The Path of the Sword: Takeda’s Rising’

Takeda stood on the arena stage for an entire day, unchallenged. His overwhelming strength had already won over the warriors of the Baiwu region. This respect came despite his restraint in previous matches, where he chose not to deal fatal blows. His power had clearly subdued the warriors of Baiwu.

"Is there no one left? Does no one dare to challenge Takeda?" the referee shouted from the stage.

The crowd below erupted in noise, but not a single person stepped forward. Takeda scanned the dense crowd from his elevated position. Moments passed, and still, no one ascended the stage. By dusk, Takeda descended and left the arena.

"Master, there are no worthy opponents for you here anymore," Yajuro said softly.

As a local of Baiwu, Yajuro understood the abilities of the region's warriors. After observing Takeda over time, he concluded that this young man's swordsmanship was unfathomable.

"It seems so," Takeda replied with a light sigh.

The intense duels over the past few days had significantly improved his skills, furthering his understanding of the principles of swordsmanship. His integration with Ryuma's legacy had reached a high level. In the realm of swordsmanship, Takeda felt he had become a living embodiment of Ryuma. Though his physical abilities might not yet match Ryuma's, his mastery of sword techniques and philosophy was nearly on par.

"How strong am I in the world now?" he wondered.

Walking through the streets, with Yajuro following closely, Takeda suddenly said, "I must leave this place."

"Where will you go, Master?" Yajuro asked, startled.

"Kuri," Takeda responded, uttering the name with determination, leaving Takeda stunned.

The two departed Baiwu early the next morning, heading toward Kuri. Along the way, they encountered various wild animals. Outside the human settlements of Wano Country, the wilderness was teeming with powerful creatures that posed significant threats to humans. Only strong warriors dared to traverse such landscapes.

The journey depleted their food supplies quickly, but Yajuro's expert swordsmanship allowed him to hunt beasts with ease.

"Master, this area is sparsely populated. We'll need some time to cross this open wilderness," Yajuro said with a smile.

They found themselves in a lush green grassland filled with vibrant wildlife of all sizes.

"Understood," Takeda replied, swallowing a bite of meat. After their meal, the two continued their journey.

On the third day, they suddenly halted.

"Master, look ahead!" Yajuro exclaimed, pointing forward.

A massive, dinosaur-like creature loomed in the distance, moving steadily toward them. On its back sat a burly, muscular samurai, cross-legged and exuding an imposing presence.

"It's Itō Tōsai!" Yajuro said, his pupils constricting in shock as he recognized the figure.

"Is he famous?" Takeda asked curiously.

The samurai sitting atop the beast was about 1.9 meters tall, his muscular torso exposed, a sword at his waist. His stern face and commanding aura exuded immense pressure.

"In Kuri, he is a well-known warrior," Yajuro explained quickly. "Itō is the third son of the Tomita family and a master of the Tomita school of swordsmanship. Though he originated from Baiwu, he made his name in Kuri."

"You know of Kuri's daimyo, Kozuki Oden, and his nine retainers, the Akazaya Nine, right? Itō defeated one of them—Ashura Dōji. However, he was later defeated by Kozuki Oden himself."

"Even so, he survived. In Kuri, he was once called the most dangerous man, even more fearsome than Ashura Dōji!" Yajuro's voice grew tense and serious.

To Yajuro, this man was an invincible opponent. Takeda, however, became intrigued by the mention of this formidable figure.

Though the name Itō Tōsai didn't appear in the original lore, Takeda knew that defeating someone like Ashura Dōji, who was later known as Shutenmaru, indicated extraordinary strength. Shutenmaru was powerful enough to injure one of Kaido's All-Stars, Jack, with a single strike.

"Itō Tōsai, huh?" Takeda murmured, his eyes gleaming with battle intent. A man like this was someone he couldn't pass up.

Kozuki Oden was like a towering mountain in Wano Country, and before Takeda could overcome that mountain, he needed to conquer smaller ones. Itō Tōsai was the mountain standing before him now.

"Show yourselves, little mice hiding over there!" Itō Tōsai suddenly called out, his voice echoing as his beast drew closer.

Simultaneously, a wave of immense pressure swept over them, causing Yajuro to stiffen slightly.