"Excuse me, everyone."
"Who hits the hardest in Forging Iron Town?"
Every head in the tavern snapped toward the door.
Backlit by the fading daylight, the newcomer looked massive—broad shoulders, thick back, nearly two meters tall, built like a walking iron tower. Most people instinctively assumed he was some battle-hardened brute.
Then he stepped fully inside.
The warm lantern light hit his face, and half the room did a double take.
The face was shockingly young—maybe fifteen or sixteen at most, still carrying the last traces of boyish softness. The contrast with that absurdly powerful physique was almost violent.
"HAHAHAHA!"
After a split second of stunned silence, the tavern exploded with even louder laughter.
A burly blacksmith with a face red from drink and arms thicker than most men's thighs slapped the table. "What kind of question is that? Obviously Arakawa Keitoku from the Arakawa Dojo in the west district! Who else—me?"
His words triggered another wave of roaring laughter and clinking cups.
When the noise died down a little, a ronin-looking man with a short beard stroked his chin and eyed the sturdy youth with amusement. "What's this, kid? You've got the build for it. You here to beg the Arakawa Dojo to take you as a disciple?"
He didn't wait for an answer, just shook his head and took another swig. "Bad timing, then. They only accept new students once a year, right after the snow melts in spring, and spots are limited. You'll have to wait a few months, sorry."
Under the mocking stares and laughter, the tall youth didn't seem to hear any of it. His eyes only brightened, as if he'd just found exactly what he was looking for. The eager, confident grin on his face grew sharper.
He gave a small nod, voice still clear and carrying easily over the noise.
"Arakawa Dojo… Arakawa Keitoku… Got it."
He paused, gaze sweeping across the still-laughing crowd. The corner of his mouth curved upward as he dropped a single sentence that killed every laugh in the room dead:
"But I'm not here to apprentice."
"I'm here to spar."
"Oh, and the name's Isshin!"
The boy who called himself Isshin lifted his chin slightly. Those calm, razor-sharp eyes—far too mature for such a young face—slowly swept the entire tavern. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an absolute, unshakable weight that branded itself into every ear:
"Soon, all of you—and this entire country—will remember that name very well."
With that, he turned and pushed the door open, his tall figure melting into the deepening twilight and cold wind outside, leaving behind a room full of stunned silence.
---
Name: Isshin (Shinichi Higashino)
Class: Swordsman
Talents: Genius (Blue), Spiritual Perception (Green), Glutton King (Green), Quick-Witted (Green), Diligence Makes Up for Weakness (Green), Innate Godly Strength (Green), Thick-Skinned (Green), Nimble as a Hare (Green), Kenjutsu Adept (Green)
The boy named Isshin was, of course, the independent clone Shinichi had created using his newly acquired [Clone (Blue)] trait.
As an active Konoha shinobi, Shinichi's main body was heavily restricted. He couldn't freely travel for long periods or immerse himself in sword training that had nothing to do with the ninja system. It would also be extremely inconvenient to suddenly appear in the samurai-worshipping Land of Iron as a pure challenger—that kind of thing could easily spark diplomatic trouble.
So an independent clone with a relatively clean background and outstanding talent was the perfect solution.
The bloodline gene fused into the clone came from none other than the Ape Demon King.
When Shinichi had asked the Third Hokage for guidance from a senior with an exceptionally powerful and durable body, his surface reason was body tempering and exploring ninja body techniques. The hidden reason had always been this moment.
Of course, if we were talking pure potential and compatibility, Hashirama Senju's cells would theoretically be the best choice.
But at this point in time, even Orochimaru probably hadn't started that research yet. The only confirmed holders were the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura.
Asking the Third Hokage directly?
Not only would the source be impossible to explain, it would completely clash with the "pure-hearted, upright orphan" image Shinichi had spent years carefully building. It would invite unpredictable scrutiny and suspicion.
Approaching Danzo?
That was playing with fire—far too risky—and it would mean giving up the Third Hokage, currently his strongest backer.
