!”

Geiken stepped forward and announced the results of this test.

Perhaps due to his personality, or perhaps because the Yakumaru Jigen-ryū style itself demanded strong and fast kendo practitioners, the representative of the Yakumaru Jigen-ryū style, Tōgō Shun, who had come this time, finally couldn’t help but speak when the test was about to end like this.

“Hey Musashi, isn’t this test a bit too contrived?”

“Could it be that you guys were acting? He’s still so young, able to defeat Suikyō?”

Shun strongly suspected that the match between Shinnosuke and Munen just now was an act. In kendo matches and tests, “fake matches” often occurred.

For kendo practitioners, putting on a fake match was very easy. They could easily make ordinary people unaware of the openings.

Moreover, Munen was a master of the Kyōshin Meichi-ryū style, who was indeed skilled in beautiful kendo techniques.

“Even if you want to promote a junior, there’s no need to go this far, is there?”

The blunt Shun expressed the thoughts of many people.

Shinnosuke was too young, looking only a few years into adulthood. Even if he was a genius, how long had he practiced kendo since childhood?

Who among the attendees hadn’t diligently studied kendo for decades? Who hadn’t been called a genius to become the head of a style?

Shinnosuke’s performance just now was too exaggerated. Although it didn’t look like acting, everyone instinctively thought that he couldn’t possibly be that strong.

“Tōgō, why are you talking so much? If you have any objections, just spar with Shinnosuke?”

“Let’s go then! Let me see how big the guts of this genius are!”

Shun thought Geiken was bluffing, thinking he wouldn’t dare. But today he was really going to teach this junior a lesson!

Geiken glanced at Shinnosuke, while Kuki Shiden secretly glanced at Suotome Ai. After realizing that the young lady’s expression hadn’t changed, he finally felt relieved.

‘This Shun is really an idiot! Even if it was acting, so what?’

Seeing Shinnosuke nod, Geiken smiled even wider. There should be more people like Shun.

Munen felt very displeased at being accused of acting. He came down with a gloomy face, sneering inwardly, wanting to see how many moves Shun could withstand.

Walking to face Shinnosuke, Shun drew his long sword. This sword was much longer than a regular katana and would provide a clear advantage in a real fight.

Although doubting Shinnosuke’s strength, Shun didn’t let him attack first. After Geiken announced the start, he immediately let out a strange shout.

“Hoo-ya!”

His voice was strange and piercing, very unpleasant to hear. While shouting, he swung his sword towards Shinnosuke.

This was an out-of-combat trick often used by the Yakumaru Jigen-ryū style, and it was often very effective.

But as Shun’s sword swung, even before it got close, Shinnosuke had already moved.

This person wasn’t his grand-teacher’s grand-uncle. Shinnosuke had no intention of holding back. In his eyes, the opponent’s slash was extremely slow.

He and his long sword were both fragile.

*SWOOSH!*

Shinnosuke swung his sword at Shun’s long sword. After a spark, a clear clanging sound was heard. The long sword in Shun’s hand was instantly split in two by a single slash.

The cold sword aura slashed Shun’s cheek, leaving a shallow wound on his face, then cut off most of his hair. He looked very disheveled with his scattered hair.

One slash cut through an iron sword; the visual impact shocked everyone.

Shinnosuke swung his sword and put the Holy Sword Fubuki back into its sheath.

“Not much, huh? Anyone else want to spar with me? Let your strongest step forward.”

Shinnosuke’s words were very arrogant, but he indeed had the right to be arrogant. At least on this path of kendo, he had already gone far ahead.

He really wanted to fight someone strong. It would be even better if he could meet an evenly matched opponent.

This time, no one among the audience dared to speak again. Shun’s fate had told them that Shinnosuke’s match with Munen earlier was indeed Shinnosuke letting him win, just to save Munen’s pride.

Looking at the katana in his hand that was split in two, Shun swallowed hard.

Could there really be such a person? So strong it was despairing.

“I lost, I take back my words from earlier.”

Picking up the fallen sword blade, Shun bowed to Shinnosuke sincerely.

Shiden spoke in time, easing the atmosphere.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough for today. The Musashi Dojo test for Nohara Shinnosuke is complete. If Nohara-kun wants to take the kendo promotion test above his level, he can contact me. I believe everyone here has no objections.”

Taking a kendo test above one’s level required many recommendations. Now if Shinnosuke wanted to take the kendo test, many people would definitely be willing to help.

No one else challenged him, making Shinnosuke a little disappointed. Geiken’s goal was achieved. Today’s events would soon spread throughout the kendo circles.

Shinnosuke wanted to test the limits of his strength, but unfortunately, there was no suitable opponent. These kendo masters in front of him seemed to be no match for him in a single move.

“Truly amazing, Shinnosuke-sama.”

Ai was very satisfied. Shinnosuke being able to reach this step didn’t surprise her.

Yukino wasn’t too surprised either. After all, Shinnosuke was an existence that could kill cat youkai, so his kendo strength far surpassing ordinary people was only natural.

Only Kazama was surprised, it was the first time he knew Shinnosuke was this strong.

“Shin-chan is actually this amazing? It was useless for me to worry about him! If I had known this, I would have gone to my lessons!”

Kazama couldn’t help but complain, but in his heart, he was very happy for Shinnosuke. If things were like this, he would definitely pass his exam, right?