Swordsman Isshin

"Excuse me, everyone. May I ask you something?"

"Who's the strongest fighter in Forging Town?"

Everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway in unison.

Against the light, all they could make out was the unusually tall, broad-shouldered figure of a man. Nearly two meters tall, with a thick back and wide shoulders, he looked like an iron tower, making people instinctively think he was a weather-beaten, burly brute.

But when he stepped fully inside and the dim yellow light fell across his face, many people looked stunned.

His face was unexpectedly young, still carrying traces of childishness. He looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, and the contrast with his astonishingly powerful physique was striking.

"Hahahahaha!"

After a brief moment of surprise, even louder laughter erupted through the tavern.

A blacksmith with a flushed face and arms thicker than most people's thighs slapped the table and boomed, "Do you even have to ask? It's Arakawa Keitoku from the Arakawa Dojo in the west of town, of course! Who else would it be, me?"

His words drew more laughter and the clinking of cups.

When the laughter subsided, another man, who looked like a wandering samurai, stroked the short beard on his chin and gave the robust youth in the doorway an amused once-over. "What is it, kid? You've got a fine build. Are you hoping to apprentice yourself to the Arakawa Dojo?"

Without waiting for an answer, he shook his head and went on, "You picked a bad time. The Arakawa Dojo only takes new disciples every year at the start of spring, when the snow melts, and there are only a limited number of spots. So, for now..." He took a sip of his drink. "You'll have to wait a few months."

Amid the crowd's teasing and curious stares, the tall youth acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. His eyes merely lit up a little, as though he'd found the exact target he was looking for, and his eagerness to test himself grew more pronounced.

He nodded. His voice was still clear, but now it carried a sharper sense of purpose.

"Arakawa Dojo. Arakawa Keitoku... I'll remember that."

He paused, glancing around at the people still laughing. The corners of his mouth seemed to lift as he uttered a sentence that brought the laughter to an abrupt halt.

"But I'm not here to become his student."

"I'm here to spar with him."

"Oh, right. My name is Isshin!"

The youth who called himself "Isshin" raised his chin slightly. His calm, sharp eyes seemed out of place on his youthful face as they slowly swept over everyone in the room. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unmistakable, resolute force that left no room for doubt, etching itself clearly into everyone's ears.

"Soon, you—and this entire country—will remember this name."

When he finished speaking, he didn't linger. He turned and pushed open the door, his tall figure disappearing into the deepening dusk and cold wind outside, leaving the stunned crowd behind.

Name: Isshin (Higashino Shinichi)

Occupation: Swordsman

Traits: Genius (Blue), Spiritual Sense (Green), Big Eater (Green), Quick Wit (Green), Diligence Compensates (Green), Natural Strength (Green), Thick Skin (Green), Swift as a Hare (Green), Sword Proficiency (Green)

The youth named "Isshin" was, of course, an independent clone created by Higashino Shinichi using his newly acquired [Clone (Blue)] trait.

As a registered ninja of Konoha, Shinichi's movements were subject to numerous restrictions. It was difficult for him to travel far for extended periods and immerse himself in sword training, so different from the ninja system.

It was also inconvenient for him to make a name for himself quickly as a pure challenger in a country like the Land of Iron, which revered the way of the samurai. That could easily cause a diplomatic incident.

So an independent "swordsman" clone, with a relatively clean background and exceptional talent, was the ideal solution.

The source of the biological lineage the clone needed to fuse with was the Enma King.

Shinichi had earlier used "tempering his body and exploring Nintaijutsu" as a reason to get the Third Hokage to bring out the Enma King and let it guide him. Aside from genuinely wanting to temper his physique, his other, carefully concealed motive had been to make this clone possible.

Admittedly, in terms of potential and compatibility, the First Hashirama Senju's cells might have been the ideal choice in theory.

But at this point in time, even Orochimaru might not have begun researching them. The only confirmed holders were the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō.

Ask the Third Hokage for them?

Leaving aside the fact that he couldn't explain where he'd gotten the information, doing so would clash severely with the image he'd carefully cultivated as a "loyal, pure-hearted" Konoha ninja. It would inevitably invite scrutiny and suspicion he couldn't predict.

Approach Danzō?

That would be like making a deal with a tiger—extremely risky. It would also mean abandoning the Third Hokage, his biggest backer at the moment.

