Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 122 Concealing Weapons, Second-Class Master (Seeking Monthly Tickets!!)

The moment Musashi saw Yun Chuan walk in and sit down with a smile, he knew the purpose of this young man's visit.

Beneath that gentle smile, beneath that wide black robe, lay the restless heart of a lion or tiger, a thirst for battle.

He may not understand the principle that "a wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act; he appears when the world is in order and remains hidden when it is not."

But he knew that a great swordsman only does two things in his life.

Sharpening the knife, and then, drawing the knife.

They're either sharpening their knives or preparing to strike them.

Sharpening the knife means concealing it within oneself; drawing the knife means the time is ripe.

The boy in front of him believed that his knife was already sharp and now he wanted to consecrate it, wanting to cut through and defeat something. So he found this stone that had been forgotten in a corner and was covered with green moss.

Therefore, Musashi had been waiting, waiting for the moment when he couldn't help but reveal his sharp fangs.

Now, this still young and tender beast is already eager to devour the beliefs and flesh and blood that he depends on for survival!

but……

"Are you underestimating the sharpness I've nurtured in my scabbard for decades?"

Looking at the smiling boy in front of him, Musashi's expression was no longer gloomy, and a smile inexplicably appeared on his lips.

He raised the warm teacup, his eyes gleaming as he smiled, "The affairs of the state belong to Daimyo and to us. You are nothing but a usurper. Want to test the sharpness of my sword?"

A flame still burns in his eyes, unextinguished, and the steam from the hot tea he brews has never cooled down, even after decades.

"Old man, don't talk to yourself like a young man," Yun Chuan said in a gentle and modest tone. "My sword is not without its merits."

Both of them placed their hands on the swords at their waists, and in that instant of lowering their bodies, it was as if they were drawing all their strength into the blades.

On the left, Yun Chuan is depicted on a screen with flowers, trees, and a tiger. The tiger, with its stripes, roams among the trees and flowers, ready to devour anyone it finds.

On the right, Musashi is depicted on a screen with a bridge, a well, and people. A prostitute, heavily made up and dressed in red, walks by a dry well on a stone bridge.

Between the two, wisps of smoke rose from the spout of the teapot, spreading out and creating a serene scene.

This is the true Iaijutsu. Unlike the sword-drawing technique used in combat, Iaijutsu is a true seated technique.

Kendo adheres to the principle of "Zanshin," meaning to remain vigilant at all times, while Iaido, on the other hand, is about turning a relaxed and lazy state into an offensive in the moment of crisis.

Before a swordsman unleashes his ultimate move, there is often a state of utter stillness.

Something must break the deathly silence, like a still pond in winter.

Perhaps it was a fallen leaf, plucked from the branch and drifting onto the mirror-like lake surface; perhaps it was a raindrop, shattered from the eaves and splashed onto the two people's feet.

Or perhaps, the tea has boiled.

Ripples spread across the two cups of tea, transforming stillness into movement, and the whole scene came to life.

Ugh!

On the stove, the tea in the teapot began to boil, and its faint whistling sound was quickly drowned out by a piercing hiss.

Click! Sizzle!

The old man's body was mostly buried in the mud, but the moment he pulled the knife from its sheath...

The bloodthirsty blade, forged through countless trials and long untouched by blood, was drawn from its sheath. The dim room was instantly filled with the dazzling light of the blade, and one could almost smell the rich scent of blood seeping from its edge.

But when Musashi's pupils focused on the person in front of him, his normally strong body suddenly tensed up.

He saw a bloodstained blade, countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and smelled an all-too-familiar scent.

That's the kind of murderous intent that's willing to use a knife at all costs to completely strip away and devour the enemy's life force, until death is stuffed into their throat and pierced all the way into their stomach.

How could a teenager be so excited about fighting?

"Ha." Musashi laughed for no apparent reason. On his aged face, the smile was unusually pure, radiating an unusual vitality.

He might lose today's battle.

But this must be the most exhilarating battle of his life.

After laughing, Musashi drew his sword.

Look closely! Breathe in and out! Make a straight cut through the carp's mouth! Pull out! Cut it off!

Like a tightly compressed spring suddenly bursting open, Musashi traced a hazy, fleeting trajectory, unleashing a breathtaking Iaijutsu that left countless swordsmen in the dust.

