"And the ultimate goal..."
Isshin paused, then said word by word, "That is to pursue victory by any means necessary. In battle, use every tool and technique available to the utmost to achieve your objective. For victory, for survival, for protection, your thinking cannot become rigid."
"Take this Firearm in my hand, for example." He looked at Yamagami Genya and said calmly, "In your eyes, it may be some cheap trick, a gun. But in my eyes, in the principles of my Ashina Style..."
"It is a sword!"
Isshin continued as though stating the most natural fact in the world. "Its construction is an extension of a sword's structure. Its firing is another form of a sword's thrust and slash. The flames and bullets it spits out are the sword's edge and power projected into the distance. The way it is used, the timing, and its coordination with one's movements—the Way contained within them is no different in essence from wielding a real sword."
"Therefore, firearm techniques are sword techniques, and bullet trajectories are the Way of the Sword!"
Yamagami Genya was completely stunned, his mind nearly grinding to a halt.
A Firearm was also a sword?
Firearm techniques were also sword techniques?
Bullet trajectories were also the Way of the Sword?
His teacher's words had completely overturned everything he had previously understood about martial arts and weapons.
Then, Yamagami Genya heard his teacher say something that sounded rather profound, yet seemed to contain a hidden truth. "All things possess their own principles, and all can become swords. When there is no sword in hand, if the heart holds the principles of the sword, then grass, wood, bamboo, and stone can all be swords. When the heart holds no principles of the sword, even divine weapons are nothing but lumps