Final Trial

The following days continued with his sword training and cold bath, he spent two whole months to finally achieve his goals.

Inei woke up early in the morning, his picked up his blade, and went to the training grounds, he unsheathed his Katana and firmly held it using both his hands.

Inei swung his blade, and while doing so, he applied force to his right hand, pushing the blade, and pulled the blade with his left hand with the same amount of force.

Swish!

His blade cut through the air, producing a whistle. Tatsumi's vertical swing looked elegant and deadly at the same time.

He completed his thousand swing mark in under two hours and sheathed his blade.

Looking at his face, one would not think that he just completed such a task, for he did not break even a sweat.

He gazed at his hands.

'Finally, my lung capacity and stamina have greatly increased, I'm becoming stronger, I can feel it!'

He clenched his hands and loosened it multiple times, he cleared his mind of unnecessary thoughts before heading inside the house.

Inei slid the door, removed his shoes and entered the house, he walked towards the hall to meet Urokodaki.

Upon entering the hall, he saw the man meditating.

Urokodaki had already picked up his smell, his slowly stood up.

"Master, I am ready"

"Hm"

Looking into Inei's eyes, Urokodaki saw nothing but sheer determination, he nodded his head before gesturing Inei to follow him.

His Master lead him to a waterfall inside the forest, Inei glanced at Urokodaki to receive further instructions.

The former glanced at his student and pointed his finger at the waterfall.

"Next, you must become one with the water"

'What the fuck?'

Despite not understanding what Urokodaki meant, Inei dived from the cliff.

***

Like that a month passed by, Inei meditated, his mind tranquil as he sat under the waterfall on a boulder, his upper body naked.

He was not showing any difficulties in breathing, he was calm and composed, as if the waterfall wasn't even falling on him.

Urokodaki observed Tatsumi with satisfaction filled in his heart, however, his gaze soon darkened.

'It's time... I wish to not send him, but... his ambitions are too great, I cannot contain his desires'

The masked man sighed, he could only believe and trust Inei's skills now, there was nothing more he could do.

'It was easy for him to learn all 10 forms of the Water Breathing Technique, perhaps because of his talent, or something else I have no clue about....now all is left is the final trial'

"Inei! Get your clothes, it is time"

Saying that, Urokodaki departed leaving no trace.

Inei opened his eyes, he stood up, and jumped down from the boulder, he dried himself and put on his clothes before heading out.

Inei arrived in front of the house, Urokodaki silently walked into the forest, Inei followed behind him.

After a while, both of them stood before a big boulder, a rope was tied across its middle for some reason.

Urokodaki shifted his head and looked at Inei.

"This is your final trial, slice this boulder in half with your sword, and you can enter the final selection"

Inei nodded, not a single question emerging in his head. Urokodaki disappeared from his sight, Tatsumi focused on the boulder.

He unsheathed his blade, taking a stance. He drew in oxygen and stepped forward, he swung his blade down to slice the boulder in half.

Clang!

His blade slightly chipped off a small piece of the boulder, but failed to slice it up. The vibrations on his blade crept up to his entire body.

He tried again, and again, and again, and again, but it just didn't work, the task of slicing the boulder in half seemed almost impossible...

But Inei was persistent, he did not give up, rather than using the same method again, he tried different approaches, but all ended the same.

But, his blade did not chip even in the slightest, it appeared sharp and untouched even after several attempts.

And like that, Inei continued to try.

4 months passed in the blink of an eye.