National Tournament

China, Macau.

Under the leadership of Saeki Muneyoshi, the Japan Team finally concluded most of the round-robin tournament in Asia.

Compared to other expeditions, this points tournament had a more intensive schedule. In just one month, Muneyoshi and his team visited South Korea, Siam, the Republic of Summer Pipes, Aragornoma, Turkey, and Taiwan.

All of the points-based matches against Türkiye and Taiwan were held in Macau, China.

That's why they're still here.

"Captain! Shall we head to the airport now?"

Seeing that Saeki Muneyoshi had packed his luggage, the exhausted team members all wanted to go back and get a good night's sleep.

"Yes, I know everyone is exhausted, and I am too. But the expedition is over, and everyone can go back and get some rest."

Although the expeditionary force was not strong, it was the first time Muneyoshi had led a team, and he was leading a group of teammates from the Second Army.

Muneyoshi was genuinely happy that it could end perfectly.

"I suspect that Saeki -kun's rush back is not just for that reason, is it?"

The group of people who had finished packing their luggage also gathered around. Irie, seeing the urgency in Muneyoshi's eyes, instantly pointed out Muneyoshi's true thoughts:

"Saeki -kun, if I'm not mistaken, the National Tournament in Japan should have started by now, right? Are you in a hurry to get back to participate in this tournament?"

"As expected of Irie- senpai, nothing escapes your eyes!"

Having his true thoughts exposed, Muneyoshi didn't hide anything and said directly:

"My school's Fudomine team has already completed the national draw, and the National Tournament is about to begin. As the captain of Fudomine, I've already missed the draw ceremony, so naturally I can't miss the tournament;

I must rush back and fight alongside them!

National? Competition? Fudomine? Minister?

Saeki Muneyoshi's words were like a thunderclap, tearing a hole in the hearts of these team members.

Only then did they realize that the powerful leader who had led them through countless battles was actually just a middle school student.

The maturity and strength that Saeki Muneyoshi has always displayed make him seem nothing like a middle school student.

"That's true. After spending so much time together, I've almost forgotten that Saeki was still a middle school student..."

Hirazeni and the Fuwa the Iron Man beside him exchanged a glance, both recognizing the bitter smile in each other's eyes.

With a Demon King like Saeki Muneyoshi around, life is tough for middle school students.

The two seemed to be of one mind, both thinking of the same thing at the same time.

However, compared to the Fuwa the Iron Man, Hirazeni is going to have a hard time.

Makino Fuji declined, and after Fuwa the Iron Man left, he had no ambitions. However, Shitenhoji is on the rise, and this year they qualified for the national championship as the Kansai champion.

"I just hope Shiraishi and the others can hold on. Luckily, I graduated early, otherwise I would have run into such a Demon King too..."

At this moment, Hirazeni felt a surge of schadenfreude, but it vanished in an instant because he thought of himself.

Byōdōin completely ruled the entire country and the Kansai region for two years.

He wasn't actually any better off than Shiraishi and the others...

They remained silent the entire way.

Since Rikkai Dai was the champion of the previous tournament, this year's National Tournament will be held in the Kanto region.

Furthermore, the four cities of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama were previously divided into four host cities by lottery, with Chiba ultimately winning the hosting rights and also recommending Rokkaku Middle School to enter the National Tournament.

While Muneyoshi and the rest of Japan Team were still on the plane to Tokyo, the opening ceremony of the National Tournament officially began.

All teams that qualified for this National Tournament entered the venue in an orderly fashion and stood in their respective lines in the center of the field.

The stands were already packed; every National Tournament attracts a large number of tennis enthusiasts to watch the games.

Moreover, this year's competition was finally held back in the Kanto region. Although it wasn't in Tokyo, Chiba is still a very beautiful city.

Kurikawa Park Gardens.

After all the teams had entered and lined up in neat formations, a middle-aged man in a suit began to deliver his opening speech.

This kind of empty, bureaucratic tone is naturally disliked by most people, except for the coaches standing at the front and the school leaders.

Most of the contestants scanned the surrounding teams with their eyes, matching themselves to the corresponding individuals based on the collected information.

Tezuka Kunimitsu, Sanada Genichirou, Atobe Keigo Akutsu Jin, Saeki Kojiro, and others immediately turned their gazes toward Fudomine's location.

The teams' positions were arranged according to their historical performance in the previous tournament. Since Fudomine was participating in the National Tournament for the first time, they were placed on the far left.

Through the crowd, they immediately spotted the leader of the Fudomine team, Tachibana Kippei!

Following the Tachibana Kippei path downwards, you'll find Keith.

"Why isn't Saeki Muneyoshi here?"

Everyone was taken aback, as they couldn't find Saeki Muneyoshi in Fudomine's group.

Furthermore, according to normal procedures, as the head of Fudomine, Saeki Muneyoshi should have attended such an important occasion as the opening ceremony of the National Tournament.

What's going on?

Among these people, Atobe's expression changed, and he was the first to think of a possibility.

Then, as if remembering something, Saeki Kojiro withdrew his gaze.

They were all aware of Saeki Muneyoshi's other identity.

As many people shifted their attention away from Fudomine, they began to scrutinize their other opponents.

"Hey, I heard that Rikkai Dai's captain, Yukimura Seiichi, had major surgery and is still recovering. He definitely won't be able to make it to the first and second rounds."

"If someone runs into Rikkai Dai early on and eliminates them, that'll be a real problem."

"I heard that Rikkai Dai was defeated during the Kanto Tournament, and it was a school I'd never heard of."

"Is it called Fudomine?"

"It's that group of the Black Legion."

"So it's them... Looks like they're another dark horse like last year's Seigaku?"

The contestants from each school were exchanging information they knew, and then their gazes turned to another school whose uniforms were predominantly purple with white stripes.

"There are many dark horses this year. Even Shishigaku Junior High, which has dominated the Kyushu region for so many years, has been dethroned by an unknown school."

"They're from Higa Junior High, and all their team members are second-year students."

I heard their minister's nickname is "Assassin"!

"Assassin Kite Eishiro!"

Just as the contestants from each school had finished exchanging information, the middle-aged man on stage finished reading his speech.

With a radiant glow on his face and still brimming with enthusiasm, he addressed all the participating teams below. "Now, I declare the National Tournament officially open!"

Afterwards, each school left and went to their respective competition venues.

Sanada and Tezuka wanted to ask Tachibana Kippei Muneyoshi why he hadn't come, but when they left the venue, Fudomine's team had already disappeared.

"Oh well, Sanada, we'll run into Fudomine sooner or later anyway, and Saeki Muneyoshi will definitely show up then."

Yanagi Renji deep voice.

"Tezuka, let's go too. Saeki Muneyoshi definitely won't miss the official matches."

Tezuka glanced in the direction Tachibana Kippei had left. "You're right, let's go!"

P. S.: "I won't pad the word count for these weaker teams on the expedition; I'll only write about one. The others will be covered in the script. Now I'll start writing about the National Tournament, and the pace for National Tournament will speed things up."