Hanabi was determined.
Koshiro could only smile bitterly. He didn't argue, as one does not provoke people from the Holy Empire.
Then, let them battle.
He also wanted to know the strength of the other girls in the Holy Empire, besides the unscientifically strong Hinata.
If the 14- or 15-year-old girl before him was also this powerful, he could rest easy leaving Kuina to be trained by the Empire.
He had no reason to stop his daughter from becoming stronger.
"Damn it, that woman is even crazier than I am. It's decided, she's my second target to defeat..."
Little Zoro was still immersed in the previous scene, unable to stand such descriptions.
Kuina was speechless.
You can't even beat me, yet you've chosen someone who can fight my father as a target.
"Hey, that squinty-eyed guy, is he actually any good?"
Zoro looked up at Kuina, who was significantly taller than him.
Kuina said plainly, "Now that you've joined my father's dojo, you must learn manners. Use honorifics, understand?"
As she spoke, Kuina was also somewhat worried.
She had never seen Koshiro truly go all out, and she assumed he wasn't much stronger than her, but she had heard too many legends about the Holy Empire.
The children there were all monsters.
Especially Hinata Hyuga.
"That girl, who seven years ago was only two years older than I am now, stands at the top of the world."
"How can one not admire her?"
The 13-year-old Hinata had shaken the world. At 11, Kuina did not feel discouraged; instead, she chose to strive forward.
Hinata was her idol!
I will work hard to stand before her.
BOOM!
The next moment, a roar echoed. The children of the Ishin Dojo covered their ears, looking forward in shock.
"Can a human be this strong!"
Little Zoro's eyes widened, his soul receiving an unprecedented shock.
Kuina was also dazed. "So... is the world really this big?"
All the children were standing on a small hilltop watching the battle below. This was Koshiro's specific request to avoid accidental injuries.
They didn't understand before, but they understood now.
Below, the ground was tearing apart piece by piece, wild winds swept through, and the earth vibrated constantly.
To children like Zoro, this scene was no different from heaven and earth collapsing—an apocalyptic disaster.
However, this was only at the level of an elite or top-tier swordsman, not yet reaching the level of a world-class Great Swordsman.
"This strength is good!"
Hanabi Hyuga was excited. Top-tier swordsman level was exactly the strength the 15-year-old Hanabi could currently match.
"Although my strength cannot compare to my sister's, I won't fall too far behind."
As the words fell, Hanabi Hyuga struck out again with a palm.
"Blazing Flower Palm!"
Hanabi's spiritual power exploded as she pushed her palm forward. A massive palm of spiritual energy appeared, burning with blue flames.
"What a child."
Watching the news or live broadcasts could never compare to experiencing it personally. Hanabi's age and strength made Koshiro sigh with emotion, but he had a question:
Who was the sister she mentioned?
"Shimotsuki Slash!"
With the Wado Ichimonji in hand, Koshiro slashed through the air, creating a massive flying slash shaped like a crescent moon.
TEAR!
The Blazing Flower Palm was ripped open directly, but what surprised Koshiro was that the force of the palm did not dissipate.
Instead, it split into two and continued to attack, making Koshiro feel a terrifying temperature.
"Shimotsuki Continuous Slash!"
Koshiro slashed over a dozen times in rapid succession, one slash after another leaping out like a sword net.
"Still there?"
Seeing the palm force turn into fragments that attacked even faster, Koshiro's expression sharpened, and he shouted loudly.
"Sword Pressure!"
Hmm?
Sword pressure?
Hanabi was stunned as she saw the flaming fragments of the palm shattered by a strange aura that felt like a repulsive force.
"Watch out!"
Before Hanabi could recover, Koshiro rushed forward, his eyes incredibly sharp.
BOOM!
A special aura enveloped the entire field, making the scalps of Zoro and the others on the hilltop tingle.
"Absolute, overwhelming fear!"
Zoro could feel the atmosphere.
"One Sword Style: Great Dragon Shock!"
The rushing Koshiro held his sword with both hands and slashed down fiercely at Hanabi.
This was a powerful presence that would leave an opponent unable to move, belonging to a swordsman's special spiritual will.
"Hanabi Style: Rotation!"
Koshiro's so-called aura did not affect Hanabi.
At the moment of Koshiro's attack, Hanabi released a massive amount of spiritual power, spinning like a top in a circular motion, creating an energy spiral.
Sizzle—BOOM!
The sword struck the Rotation, and Koshiro felt a powerful repulsive force that knocked him back.
That slash was also deflected, flying backward. Under the shocked gazes of Zoro and the others, a small hill in front of them was split clean in half!
"Multiple Heilig Pfeil!"
As Koshiro was knocked back, Hanabi ended the Rotation and raised her hand, firing dozens of laser-like arrows.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Koshiro retreated in alarm, swinging his sword repeatedly to block, parrying Hanabi's arrows one by one.
"Multiple Heilig Pfeil!"
Hanabi attacked again, essentially becoming a grand mage, continuously releasing arrows from a distance.
She gave Koshiro no chance to counterattack, but Koshiro decisively gave up on blocking and rapidly left his original position.
Clang!
While moving, the Wado Ichimonji was suddenly sheathed.
