As time passed, the competition was about to begin. All the contestants were already in place. Sasuke sensed many eyes fixed on his side, so he swept his gaze across the arena. Several people were watching them. Finding it strange, Sasuke asked Tenbu Shinzo about it.
"They're all from prominent families, and they brought the most helpers with them. There are even ninja among them—probably Fire Style Ninja. They're watching us to gauge our strength. After all, I came with you this year. Since you stopped their samurai from attacking me last time, they've probably been reassessing my strength. But you're too young. They definitely won't think highly of your abilities," Tenbu Shinzo said.
"Interesting. It's just a contest of skill, yet they take it this seriously. It seems the title of Forging Master truly carries weight in the Land of Iron," Sasuke said with a smile.
"That's true. The Land of Iron treats Forging Masters as strategic reserves. Once war breaks out, the country provides every Forging Master with ample resources, and they devote themselves to producing weapons and armor. Their speed is beyond that of ordinary blacksmiths. This is also one of the competition's assessments. Normally, a Forging Master takes a long time to forge a weapon, because it is work that must be done with care. But the competition only gives us three days, so speed is required—especially the speed of hammering. That is the greatest test of a Forging Master's skill. That is why the tournament, held once every four years, attracts so many spectators. At the same time, the honor of becoming a Forging Master is not something just anyone can attain." Tenbu Shinzo's face was full of longing. From today onward, he would fight desperately for his dream—and his father's dream.
During the days