No one was particularly surprised by Muguruma Kensei's performance. After all, he had already achieved Shikai, giving him a huge advantage. In the audience's eyes, he was now a seeded contestant—just like Kuchiki Sōjun—likely to reach the finals.
Next up were Kobane Jin'emon and Iba Jirō.
"Yo, I finally get to fight you. I've been looking forward to this for a long time," Iba Jirō said, slinging his Zanpakutō over his shoulder with a wild, unruly aura.
"Looks like we're the same type," Kobane Jin'emon replied as he unsheathed his Zanpakutō. "Come then—Kobane Jin'emon. Let's have a good match!"
"Iba Jirō, stepping in!" Iba charged forward at full speed, slashing his blade toward Kobane Jin'emon.
Clang! Kobane raised his blade to block and immediately assessed that their Reiatsu was likely about the same.
Iba Jirō was going to be a tough opponent.
Kobane's excitement surged. His dream was to become a swordmaster like his teacher. He wasn't afraid of combat—he lived for evenly matched battles like this.
He knocked Iba's Zanpakutō aside and stepped forward, thrusting his sword.
Iba responded with a family sword technique, twisting his body and whipping his Zanpakutō forward with all his strength.
"Flying Dragon Sword!"
Kobane had no choice but to fire off a Shun Strike at the incoming blade.
Clang! The blade was knocked aside—but it was like Iba had already predicted the trajectory. In the next instant, he had already arrived at the landing point, catching his sword midair.
And without missing a beat, Iba flung the Zanpakutō at Kobane again.
This time, Kobane didn't try to block. He dodged to the side.
But Iba had already anticipated that, too. He used Shunpo to appear behind Kobane, caught the blade once more, and immediately thrust.
"Flying Dragon Return Slash!"
Kobane's face tensed. It felt like all his movements were being read. He was completely caught in Iba's rhythm.
He clenched his teeth, turned slightly, and brought his left arm up to take the hit.
The blade slashed across his arm—but just as Iba tried to shift into a horizontal cut, Kobane's biceps suddenly bulged, and the muscles of his forearm clamped down—trapping Iba's blade in place.
A flicker of surprise flashed in Iba's eyes. He quickly tried to pull the sword free—but it wouldn't budge. Kobane's grip was like a vice.
Unfazed by the pain, Kobane took the opportunity and swung his own blade at Iba with his free hand.
Iba was forced to raise his left arm to block.
Thud! Kobane's blade struck bone and stuck in Iba's shoulder.
If Kobane hadn't been facing sideways—making it harder to follow through—Iba's arm might've been severed.
Iba seized the moment and clamped his hand around Kobane's blade, preventing him from withdrawing it.
Now both men were injured—and both had wounded their left arms.
Locked in a strange stalemate, neither could gain the upper hand.
"How about we both back off?" Kobane offered.
"Sounds good!"
At that, they both pulled their swords back and jumped away.
"A man of honor!" Iba praised. If Kobane had tried to cheat during that disengagement, Iba would've lost.
"You too. A real man keeps his word!" Kobane grew even more fired up. He sheathed his sword. "Now I'll use my strongest technique. I only recently learned it, so I can't fully control the power—be careful!"
"Bring it on!" Iba laughed. "Let me see your strongest move!"
Kobane lowered his stance, muscles taut. His Reiatsu surged, focusing in his right arm, waist, and legs.
Then—he vanished.
Katori-ryu: Shunpo Iaido!
The next moment, he reappeared behind Iba.
Iba slowly turned his head and muttered, "So fast..."
Thwack! A cloud of blood exploded from his abdomen, and his body crumpled to the ground.
Kobane's stance wavered, but he stabbed his Zanpakutō into the ground to keep from falling.
He looked down—there was a sword lodged in his own abdomen, blood dripping down the blade.
"Your sword... was fast too..."
Iba could no longer stand.
In the end, Kobane Jin'emon narrowly claimed victory.
"Kobane Jin'emon wins!" Katori Nanatsuki announced as four Fourth Squad medics rushed over to carry the two off.
Class 2 had won another match—surprising the audience once more.
Kyōraku Shunsui sighed. "Not a single weakling among Katori's disciples, huh? Even the vice-captain's brother couldn't beat them!"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto requested Kotetsu Ayane for Kobane's previous test results. Upon reviewing them, he found:
"Kobane Jin'emon's last exam results were nothing special. He was eliminated during the prelims. For him to make it into the final four this time... quite the achievement."
"Kotetsu, I've heard this test is meant to determine the next Swordsmanship Department Head?"
"I see no need for further deliberation. Katori Nanatsuki's teaching speaks for itself. He should take the position."
Kotetsu Ayane smiled faintly. "Wise as always, Head Captain. I was thinking the same. There's no better candidate."
And with that, Yamamoto's word settled it. No one dared object—he was the founder of the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, after all.
Those in the know couldn't help but glance toward Tsunayashiro Tokinada and the vice principal of the Tsunayashiro family.
Both wore dark expressions, as if they'd swallowed a fly.
They had shot themselves in the foot.
Their plan had been to have Class 1 dominate the top eight, showcasing their power to the Head Captain—paving the way for Tokinada to become department head.
But in reality, only four Class 1 students had made the quarterfinals—two of whom had already been eliminated.
Now, the Class 1 elites were nothing more than stepping stones for Katori Nanatsuki's disciples.
The tournament wasn't even over, but the Swordsmanship Department Head position had already been locked in by Yamamoto himself.
The Tsunayashiro family's scheme had failed.