That will be a long journey and a trial. He will need to measure the land with his own feet, meet friends from all directions with his own sword, and hone his skills through countless sparring or dangerous battles.
The depth of this journey will directly determine whether he stops at being a decent swordsman or has the potential to go further and enter a new realm of establishing his own school, that is, becoming a Master Swordsman.
A Master Swordsman, as the name implies, was already a teacher of the sword.
It means that he has not only mastered swordsmanship but also developed his own understanding and system and is qualified and capable of opening a Dojo to pass on his way of swordsmanship to future generations.
However, Yamashita-sensei emphasized meaningfully that in order to transform from a Swordsman into a widely recognized Master Swordsman. In addition to honing one's skills and temperament to perfection, there is an invisible but crucial threshold: He must win the collective recognition of his peers and martial artists in this land.
He needs to prove his strength, character, and respect for kendo itself in a way that is recognized by the local martial arts community where he wishes to establish himself.
There are usually three paths.
Firstly, and most reliably, is to obtain an introduction and endorsement from a highly respected senior figure.
Secondly, he could dominate public martial arts demonstrations or competitions, earning fame through undisputed victories.
Thirdly, he could visit each of the renowned dojos in the area openly and honestly, engaging in swordsmanship duels, a practice commonly known as challenging the dojos.
Of course, this third path is the riskiest and least recommended. Many who choose this path often die or are seriously injured during the challenge.
Even if they eventually succeed by chance, their methods are too drastic, and they are unlikely to truly integrate into the local community.
Unless they possess absolute superior strength and demonstrate great magnanimity later on, swordsmen usually do not make this choice.
But no matter what choice you make, the core message is the same: You've come, you're qualified, you're entitled to establish yourself here, share your skills, take on disciples, and become a new and solid part of this martial arts ecosystem.
Although the background of this clone is relatively clean, it is not entirely righteous, because its origin is a mystery, and it lacks a foundation.
The first path, which requires connections and a clean record, is now closed to him.
The second option requires waiting for the right opportunity, but the Land of Iron has not recently held any grand military exercises that meet the required standards.
Therefore, he was actually left with only a third option, the most difficult, most dangerous, but also the most direct and the one that best suited the preconceived character of Isshin.
He will knock on the door with his sword and prove his way through battle.
Half a month later, in the southeastern border of the Land of Iron, in Akazonae City.
Akazonae City is a famous large city in the southeastern part of the Land of Iron. It guards the main transportation route to the inland, and its commerce is thriving, with the forging industry being particularly developed.
What's even more remarkable is that this city is jointly guarded by a Master Swordsman and a Major General.
The word Master Swordsman is a class, but it falls under the category of civilians. It is usually awarded to top swordsmen whose swordsmanship has reached the pinnacle, who have created or mastered a particular style or school, and who have earned widespread respect in the pure martial arts.
The title of Major General is also a rank, but it places more emphasis on military strategy, command ability, and meritorious service to the country.
Those who can obtain this honor must be Samurai Warriors who have commanded large armies on the battlefield and made outstanding achievements, or who have made outstanding contributions to national defense and strategy.
Although the two have different focuses, there is no absolute superiority or inferiority between them. A Major General may also possess the skills of a Master Swordsman, while a Master Swordsman who is not in office may also become a Major General in the future.
This involves the unique culture and power structure of the Land of Iron.
This country has no ninjas, or even Daimyo in the traditional sense. They uphold the most classical bushido spirit, and their people practice various military skills with swordsmanship as the core.
Those martial artists who practiced martial arts but did not hold public office were called swordsmen; while those who served the country and entered the power system were called Samurai Warriors.
The entire bureaucratic system of the country was built by these Samurai Warriors.
The pinnacle of Samurai Warriors is the leader of the country, the General.
The highest-ranking Samurai Warriors.
The position of General was not hereditary, but rather filled by a Samurai Warrior of exceptional skill, virtue, and prestige who commanded respect.
The current General of the Land of Iron is none other than Mifune, the legendary figure who bravely led the Samurai Warriors to resist the invasion led by Hanzo of the Salamander during the Second Shinobi World War.
Shortly after the Second Shinobi World War, he was elected as a General due to his outstanding achievements and high reputation.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Land of Iron will continue to advance under his leadership for the next twenty years.
On this day, in Akazonae City, inside the city lord's mansion, the city lord, Takeda Nobutsuna, who held the rank of Major General, delivered a briefing to Soichiro Yagyu, the president of the Akazonae City Swordsmanship Association and a Master Swordsman of the Tranquil Mind and Enlightened Wisdom Dojo.
"Where did this clueless greenhorn come from?"
Soichiro Yagyu put down the documents and immediately frowned.
The briefing was simple: a young swordsman who calls himself Isshin has been tirelessly challenging people around lately.
Starting from Foji Town, he has traveled north to Iwamura, Seiryu, Kuroba, Shirataki, and other towns, and has already visited more than twenty dojos in eight towns for sparring.
Now, his trail leads to Akazonae City.
"What's the background of this hothead named Isshin? What school of swordsmanship does he belong to? Who taught such a reckless junior?"
Soichiro Yagyu asked in a deep voice, his tone clearly displeased.
Such a high-profile, ongoing challenge is rare and impolite in the Land of Iron's kendo world, which values etiquette and tradition.
City lord Takeda Nobutsuna shook his head: "His background is unknown. All we know is that he claims to use the Ashina Style."
"The Ashina Style?"
Soichiro Yagyu searched his memory and, confirming that he had never heard of such swordsmanship in the Land of Iron, frowned even more deeply.
"Unknown origin?"
"Indeed, we can't find any trace of him."
Takeda Nobutsuna continued calmly, "However, the swordsmanship he used is indeed the swordsmanship technique of us orthodox samurai. It is solidly based and definitely not a wild style. Perhaps it is a disciple taken in by a samurai during his travels, or the inheritance of an old man who has been in seclusion for many years. Such things are not unprecedented."