So Shinichi chose the safer, more practical path: settle for the next best thing and use the Enma bloodline, with its powerful physique and vast potential, as the foundation for creating the clone called "Isshin."

What's more, the [Clone] trait might eventually be upgraded to purple. It wouldn't be too late to pursue a legendary material like the First Hokage's cells then.

Although Isshin could inherit only one of the original body's occupation traits and half of its talent traits, and couldn't yet inherit talents tied closely to the ninja occupation, his strength was still formidable.

Having fused with the Enma King's bloodline, he naturally possessed the Enma Clan's overwhelming physical strength and resilience.

More importantly, Shinichi had carefully equipped him with nothing but high-quality traits of green rank or above. This gave Isshin an astonishing starting point in sheer physical ability, swordsmanship aptitude, combat instincts, and rate of growth.

In terms of raw strength, he was even stronger than Shinichi himself at this stage, when Shinichi still had to balance the demands of developing as a well-rounded ninja.

The name Isshin came from a character in a game from Shinichi's previous life—a figure honored by the world as the "Sword Saint," who devoted his entire life to the pure and relentless pursuit of the pinnacle of martial skill and swordsmanship.

In his youth, he had been ambitious and driven, pursuing stronger opponents with an almost greedy fervor. He had honed his swordsmanship through countless life-and-death battles, turning every fight into another step toward greater heights.

Shinichi had borrowed not only the name for his clone, but also much of the character's underlying temperament and path of growth.

In the Land of Iron, a country that revered martial strength, Isshin would challenge powerful opponents in the most direct—and even brazen—way, honing himself through real combat. It was the fastest way to make a name for himself, earn recognition, and refine his swordsmanship.

Shinichi had once asked his swordsmanship teacher, Yamashita Shuji, how to continue after becoming a full-fledged swordsman—that is, how to advance to a higher level in the occupation of "swordsman."

At the time, Teacher Yamashita had told him that "swordsman" meant he had graduated successfully, mastering the basic skills and principles. The path ahead required him to leave the protection of the dojo and walk it alone.

It would be a long journey of travel and trials. He would need to measure the land with his own feet and meet friends from all corners of the world with his sword. More than that, he would have to hone his skills through countless battles, whether friendly sparring matches or perilous fights.

The depth of that journey would determine whether he stopped at being a decent swordsman or had the potential to advance further, entering the new realm of founding his own school—that of a "Swordsman."

A Swordsman was, as the name suggested, a "teacher of the sword."

It meant not only that one had attained mastery in swordsmanship, but also that one had developed an understanding and system of one's own, and possessed the standing and ability to establish a dojo and pass one's "way" down to future generations.

However, Teacher Yamashita had stressed with great emphasis that to transform from a "swordsman" into a widely recognized "Swordsman," one's skill and character had to be honed to perfection, and there was another invisible yet crucial hurdle: one had to win the collective recognition of the local swordsmen and martial artists.

In the place where one hoped to put down roots, one had to prove one's strength, character, and respect for swordsmanship in a way that the local martial arts community accepted.

There were usually three paths.

The first, and safest, was to earn the recommendation and endorsement of a respected senior.

The second was to overpower all competitors at a major public exhibition or tournament, making a name for oneself with an indisputable record.

The third was to visit every renowned local dojo, openly and honorably, and let one's sword do the talking—in other words, to challenge them.

Of course, the third path was the riskiest and least encouraged. Many who chose it ended up dead or injured before they could finish their challenges.

Even if they were lucky enough to succeed, their overly aggressive methods made it difficult to truly become part of the local community. Unless they possessed overwhelming strength and later demonstrated great character, most swordsmen would not choose this path.

But whatever path they chose, the core message was the same: you had arrived, you were good enough, and you had the right to put down roots here, share your skills, take on students, and become a new and solid part of the local martial arts community.

Isshin's background was relatively clean, but it wasn't truly established; his origins were a mystery, and he had no foundation.

The first path, which required connections and an impeccable background, was already closed to him.

The second required waiting for the right opportunity, and the Land of Iron had no major exhibition or tournament of the required caliber coming up anytime soon.

So, in practice, only the third option remained—the most difficult and perilous path, but also the most direct and most suited to Isshin's intended character.

He would knock on doors with his sword and prove his way through battle.