Chapter 19: Hurry Up, I'm in a Rush
Senior Kokonoe... in some ways, is actually quite similar to Giyu.
Facing Natsuya's dismissive answer, Sabito couldn't help but think this.
They both had a habit of saying things that easily caused misunderstandings. Even with no ill intent, saying "Come at me together, I'm in a rush" was incredibly condescending.
It actually kinda pisses me off.
The pink-haired boy smiled, but his grip on the wooden sword tightened.
"Then Senior better be careful."
Giyu, on the other hand, didn't feel anything was wrong. To him, both Sabito and Kokonoe Natsuya were swordsmen far stronger than himself. It was only natural for the strong to be confident.
Natsuya, of course, didn't see an issue with his statement. His total stats were pushing 60, and his Breathing Style was deep into Level 3.
[Kokonoe Natsuya (Power Level: 59)] — Wind Breathing LV.3
[Kaji Sabito (Power Level: 28)] — Water Breathing LV.2
[Tomioka Giyu (Power Level: 14)] — Water Breathing LV.1
Accurately speaking, his stats were higher than both of theirs combined. And that wasn't even counting the passive buffs from his stack of Life Skills.
Honestly, a 1v1 would be bullying.
Finding a relatively open clearing, Sabito and Giyu assumed their stances.
"Senior, please guide us!"
Knowing the gap in their strength, they didn't waste time with pleasantries. Sabito launched the first offensive.
Relying on his familiarity with the mountain terrain, he decisively unleashed the Ninth Form of Water Breathing.
[Water Breathing, Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow]
Utilizing the complex, dense terrain and specialized footwork, Sabito bounded through the forest. Every step was like a surging rapid, leaving behind a chaotic trail of afterimages to confuse the enemy.
Senior's physical stats are too high. I can't clash with him head-on.
While moving at high speed, Sabito kept his gaze locked on Natsuya.
On the other side, Tomioka Giyu stood his ground, assuming a tight, defensive posture.
One attacker, one defender?
Natsuya watched them, his posture relaxed. Dragging his wooden sword behind him, he walked straight toward Giyu.
Even if these two kids had perfect teamwork—which they didn't—they would still crumble before the sheer stat difference.
As he walked, he wondered: Since this is training, should I go easy on them? If I end the match in one hit, it might crush their confidence.
"Don't get distracted, Senior!"
A voice came from behind him.
Sabito had flashed into Natsuya's blind spot. His wooden sword swept out horizontally, holding nothing back. Normally, a swordsman in such a relaxed state would struggle to block a blindside attack.
But Sabito knew Natsuya was not normal.
Sure enough, just as the blade was about to make contact...
Natsuya sidestepped faster than Sabito could track. He raised his sword and blocked the strike with perfect stability.
Sabito wasn't discouraged. His follow-up was fluid, launching into the next attack without hesitation. After a year of grueling training and his natural talent, he was like a tireless slashing machine.
Combo after combo, step by step, he pressed the attack.
Natsuya raised an eyebrow as he parried. Not bad. He has more tenacity than I expected.
[First Form: Water Surface Slash]
[Fourth Form: Striking Tide]
[Second Form: Water Wheel]
Slashes rolled in like turbulent waves. The wooden sword carried genuine intent, transforming into a relentless offensive.
"Opening."
While Sabito suppressed Natsuya from the front, Giyu didn't miss the fleeting opportunity.
He stepped in, launching the fastest technique in the Water Breathing arsenal.
[Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust]
The thrust. The most fundamental technique in Kendo, simple yet with an infinitely high skill ceiling.
Speed was its greatest advantage.
However, Natsuya acted as if he didn't even see it. He continued to leisurely parry Sabito's wave of attacks. The clack-clack-clack of wooden swords clashing sounded like a summer rainstorm.
Amidst that rain, Giyu had already closed the distance.
Senior is careless...
Giyu thrust his wooden sword like a bolt of cold light, aiming straight for Natsuya's arm.
The next second...
The world flipped upside down.
By the time Giyu realized what had happened, he was being pinned to the ground by a massive force. His wooden sword had been stomped out of his hand, buried deep in the mud under Natsuya's foot.
For Natsuya, a thrust was the easiest move to counter. Especially when he had the stat advantage.
He simply caught the "Active Frame" of the thrust, sidestepped, and stepped on the weapon to lock it down.
It interrupted the attack rhythm and crowd-controlled the enemy.
In action games, we call this a Mikiri Counter!
"Don't space out," Natsuya said calmly. "A katana isn't the only thing you can use in a fight."
