Early morning, a man came to meet Masanori.
The air was still, the smell of damp bamboo filling the yard.
Inside the hut, the boys were waking up one by one.
Kaede was fixing his belt, Benjiro yawning loudly, and the twins running around, still half-asleep.
Ryu muttered, "Why does the sun rise so early?"
Kenta was already ready, quiet and focused.
"I'll go ahead," he said, stepping out before the others.
By the time Kenta reached Masanori's house, the unknown man was just coming out.
He had finished speaking with Masanori and stopped when he saw Kenta.
Their eyes met — the man's stare was sharp, cold, and silent.
Kenta paused, feeling a strange tension in the air.
Then Masanori appeared at the doorway and looked between them.
With a faint smile, he said,
"They are the new buds of a coming revolution."
He gave a small laugh, but the unknown man showed no reaction.
His face stayed still as stone.
"Hm," he said shortly, and walked away down the path without another word.
Kenta turned toward Masanori, still curious.
"Sensei… who was that?"
Masanori watched the man's figure disappear into the mist.
"Someone from past ," he said softly.
Then he looked at Kenta and smiled faintly and said
" He reminds me of you , same eyes ", leave that it's already training time where are all your brothers bring them quick !
When all reached Masanori's house, something new was waiting for them
seven shinai, carefully placed on a long bench, each sized for the boy who would hold it.
Ryu's eyes widened. "Whoa… are those for us?"
Masanori nodded. "From today, your hands will learn what your hearts have already chosen — the path of the blade."
The boys stepped forward one by one, picking up the bamboo swords.
They are light yet sturdy, the four slats of bamboo split into thinner strips and bound together, forming a flexible, cylindrical practice sword Kaede with one breath explained.
"Don't think of it as a toy," Masanori said. "A shinai is more than wood. It teaches control, precision, and respect. Even flexible, it can hurt if you're careless.
Treat it as an extension of yourself."
Kuro's grip was steady. Kaede examined the balance carefully.
Benjiro swung his once and grinned. "Feels good."
Ryu raised his lazily. "I can already feel my muscles protesting."
Masanori smirked. "Then we'll make them protest louder."
He stepped forward and drew a line in the dirt with his staff.
"Form a line.
Today, we begin Kenjutsu — the art of the sword, using these shinai."
The morning echoed with the crack of bamboo meeting bamboo.
Each strike, each parry filled the air with rhythm and focus.
Masanori moved among them, correcting stances, adjusting grips.
"Kenta — loosen your shoulders."
"Kaede — use your eyes, not just your arms."
"Ryu — stop yawning mid-swing."
Hours passed. Sweat dripped, hands blistered, yet not one of them stopped.
Even the twins determined, kept swinging in perfect sync.
The boys wiped sweat from their brows, their hands still gripping the shinai, hearts pounding with excitement.
Masanori stepped in middle , his gaze sharp and calculating.
"Alright, knuckleheads," he said, twirling his own shinai which was twice the size then the kids holding in their hands .
"let's see how much you've actually learned today."
The boys exchanged glances, adrenaline surging. In a collective motion, they charged.
Kenta led the front, followed by Benjiro, Kaede, Ryu, and the twins moving in rhythm. The air buzzed with the crack of bamboo as they attacked in waves.
Masanori moved like water. Every swing was anticipated, every thrust met with the perfect block.
His large shinai cut arcs through the air, deflecting strikes with effortless precision.
Benjiro's sword jolted from his grip and it fell down after a powerful counter. He staggered back, blinking in shock.
Kenta's hands shook slightly as Masanori's strike brushed past; he didn't fall, but Masanori nodded approvingly.
"Good," Masanori said calmly. "Your grip held. That's progress."
But before Kenta could relax, Masanori reversed his strike with lightning speed. Kenta's shinai flew from his hands.
Ryu lunged next, attempting a sweeping strike. Masanori sidestepped, letting Ryu's blade glance harmlessly past him, then delivered a sharp blow to his back.
Ryu cried out, throwing the shinai aside.
Haruki and Fuyuki attacked together, moving like twin blades in sync.
Masanori blocked them both with a single arc of his shinai, the sound of wood clashing echoing through the clearing.
Kaede crouched slightly, eyes sharp. "It's my turn." With a swift movement, he snuck forward, attempting a silent strike.
Masanori's gaze flicked toward him.
"Full Moon Strike!" he called. The old master swung in a perfect circular arc, sending Kaede, Haruki, and Fuyuki tumbling to the ground in unison.
The boys groaned, sprawled across the dirt. Masanori laughed, the sound rich and teasing. "Ha ha ha ! All of you just got these swords a few hours ago, and already think you're masters? Hah!
Before anyone could react, Kuro appeared from nowhere, his movements fluid and silent. He lunged, striking at Masanori's side. Masanori blocked, eyes widening slightly.
"Good speed, Kuro," Masanori said, smiling. The two began a rapid exchange of strikes each block, each counter, executed with precise timing.
Suddenly, Kuro did fake strike, rolled beneath Masanori's guard, and struck him squarely in the back.
Masanori's shout of pain echoed through the clearing as he collapsed to the ground.
Kenta and Kaede stared, mouths open. Benjiro, Ryu, and the twins' eyes were wide. "Wow… Kuro's fast… and he fooled Sensei!"
Masanori groaned, lying on the ground, a pained smile on his face. "Indeed… a leopard slayer."
All took Masanori in the house .
Hana appeared quickly with a hot towel, massaging Masanori's back with practiced hands.
The boys watched silently as he was tended. Soon, the scent of lunch drifted from the house, and they all gathered around the table.
Hana chuckled softly. "Grandpa… you're acting like a child, staying with these kids."
Benjiro and Ryu immediately shouted in unison, "Kids? You're smaller than us!"
Hana smacked Masanori on the back in mock anger. "Shut up, kiddos! If you talk back, no extra bowl of rice for anyone!"
Benjiro and Ryu raised their hands quickly. "Sorry! Sorry!" in a helpless way .
Masanori winced as Hana gave another painful strike.
Laughter erupted around the table, the tension of training melting into warmth and camaraderie.