The moment Koshiro stopped, he drew his sword instantly.
"One Sword Style: Iai Slash!"
In the blink of an eye, Hanabi didn't even see a flash of light. Koshiro and Hanabi passed each other.
The two were separated by dozens of meters!
It was as if everything had frozen.
Clang!
Koshiro sheathed his sword once more.
Little Zoro watched in a daze, murmuring, "Teacher, I want to learn that! No, I want to learn the move before that too!"
Kuina had dark lines on her face. Learn how to hold a sword first.
"Are we done?"
Koshiro stood tall, returning to his smiling appearance.
He was certain that strike had hit Hanabi. If not treated in time, it could be fatal.
"I should be the one asking that."
To Koshiro's shock, before Hanabi's voice even faded, she dissolved into spiritual particles and vanished.
"...A clone? Since when!"
Koshiro couldn't help but smile bitterly. Having not fought for years, he had been so careless.
"Since the moment I deactivated the Rotation!"
A voice echoed in the valley as Hanabi's true self calmly stepped out from the shadows.
"Warm-up is over. Let's continue!"
Warm-up?!
Zoro and Kuina lost their voices again.
the battle between the two had opened a new world for these children who only swung bamboo swords.
In the future, they also wanted to be that strong. No, they would surpass it!
On the sea a few miles away from Shimotsuki Village, Lucian and Mikoto were watching.
Mikoto smiled. "After being listless at sea for over ten days, little Hanabi finally has some spirit."
"It can only be said that the sea is too boring."
Lucian was also experiencing for the first time what normal sailing was like for ordinary people; it was truly tedious to the extreme.
Nothing but ocean.
One could only move around on the ship.
Lucian was fine, as he often went into seclusion for years, but Hanabi was at her most active and restless age.
However, sailing had its merits; it could temper a person's patience because being in a hurry was useless.
"Let's see this surprise."
Lucian slightly raised his hand, and the power of space enveloped Shimotsuki Village.
Hum!
In an instant, Kuina felt the surrounding scene change rapidly. Falling onto the ship, she felt a sense of dizziness and confusion.
"Where are the people?"
Zoro and the other children looked around in confusion. Where was Kuina?
After looking for a while, Zoro shouted, "Teacher, Kuina was snatched away by a monster!"
Koshiro stumbled and almost fell, and Hanabi's eyelid twitched.
Can this brat watch his mouth?
Hanabi said casually, "Be proud. Your daughter should be with His Majesty."
"His Majesty?"
Koshiro's heart shook violently.
Compared to Kuina being suddenly taken by the Four Elders or the Shogun of Japan, this shocked Koshiro dozens of times more.
"This girl."
Mikoto looked at the 11-year-old Kuina and said softly, "A surprise... is it her talent in the way of the sword?"
Lucian nodded. "From what is currently known, her talent in the way of the sword is indeed quite good."
Regardless of whether she was capable or not, Lucian would make her capable.
As for how to train a young girl, Lucian had plenty of experience and insight.
"Zoro."
Lucian glanced at Zoro back in Shimotsuki Village and retracted his gaze.
He admired the Zoro from the original story—a real man, no explanation needed.
But a real man also needs a growth process. Different experiences lead to different character traits.
"...You, you are?"
Kuina started to speak but immediately changed to honorifics. The woman before her was gentle and beautiful, like a sister next door, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
But the man beside her...
Just looking at him calmly gave her an unprecedented pressure, far stronger than her father's aura just now.
Hum!
The next moment, the pressure doubled!
Kuina's body arched slightly, and fine sweat appeared on her forehead.
It doubled again.
Thud!
Kuina knelt on one knee, her eyes full of shock, but her resolve became even firmer.
She seemed to understand.
This was a test.
Hum!
It doubled again!
"I... can hold on!"
Kuina spoke with a refusal to lose. Her body curled up, desperately trying to straighten.
Hum!
It doubled again.
Thud!
Kuina collapsed onto the floor in a mess, her face pale, feeling as if her heart was about to stop.
"Can you look up?"
Lucian had his own methods for training. Normally, he would beat them within an inch of their lives, but today he showed restraint.
Mikoto: "..."
Is His Majesty exceptionally gentle today?
She remembered that with Kushina, he started by beating her half to death.
Only through growth could one see His Majesty's gentleness.
Those who failed halfway were told goodbye.
Because Lucian did not like useless beauties.
"I... can!"
Kuina struggled to lift her head.
"Mhm."
Lucian said nothing more.
The pressure doubled again.
Thud.
Kuina completely fainted.
Two days later.
Koshiro, covered in bandages, stared wide-eyed as Kuina used a spiritual sword to split a two-meter stretch of the sea. He felt his worldview collapsing.
"How is that possible?!"
Koshiro was dazed.
Little Zoro was even more shocked.
A two-meter slash was small, but two days ago, Kuina probably couldn't even split a rock.
This growth speed?
Lucian hadn't given Kuina any cheats; he had only unlocked her spiritual power system.
He also required that besides learning basic skills, she only needed to practice her sword.
One must not waste talent.
Kuina retracted her spirit blade and looked at Koshiro.
"Father, your daughter bids you farewell."
Would you like me to translate the next chapter as well?
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