Before the sentence was finished, he side-kicked Giyu out of the combat zone and raised his sword to block Sabito's overhead slash.
Natsuya countered with a punch aimed at Sabito's face.
The pink-haired boy learned fast—he raised his leg to block the punch, mimicking Natsuya's style.
"Interesting."
He realized so quickly that combat isn't limited to the blade?
Natsuya smirked. He stopped using Breathing techniques and engaged Sabito in a pure contest of swordplay.
He let the boy unleash every form and combo he knew. Natsuya stood like a reef in a storm—breaking every wave while remaining immovable.
Every block and counter was simple and precise, silently dismantling and guiding Sabito's breathing and exertion.
"Watch the hands. Observe my hands to predict the next attack."
"Footwork. Don't spam your leg muscles for explosive movement. Moving randomly just drains your Stamina Bar and increases your recovery frames. You're leaving yourself open."
"Spacing. Too close and you can't generate power; too far and you'll whiff. Find the Effective Range."
While fighting, Natsuya didn't forget to impart his years of gaming wisdom.
Behind him, Giyu hadn't given up. He quickly adjusted his stance and re-entered the fight.
He took a deep breath and changed his strategy.
[Tenth Form: Constant Flux]
This was the strongest technique in Water Breathing for prolonged engagements. By using unique footwork and rotations, every slash added momentum to the next.
Power stacked on power. The more he slashed, the stronger he became.
It was a technique that used soft power to overcome hard power—a move that allowed the weak to defeat the strong.
At this moment, the black-haired boy moved like a water dragon swimming upstream, crashing into Natsuya's defense again and again.
One slash, two slashes, three slashes...
By the fourth block, Natsuya clearly felt the weight of the blows increasing.
If I let him keep stacking this buff, in about ten hits, his damage output will actually surpass my defense.
But...
Natsuya flicked his wrist. First, a simple horizontal sweep to force Sabito back. Then, with a subtle twitch, the tip of his wooden sword struck Giyu's wrist at the weakest point of his grip—right at the start of his swing animation.
Critical Hit.
The Uchiha boy felt his wrist go numb. The momentum he had built up instantly collapsed. The combo was broken.
"Don't blindly spam your Ult."
"In a real fight, the enemy isn't going to stand there and let you stack your passive to max."
Giyu staggered back, a thoughtful look on his face.
On the other side, Sabito attacked again.
[Third Form: Flowing Dance]
This time, Natsuya didn't even block. He moved close to Sabito's blade, dodging every strike by a hair's breadth. The attacks flowed past him like water, but none could touch him.
"No matter how cool the skill looks, it's essentially just a hitbox."
"If the hitbox doesn't connect, it deals zero damage."
"Sabito, stop inputting combos like a robot. Don't think about 'beating' me."
"Focus on your attack trajectory and my hurtbox. Use your most comfortable, fastest move, and just try to touch me."
Sabito realized Natsuya was teaching him. "Yes! Senior!"
Natsuya didn't ignore Giyu either. "Don't just stand there. Flank with Sabito. But don't block his attack line. Coordinate with his Skill Cooldowns."
"Mix up your timings. Cross-up attacks. Keep the pressure high. That's called teamwork."
Giyu blinked, then looked at Sabito.
Sabito gave him an encouraging nod. "Let's do this, Giyu! Just like we practiced!"
The next second, the three clashed again.
"So, is this why you missed dinner?"
Urokodaki looked at the two bruised and battered children, then at Natsuya, who had barely broken a sweat.
"Compared to Natsuya, your training is still lacking," the old man sighed. "It was too early to challenge him."
Sabito held his head high, his eyes shining with seriousness. "Master, I learned so much from Senior!"
Giyu nodded, adding a short sentence. "Senior is stronger than Sabito."
Urokodaki shook his head gently behind his mask. "I am not blaming you..." He turned to Natsuya. "Natsuya, sorry for the trouble."
Natsuya's attention snapped back from the "Notification Panel" in his mind.
"Oh, it was nothing."
"Sabito and Giyu have great talent. Besides, I gained something from sparring with them too."
[Kaji Sabito (Power Level: 28 -> 29)]
[Tomioka Giyu (Power Level: 14 -> 16)]
Not only did their stats increase, but their Breathing Style proficiency had also ticked up.
More importantly, Natsuya's own panel had changed.
His Water Breathing [Learning Progress] had increased. And he had unlocked a new Life Skill.
[Mentorship LV.0 (56/250)] (NEW)
Achievement Points: 8
If I do the math...
Maybe I should 'power-level' these two kids every day?
Natsuya thought to himself.