To Kaito's surprise, the dojo also had academic classes.
The curriculum, besides the so-called spirit of Bushido and its related history and traditions, also included subjects like astronomy, geography, and mathematics.
He was fine with just listening in; Kaito had no intention of delving deep into any of it.
After barely surviving the morning's lessons, Kaito was approached by Mifune during lunch.
Back in his room, Kaito closed the door and looked at Mifune, asking with some confusion, "Master Mifune, is there something you need from me?"
He had many guesses, but the most likely one was that Mifune had recognized the swordsmanship taught to him by Captain Okihira.
"Don't be nervous. Let's sit and talk."
"Alright."
The two sat down opposite each other on the floor mats, Mifune in a formal kneeling position, Kaito sitting cross-legged.
"Kaito, did you understand today's lessons?"
"For the most part. They were pretty easy to follow."
"I was worried you might be illiterate. It seems my concerns were unfounded." Mifune paused, then continued, "The history of the Land of Iron, or rather, the history of the samurai, is much longer than that of the ninja villages and the ninja themselves. So, in the beginning, samurai did not use chakra. Oh, do you know what chakra is?"
"I do," Kaito answered honestly.
"Good." Mifune nodded. "But the emergence of chakra made the ninja far too powerful compared to the samurai, and the status of samurai plummeted. Subsequently, the samurai split into three major groups."
"One group gave up being samurai and chose to join the ranks of the ninja. Another group believed that traditional samurai were the orthodox path and made no changes. The final group applied chakra to their swordsmanship, creating new schools of samurai that could stand firm amidst the powerful ninja nations, preserving the last bastion of the samurai."
"And that last group is the Land of Iron, right?" Kaito interjected.
"Mm."
Mifune sighed. "However, even within the Land of Iron, there are still many differing opinions on the use of chakra. Not everyone has the talent for refining it. Those who have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship but lack this ability are excluded from the mainstream samurai society, and most of them live very difficult lives. A senior brother whom I once respected the most was one of them. In terms of pure swordsmanship, I am no match for him."
"..." Kaito blinked, seeming to have guessed something. He opened his mouth and asked, "Where is he now?"
"I don't know." Mifune glanced at him and said, reminiscing, "After my senior brother learned he didn't have the talent for refining chakra, he didn't lose heart. Instead, he dedicated himself even more to his swordsmanship. After defeating many of his peers, he decided to leave the Land of Iron. Before he left, he told me that he would prove that a samurai without chakra could also defeat a ninja. And then... twenty years passed, with no news of him since."
"Sigh. I really admire people who don't yield to reality. I know I could never do something like that," Kaito said with genuine admiration.
For something that seemed so impossible, most people wouldn't even entertain the thought. If it were him, he would have decisively accepted his fate, given up the way of the sword, and focused on making money to marry a few wives.
"You are still young and haven't found a belief that you would sacrifice everything for. If you had such a conviction, I imagine you would be just like my senior brother. But finding such a belief is very, very difficult. That is why, after my master, he is the person I respect the most."
As he spoke, Mifune stared intently at Kaito and said seriously, "His name is Okihira. Have you heard of him?"
Here it comes! It really is about Captain Okihira! Kaito didn't sense any killing intent in Mifune's words, but rather a mix of anticipation and worry, so he decided to tell him the truth.
"I do know someone named Okihira. He's the captain of the security force in our village. He..."
After Kaito described the captain's appearance and some other details, a look of joy clearly appeared on Mifune's face. "Yes, that's right! That must be Senior Brother Okihira. It's so good to know he's still alive. Is he in the Land of Waterfalls?"
"Yes."
"Hah." Mifune slowly exhaled, calming himself down. "When spring comes next year, I will take you home."
"Thank you, Master Mifune! The captain will surely be very happy to see you too." Having secured a powerful ally, Kaito was equally happy. If they happened to run into any rogue ninja who had luckily survived, it would just be their bad luck.
Mifune nodded slightly, looking at Kaito with increasing favor. "Since Senior Brother Okihira has taught you swordsmanship, you are, in a sense, his disciple. I see you have already mastered chakra. He must have passed the refining method on to you as well, which saves me the trouble. This afternoon, I will teach the method of applying chakra to swordsmanship. Pay close attention."
"I will," Kaito nodded obediently.
Following the principle of "the less trouble, the better," he didn't bother explaining that he had actually snatched the chakra refining method.
After seeing Mifune off, the heavy weight on his heart finally lifted.
Now, I should be safe here in the Land of Iron, right?
In the afternoon, as planned, Mifune began to explain to the disciples how samurai utilize chakra. This was a lesson attendants were not qualified to hear.
"When you first entered the Kenpu Dojo, you were taught the method for refining chakra. Have you all been practicing diligently every day?"
"Yes!" the crowd replied in unison.
"Very good." Mifune scanned the room, seeing the eager, knowledge-hungry gazes below. He nodded in satisfaction and began his lecture. "As we all know, chakra is the energy necessary for ninja to perform ninjutsu. Without chakra, they might not even be able to defeat you. However, chakra is not exclusive to them. All of us have it within our bodies. Therefore, we too can harness this power."
He casually picked up a wooden sword. Without any discernible movement, a visible blue aura began to swirl around the blade, and one could clearly sense the astonishing power it contained.
"This is chakra."
Mifune gripped the wooden sword and walked over to a large stone.
With a light swing, the millstone-sized rock split into two halves. The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, drawing a wave of gasps from the newcomers.
"This is the enhancement effect of chakra on a sword," Mifune said in a deep voice to the disciples, whose faces were alight with excitement. "Our only weapon as samurai is the sword in our hands. This is our equivalent to a ninja's ninjutsu, so everything must serve our swordsmanship. Your first task is to channel the chakra within your body into your sword and maintain it steadily for one hour."
"Now, you may begin."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone sat down, closed their eyes, and held their wooden swords.
Kaito was no exception. He had experience gathering his golden energy in his feet, so he quickly extended it into his wooden sword.
A strange feeling. It's like my arm has gotten longer.
He opened his eyes. A thin, golden sheen covered the wooden sword in his hand. It was beautiful to look at, but Kaito was troubled.
This is way too conspicuous. It'll make me an easy target for a group attack...
Next came the test of endurance and stability. If the power cut out in the middle of a battle, it would be his own precious life on the line. There was no room for even the slightest carelessness.