Like a spring breeze that cuts through willow leaves, it slashes straight at Yun Chuan's abdomen and waist!

Almost simultaneously, Yun Chuan also drew his sword.

With a terrifying speed that even Musashi found unbelievable, he completed the visual inspection, the carp-mouth cut, the pluck, and the cut.

Huff!

The wind taut their robes, and the two voices sounded like swirling ribbons, making it difficult to discern who was speaking first and who was speaking faster.

All that could be heard were two terrifying howls in the wind, and anything that stood in their way would be torn to shreds.

The next moment, the tea mist between the two was cut apart by the blade's edge, and the two blades collided.

Bang! !

The impact sounded like an explosion, and even Yilong, who was outside, could clearly hear the buzzing in his ears.

Sonic booms and wind pressure explosions swept through the entire tea room.

Even the fire in the stove that was warming tea was blown out, and the branches in the vase on the table withered and fell!

The tatami mat beneath their feet could not withstand the downward pressure and instantly broke into two pieces, lifting them high to reveal the floor.

Under the dim light, Musashi's hand was split open, the deep wound was bleeding, the hilt of his sword was soaked in blood, and his wrist was slightly twisted.

But Musashi seemed oblivious to the pain, gradually tightening his grip on his bleeding hand, while his left hand reached for his waist.

Clang!

Yun Chuan pressed down on his longsword without any mercy, and with undiminished momentum, slashed at Musashi with immense pressure.

Musashi held his sword to his shoulder, desperately trying to block the sharp blade, but he was still forced to his knees, blood gushing out as the blade pierced his flesh.

The next moment, Yun Chuan narrowed his eyes and retreated without hesitation.

Almost simultaneously, Musashi's robes were suddenly lifted, revealing a second sword at his waist, a shorter one in comparison.

呲!

Musashi drew the gleaming sword, but the tip grazed Yun Chuan's forehead and missed its mark.

Yun Chuan's youthful profile was illuminated by the clear light of the blade.

Without pausing, Musashi once again swung his katana, slashing diagonally down to cut Yun Chuan in two from his neck to his left waist.

But before it could reach his neck, Yun Chuan sheathed his sword and blocked it, emitting a sharp clanging sound.

"Wakizashi?"

Yun Chuan was not surprised by this move.

The combination of one long and one short sword is extremely common among orthodox samurai.

When samurai clash with their swords for life or death, they have no regard for morality. When two people face each other with their swords drawn, one of them will draw another sword and stab the other through. This is not considered a sneaky tactic; in fact, it is entirely in line with the samurai's method of winning.

However, when Yun Chuan saw the knife blocking his way, he raised an eyebrow.

Although it is the same thing, to be precise, it is not a wakizashi, but a kodachi.

"Dual-wielding?" Yun Chuan asked curiously, while simultaneously spinning his body and delivering an elbow strike.

At the same time, Musashi's raised knee strike also came crashing down.

Bang! !

Elbow and knee collided, producing a cracking sound and sending splinters flying.

Musashi, who was slightly weaker, felt numbness in his knees and staggered back several steps to create distance between them.

But he quickly regained his composure, stood firm, and focused his gaze on Yun Chuan.

"No, this is Niten Ichi-ryu!"

Musashi raised his right hand, holding the katana, while gripping the kodachi in his left hand in front of his chest. His posture became even more focused, and he stared intently at Yun Chuan, saying in a deep voice, "Now it's time to get serious."

He began studying swordsmanship from a young age, traveling to various places and encountering swordsmen of all styles, developing his own swordsmanship style. However, after gaining the title of Sword Saint, he rarely used the Niten Ichi-ryu style.

Niten Ichi-ryu represents more than just a swordsmanship; it represents a spirit.

Exert all your strength and have the determination to win.

But it's been a long time since anyone has been able to ignite his competitive spirit.

In the entire ninja world, he is the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Whether it's the samurai of the Land of Iron or the young Hanzo today.

In the path of kendo, none have gone as far as him.

But now, looking at this amazing upstart in front of him, Musashi rekindled the competitive spirit he had in his youth.

Come on, young man.

Even though my strength and speed have declined considerably, I will never lose to you in terms of skill.

(End of this chapter)