Ch 4: Duel

"Master, you've returned."

The moment they stepped inside the gates, two young children greeted them.

Nakashima found them familiar. Only when he got a clear view of them did he deduce their identity. The black-haired child was the young Giyu. The other child with the peach hair was Sabito. He had seen them in the animes so he could not be mistaken.

"I'm back." laughed Sakonji. "And I brought you a new buddy."

Sakonji spread his arms towards the direction of Nakashima. At that moment, the two kids noticed an unfamiliar person. They were a little surprised.

"Master, how old is he?" asked Sabito.

"He's 5."

"F-five?!" Even the nonchalant Giyu was startled. But what surprised Nakashima was that the current Giyu's inferiority complex was not that poor compared to the main story. He does have that thing but not to the point he found everything around him bland. He seemed didn't hate conversation, unlike the adult Giyu, thankfully.

"That young?"

Sabito could not help but look at Nakashima curiously.

"There's more surprise to come," said Sakonji. "You have to work hard else this boy would defeat you someday. He's still five and already mastered the first move. He's talented."

"First move?" Giyu bit his lips. He had been training under his master but had barely mastered it. He was already eight and this person in front of him was even younger. 'Do I even deserve to be his co-apprentice?'

Nakashima rubbed his nose seeing the two child's different expressions. He had to change the topic, so he turned his head. "They are my senior apprentice?"

"Indeed." Sakonji smiled.

Nakashima looked at them and took the initiative. He stepped forward and spread his palm open. "Hello, I'm Nakashima Tsuneo. I'll be in your care."

"I'm Sabito."

"I'm G-Giyu."

They shook hands one by one. And then Sakonji clapped his hands.

"Alright, it's almost evening. Why don't we have a little test."

"Test?" Nakashima wondered what is it.

"Yes. A Spar. So what do you think, you like it?" Sakonji laughed.

'A duel huh...' Nakashima looked at the two children. He could not help but wonder if they could win. In terms of water breathing, he was at the disadvantage. However, his strength lies in his combat strength. As a retired soldier who had experienced countless battles, he was already an experienced person.

But he could not be sure to win. Being confident is alright, but underestimating his enemies is not alright. The person he would duel with was Giyu or Sabito. Either of them was a master of sword, which he lacked since his previous life used guns as the primary weapon. This body was also so young and some movements he habitually did during his previous life could not be imitated. So the outcome of the battle was still undecided, though the odds were on his side.

"Let's do it! Spar!" Sabito's eyes were burning with eagerness.

Giyu: "..."

Nakashima thought for a moment before his mouth curved into a smile. His heart told him to agree with it, so he had to fight. This battle ought to be his first since arriving in this world.

***

Nakashima went to the center of the wide area. He looked silly since he was short and was still considered a toddler. The wooden sword on his hand was a little thin and light. He made this sword a year ago when he started learning water breathing method and had gotten used to it, so he brought it along.

He turned his head to his opponent. Sabito was stretching his body while he held a similar wooden sword but much thicker.

Sakonji and Giyu stood outside the area of the battlefield. Sakonji waited for a minute before he called.

"Battle start!"

At that instance, Sabito dashed forward. He bent a little lower and slashed his sword vertically. Nakashima had seen every moment and stepped one step backward.

The sword missed.

"Not bad."

Sabito felt a little surprised but still did not stop. He went a little harder on each of his attacks. But whichever he attacked, his opponent evaded them with ease.

Sabito furrowed his eyebrows. He leaped a distance away from his opponent.

"Are you really a kid?"

"I'm five years old." Nakashima did not mean that. Logically speaking, he was already over eighty years old if he had to count his previous age.

"Unbelievable..." Sabito could not help but to give out a sigh of admiration. When he faced his opponent, it was as if he was fighting his teacher instead. He wondered how could Nakashima predict the course of his action. Is his battle perception that high? If it is, this kid is a monster.

Though he had this thought, he did not allow it to cloud his vision. Sabito took a deep breath and darted forward.

"Here it goes." Nakashima's eyes turned solemn.

Sabito gripped his sword and sword essence started forming around it.

Total concentration.

Water breathing!

"First form...Ichi no kata!"

Slash.

A dazzling water essence swirled around the sword. It was captivating but the power behind it was destructive. Nakashima barely evaded. Yet, at that moment, he felt a gush of wind behind him.

"Got you." Sabito smiled.

But before the sword could connect to Nakashima's blindspot, his opponent seemed to have a pair of hidden eyes as he immediately swang his sword backward.

Clang!

The two swords collided.

That collision caused Sabito to lose his balance. Before he could react, a sword was already pointed at his neck.

"You've lost."

Nakashima stared at him. He had not expected to win this easily. But as he thought about it, he realized Sabito was not that experience in terms of battle, probably has to do with his age.

"I...lost."

Sabito could only accept the outcome. He knew he had messed up. If he had not gone for his opponent's back and proceeded to unleash two consecutive sword breathing methods, he could have won that match. He was too impatient, and he could only blame himself for it.

"That was a good match." Nakashima pulled his hand towards Sabito. The latter laughed and held it.

"Indeed...That was a good match."