Journey, Will

A few days later, when his two disciples, Itachi and Haku, returned from their mission, Shuichi told them about his upcoming journey and asked them to look after the house for the time being.

Hong had already prepared his travel gear in advance.

On a sunny afternoon, he quietly packed his bags and left Konoha.

The first leg of the journey is planned to be westward, to visit the small country between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.

Then they traveled from west to east, traversing the Land of Earth, the sea, and the Land of Lightning, making a large detour back to Konoha.

He had previously inquired with Itachi about the contents of the Uchiha clan's library, and along the way, he visited every historical site he came across.

Many of these were once glorious ninja clans and forces, but now, a century later, only ruins remain.

After careful examination, one can vaguely sense the local customs and traditions of the past.

He also didn't forget to help Hong collect various fresh flowers; he would carefully preserve them in pre-prepared containers, packing them up along with the soil to take with him.

Go back and analyze its composition, then try transplanting it into your own garden.

As Hong's belly grows bigger, Amaterasu will be a beneficial physical activity.

After traveling at various stops for over a month, even though he was alone, Shuichi didn't find it particularly boring.

Whenever he passed through a city, he would head straight to the liveliest place. With plenty of money, he could eat and drink to his heart's content, chat with the locals, and hear about new and interesting things. The days passed by very quickly.

When I'm relaxed, I sometimes find my thinking clearer and my efficiency higher than when I'm studying Fuinjutsu.

Nothing major has happened in Konoha lately, so even if Tailed Beast were to go berserk, Kotaro could call it back in time...

Two-thirds of the journey has passed, and it is the hottest season of the year. Shuichi has come to the Land of Land of Iron with a large number of samurai, for the second time.

It's cool and comfortable here now, and the view from the top of the melting snow-capped mountain is quite unique.

The country responsible for organizing the Kage Summit is covered in ice and snow for most of the year. It is said that the samurai specifically chose to live in this icy environment to hone their willpower.

Whether the appearance of ninjas caused them to lose their living space, Shuichi didn't know, and it was not appropriate to speculate, especially since he was now visiting someone else's territory.

"The Daimyo Purple Aurora has graced our barren land with its presence; I am truly honored..."

On the top floor of the main building of the Land of Iron, the leaders Mifune and Shuichi, while the waiter serving tea was also dressed as a samurai, which looked somewhat incongruous.

Shuichi politely offered the tea, took a small sip, and found the taste to be... extremely bitter!

"Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality," Mifune added politely, noticing that his expression remained unchanged after drinking the tea.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I have great respect for the samurai who have persevered in their rigorous training for so many years," Shuichi said, glancing at the soldiers clad in heavy armor.

"Thank you for your recognition, esteemed guest." Mifune's expression remained unchanged as he calmly continued, "In fact, many people give up every year, believing that this kind of training method is utterly foolish."

In reality, the pure samurai class is facing a severe shortage of successors. If they were to truly abandon chakra, they would certainly lose all ability to contend with ninjas. I apologize for making this a laughingstock of you."

They're already using chakra, yet they don't learn any Ninjutsu; instead, they train their willpower according to tradition. It all seems a bit pretentious.

At the same time, it is completely outclassed by ninjas in terms of applicability. If one fails with a single strike, one will be taught a lesson by Ninjutsu and ninja tools.

"I've come to visit today because I want to witness swordsmanship imbued with a strong will," Shuichi said directly.

After thinking it over, he felt he could be more candid. "To be precise, it's about the connection between personal will and Natural Energy; I hope to gain some inspiration."

Like the Chiriku of the Temple of Fire, who can utilize the talents of the Sage Race, Mifune's Iaido Slash, which is incredibly powerful, he suspects that besides Sage Mode, there are other methods to utilize Natural Energy.

According to ancient records, even in an era without chakra, there seemed to exist masters comparable to powerful ninjas, whom samurai called sword saints.

However, one can imagine how difficult it is to reach such a level, and it is understandable that one would be gradually eliminated by ninjas.

"I see..." Mifune pondered for a moment, deciding that befriending Purple Aurora would be beneficial to the Land of Iron, and therefore planned to cooperate and let them experience it.

"Regarding this level of mastery, our ancestors did not leave detailed records of cultivation; many things remained unwritten. This is one of the reasons why samurai gradually became less effective against ninjas. I can only demonstrate it to the best of my ability. Distinguished guest, please follow me..."

Shuichi and Mifune went to the dojo where the samurai were training, and soon stood facing each other with their swords drawn.

Mifune calmed his breathing, gripping the scabbard tightly with one hand and the hilt with the other, lowering his center of gravity. "Watch out!"

He knew he was quite strong, but there were countless legends about the Purple Aurora in the outside world. He was definitely a man standing at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World. If he was on guard, it would be impossible for him to kill him with a single strike. This strike would unleash most of his strength.

Swish!

Mifune charged forward like lightning, drawing his Katana and unleashing a crescent-shaped slash at a speed almost invisible.

Iaido Slash!

During the standoff, Shuichi was extremely focused, observing the convergence of Natural Energy near Mifune, and clearly sensed "points of light" flowing around him.

"I see. It's very similar to the initial stage of becoming a semi-immortal, not absorbing Natural Energy into the body, but guiding the formation of an invisible shield with one's own realm..."

Shuichi also struck instantly before the attack arrived, without using any other methods. The two identical swords crossed, and only a soft clang was heard.

Upon closer inspection, the weapon in his hand was broken in two, with an extremely smooth cut, while Mifune's weapon was almost undamaged.

"This realm is called the Heaven and Man as One." Mifune sheathed his sword and stood up. "It is said that there are even higher realms, but in the current circumstances, I'm afraid there will never be another chance to see them."

Looking at the unharmed Shuichi, he sighed helplessly, "I am nearly sixty years old myself. I have never been without my sword since I was a child. I suffered a crushing defeat in my youth, and then spent nearly twenty years in arduous training before I finally achieved this. It is understandable that fewer and fewer people are practicing this path."

Shuichi was already satisfied with the insights he had gained, and didn't want to say anything to discourage him further.

Samurai are professional soldiers who are completely off-duty, and chakra will continue to influence all aspects of technology, medicine, and production in a future peaceful era.

Ninjas can easily transition to a more expansive career path, while samurai will likely face even greater challenges.

Shuichi has a new understanding of why the First Hokage is widely regarded as the God of Shinobi.

Besides its unparalleled strength, it also pioneered the "One Country, One Village" model.

By uniting the elite forces of ninjas, they could further squeeze the living space of professions such as samurai.

People who provide more food for everyone... how could they not be hailed as gods? That's just the reality of humanity.