So Shinichi chose the safer, more practical path: using the powerful, high-potential Ape Demon bloodline as the foundation to shape this clone named Isshin.
Besides, the [Clone] trait could still be upgraded to Purple later. There would be time to pursue legendary materials like Hashirama's cells when the moment was right.
Although Isshin could only inherit one Class trait from the main body and half of the Talent traits (rounded down), and currently couldn't inherit any ninja-specific talents, his combat power was still frighteningly high.
Fused with the Ape Demon King's bloodline, he naturally possessed the clan's tyrannical physical strength and near-indestructible physique.
More importantly, Shinichi had carefully assigned him nothing but high-quality Green-tier and above traits. This gave Isshin an absurdly strong starting point in pure physical stats, sword comprehension, battle instinct, and growth speed.
In terms of raw fighting power, he was actually stronger than Shinichi's main body right now, since the original still had to balance full ninja development.
The name "Isshin" came from a swordsman character from Shinichi's previous life—one revered as a "Sword Saint," a man who spent his entire existence in the single-minded, extreme pursuit of martial perfection and the apex of the blade.
In his youth, that swordsman had charged forward with greedy ambition, constantly seeking stronger opponents, turning every life-or-death battle into another step toward greater heights.
Not only did Shinichi name the clone after him, but Isshin's preset personality and growth path would largely follow that same core.
In the Land of Iron—this land that worshipped the way of the samurai—Isshin would make his name in the most direct, even brazen way possible: challenging the strong, tempering himself through real combat, and rapidly building reputation and cognition while honing his swordsmanship.
Shinichi had once asked his sword master, Shuji Yamashita, how a formal swordsman should continue advancing—how to climb to the higher levels of the Swordsman class.
Master Yamashita had told him that becoming a "Swordsman" meant you had officially graduated from apprenticeship. You now possessed the foundational techniques and mindset. From that point on, you had to leave the protection of any dojo and walk the path alone.
It would be a long journey of travel and trial. You must measure the land with your own feet, meet friends and foes from all directions with your own blade, and temper your skill through countless matches—some friendly, some deadly.
The depth of that journey would decide whether you remained a decent swordsman or took the next step: becoming a "Sword Master."
A Sword Master, as the name implied, was a teacher of the blade.
It meant you had not only reached a high level of swordsmanship but had formed your own understanding and system. You were qualified—and capable—of opening your own dojo and passing on your "way."
However, Master Yamashita had emphasized with deep meaning that to be widely recognized as a Sword Master, more than just personal skill and character was required. There was one invisible but crucial threshold:
You had to earn the collective recognition of the swordsmen and warriors of the land where you wished to settle.
You had to prove your strength, your character, and your respect for the way of the sword in a manner accepted by the local martial community.
There were usually three paths.
The first—and safest—was to receive recommendation and endorsement from a respected senior master.
The second was to dominate a major public exhibition or tournament, making a name through undisputed results.
The third was to go door to door, openly visiting every reputable dojo and speaking with the blade—commonly known as "dojo challenging" or kicking the hall.
Of course, the third path was the most dangerous and least recommended. Many who chose it ended up dead or crippled along the way.
Even if they succeeded, their aggressive methods often made it difficult to truly integrate unless they possessed overwhelming strength and later proved their character. Most swordsmen avoided this route.
But no matter which path was chosen, the core message was the same:
You have arrived. You are worthy. You have the right to put down roots here, share your art, and take disciples—becoming a new, solid part of this martial ecosystem.
Isshin's background was clean but rootless. He had no connections, no backing.
The first path—needing personal connections and a spotless reputation—was already closed to him.
The second required waiting for the right major event, and the Land of Iron had no grand public exhibitions coming up anytime soon.
That left only the third path—the hardest, most dangerous, but also the most direct and perfectly suited to the personality Shinichi had designed for "Isshin."
He would knock on doors with his sword and prove his way through battle.