He didn't know close combat.
He didn't know sword techniques.
There was no way he could tell Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi that he knew Sword Control or Qigong; that would be far too strange... Thinking this, Kobayashi Itsuki suddenly paused.
Wait, why not?
Since time travel already happened, what's wrong with him knowing a bit of Qigong from practicing Martial arts?
Thinking of this, Kobayashi Itsuki calmly nodded and said.
"No problem, but the martial arts I practice come from Indian, which is your current Ancient martial arts."
Hearing this, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi immediately grew solemn with respect, bowed, cupped his hands, and saluted Kobayashi Itsuki.
"Please grant me instruction."
Kobayashi Itsuki stood before Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi with his hands clasped behind his back and said calmly, "What I practice is called Dragon Claw Hand. Be careful."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's gaze sharpened. Leaving aside everything else, the mere fact that Kobayashi Itsuki practiced a martial art from Ancient martial arts was enough to make him take the spar seriously.
During this period, Japan, although not a vassal state, was a Tributary State and paid tribute every year.
Compared to the behemoth that was Ancient martial arts, Japan was truly just a small, weak, and insignificant piece of land.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi and Kobayashi Itsuki stood ready in the courtyard, one on the left and one on the right.
The Nohara Family and Ohara Nanako all stepped back, giving the two men enough space to spar.
As their eyes met, a solemn atmosphere began to spread between the two men.
"Clang!"
Just as this atmosphere reached its peak, a clear, sharp sound of a sword ringing suddenly echoed.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi gripped the hilt with his right hand and pressed down with his thumb.
The long sword popped out, poised but not yet drawn.
Gripping the long sword, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi dashed toward Kobayashi Itsuki.
Due to long-term training, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's speed was extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed several meters and arrived in front of Kobayashi Itsuki.
At the same time, the long sword in his hand suddenly erupted, instantly drawing out against the scabbard.
Iaidō Slash!
This was a technique practiced by almost all Samurai.
Since this was only a spar, and he wasn't entirely sure of Kobayashi Itsuki's true strength, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi held back some of his power and wasn't going all out.
However, just as the long sword in Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's hand was about to strike.
Kobayashi Itsuki's expression remained calm. Facing the fierce blade, he performed only one simple movement.
That was extending his right hand, grabbing towards Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi as if it were a dragon's claw.
Seeing this, whether it was the Nohara Family watching from the side, Ohara Nanako, or the sword-wielding Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi.
They all instinctively felt a shock in their hearts.
"Teacher Kobayashi!"
Ohara Nanako cried out in alarm, suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with uncontrollable worry.
However, just as everyone was astonished, and Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi was already considering withdrawing his strength and pulling back his sword to avoid injuring Kobayashi Itsuki.
The next second.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's figure froze.
It wasn't that he didn't want to move; it was that the long sword in his hand was tightly gripped by an unseen force!
He couldn't move!
"This..."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's pupils contracted. Looking at Kobayashi Itsuki's action of grasping thin air, his heart was filled with dread.
Although Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi had already taken this spar very seriously and solemnly due to the powerful empire across the sea.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi never expected that the martial arts practiced by the young man before him would be so potent.
It could even stop the long sword in his hand from a distance.
"There's no need to hold back. Attack boldly."
Kobayashi Itsuki slowly released his grip, and Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi could feel the force restraining the long sword in his hand loosen as well.
"I understand."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi nodded, looking at Kobayashi Itsuki and nodding seriously.
The two men spoke back and forth, but they left the onlookers stunned.
"Misae, did we miss something just now?"
Nohara Hiroshi looked at the two and muttered, his expression confused.
"I'm not sure either. I just saw Teacher Kobayashi reach out his hand, and the sword stopped."
Nohara Misae, holding Himawari-chan, was also full of confusion.
"Oh!!! Could it be! Teacher Kobayashi has Superpowers? Telekinesis?!"
Nohara Shinnosuke looked excitedly at Kobayashi Itsuki in the courtyard, his eyes sparkling.
Children are naturally full of interest in these things.
However, the reactions of the people beside them did not affect Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi and Kobayashi Itsuki.
After the probing just now, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi no longer had any reservations.
The method Kobayashi Itsuki possessed was unprecedented.
He naturally went all out.
If he were to hold back again, it would truly be disrespectful.
This time, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi had no more concerns.
Without hesitation, he swung his blade and charged towards Kobayashi Itsuki.
It was at this moment, when Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi became serious, that Kobayashi Itsuki clearly felt the killing intent emanating from this man who had fought on battlefields.
This kind of thing sounds a bit mystical.
Last time, when facing Hecson, Kobayashi Itsuki might have used a Elixir of Iron, relying on his invincibility, and didn't notice it at all, completely ignoring it.
But this time, without the defense of the Elixir of Iron, Kobayashi Itsuki deeply felt that sense of threat.
It was like a chill rising from his heels, somewhat similar to descriptions of encountering ghosts in novels.
However, the feeling was just a feeling; it didn't have much impact on Kobayashi Itsuki.
For others who hadn't experienced it, their legs might have gone weak at this moment.
Their movements would even be somewhat restricted.
But Kobayashi Itsuki wouldn't be like that, because he didn't need to move at all.
He only needed to manipulate the Invisible Hand, at most coordinating with some hand movements.
Just like now.
Watching Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi charge towards him, Kobayashi Itsuki casually waved his hand.
The Invisible Hand was extremely fast, almost flying out instantly with a single thought from Kobayashi Itsuki.
This was also why Kobayashi Itsuki was so calm in facing the challenge.
Otherwise, a samurai like Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi, who had trained for countless years, might truly catch someone off guard with a sudden burst of speed.
The Invisible Hand swept across the ground instantly, directly grabbing Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's ankle.
The invisible Invisible Hand once again caught Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi off guard.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi, who was just full of momentum, ungracefully fell directly to the ground in front of everyone.
"Are you alright?"
Kobayashi Itsuki stood aside and asked Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi.
"I'm fine."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi stood up, patted the dust off his body, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Again!"
As soon as his voice fell, he charged towards Kobayashi Itsuki again.
Kobayashi Itsuki still waved his hand, and Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi instinctively jumped up.