The Way of the Sword

Teach you my ninja way?

Kanna was taken aback by those words. In this world, the concept of a ninja way was no trifling matter.

Besides, in a sense, no one could bear another person's ninja way. It was the sum of their beliefs, ideals, truths, and other ways of understanding the world. Others could at most understand it, but never truly grasp it.

"The sword is the sword, the hand is the sword, the body is the sword, and the heart is also the sword." Shinnosuke's face flushed slightly, and he seemed a little excited. "Anyone who studies the way of the sword should press forward without hesitation! Cut through every obstacle! Nothing is beyond the sword! Nothing is unbreakable!"

Kanna nodded silently. He knew a little about the philosophy of swordsmanship, too. It upheld the word "courage," used the sword to observe the heart, and used the sword to cultivate the self. Thus, those who practiced swordsmanship tended to adopt one of two approaches to life: either they showed their edge openly, or they kept it sheathed. It all depended on their nature.

As Kanna saw it, Shinnosuke belonged to the latter type. He was gradually letting go of his sharpness and turning inward.

"By your ninja way, do you mean your way of the sword?" Kanna asked, as if he'd had a realization.

"That's right. My way of the sword." Shinnosuke sighed. "I've studied many sword techniques, including the philosophies of countless great swordsmen. As you learn, don't focus only on the fighting techniques. Think about them, too. That's the most important and precious part."

Kanna kept to himself that all he wanted to learn was the fighting techniques.

"So when do we start?" Kanna asked.

"No rush." Shinnosuke thought for a moment. "Let's wait until that girl, Amayuri, ends up in the detention room, too."

Kanna almost laughed aloud. It seemed Shinnosuke, like him, didn't think much of her temper.

Three days later, in the afternoon, someone from the Hayashinaka Clan arrived at the Juvenile Correction Center. Then, close to dinnertime, Kanna heard that Amayuri had been sent to solitary confinement.

"Hahaha!"

Kanna roared with laughter in a cramped, shabby room.

"That was quick! Is the Hayashinaka Clan really that impatient?"

The man in his twenties across from him shook his head helplessly. "You're quite the friend. Aren't you worried about her? I heard the Hayashinaka Clan's boy said Amayuri provoked him first. But according to our investigation, she only looked at him. That puts us in a difficult spot, too."

"Hahahahaha!" Kanna burst into even louder laughter.

Was he kidding? Kanna could imagine exactly what had happened. Amayuri had looked at the Hayashinaka Clan member with her usual indifferent, empty gaze, and he'd mistaken it for contempt. He'd angrily struck first, and the two of them had gotten into a fight. Since each had his own story, the Juvenile Correction Center had no choice but to punish them both.

The Hayashinaka Clan member was probably feeling pretty aggrieved right now. I haven't even done anything to you, and you look at me like that? What's that supposed to mean? You think you're better than me?

At last, someone else had experienced what Kanna had felt the first time he met Amayuri. Kanna was rather pleased. She'd infuriated him back then, and now it was someone else's turn.

"If you can't even take that much, how can you call yourself a ninja?" Kanna said, insincerely mocking the other person inside and out. Then he asked, "So, Mr. Shichigatsu, when will the warden start teaching us?"

Uji Shichigatsu was a Kirigakure Chunin and the official in charge of the Juvenile Correction Center's solitary-confinement wing. He was Gotō Shinnosuke's capable subordinate and confidant, and he treated Kanna quite well. He had just one flaw: he never stopped talking.

Still, that wasn't so bad. The solitary confinement room was lonely and dreary. Without anyone to talk to, Kanna might have gone crazy.

The Juvenile Correction Center was inspected regularly, so Kanna didn't dare risk exposing himself by practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique. Aside from his daily workouts, during which he used that chakra refinement method, he spent all his time trying to understand Shinra Tensei. He was so bored he could barely stand it, and Shichigatsu's arrival had solved that problem.

"Shinnosuke already knows. As for when he'll come, it'll probably be whenever he has some free time. The Juvenile Correction Center may not have much work, but we can't let our guard down. How about this? Your detention ends today, so I'll take you straight to see the warden."

With that, Shichigatsu lifted Kanna's restrictions and led him to the warden's office.

At that moment, Shinnosuke was talking with Hozuki Mangetsu, who had arrived just a few days earlier.

"First, each solitary confinement room can hold only one person. No matter how deliberately you break the rules, you won't be assigned to Kanna's room." Shinnosuke spoke sternly. "Second, I've received word that the investigation into your assault is complete. All responsibility lies with the other party. The Security Force made a mistake, and they'll be disciplined soon. So once the official notice arrives, you'll be free to leave. Of course, I have no objection if you leave right now."

"Is that so?" Hozuki Mangetsu smiled faintly. "They're quick to act. I was the one who deliberately struck first, yet now I'm found innocent. What do you think, Mr. Shinnosuke?"

It turned out that the Third Hokage's people hadn't been sitting idle. When they realized that certain clans were planning to target Kanna and Amayuri, they deliberately changed the ruling and declared Hozuki Mangetsu innocent. They'd even given the Security Force a verbal reprimand for failing to investigate properly and for taking one side's word for it. They wanted Hozuki Mangetsu out of the Juvenile Correction Center as soon as possible, so he wouldn't cause Kanna any trouble.

"This time, I was able to break the rules by assaulting someone without cause. Next time, I'll naturally find another way." Hozuki Mangetsu muttered to himself. "If someone is determined to break the rules, who can stop him?"

Shinnosuke remained unmoved. "Do as you please."

"Heh." Hozuki Mangetsu waved and headed for the door. "Since Kanna keeps avoiding me, there's nothing I can do. There's no point staying here, so I'll go back and report in."

"By the way, there's one more thing. I'm not interested in any of the clan's affairs. Kanna and Amayuri are just children to me. They're both unfortunate victims of these conflicts. It's pitiful."

"What do you think, Kanna?"

The door opened. Kanna stood outside, looking down at Hozuki Mangetsu.

"It's just a war of words." Kanna walked straight past him. "If you're set on having a match with me, I won't refuse. Just not here. Once I'm out, we'll get our chance."

After that, Kanna gave Shinnosuke a meaningful glance, then let out a loud shout.

"Shinnosuke! I've been sick of you for ages! Take this!"

Kanna held his head high, stepped into a Baguazhang stance, and thrust a palm at Shinnosuke.

"Good grief..." Shinnosuke's face darkened. He raised his one arm helplessly, caught Kanna's arm, and twisted it into a joint lock.

"Ah! Ow, ow, ow!" Kanna bared his teeth and yelled in pain.

"That's enough!" Shinnosuke hissed in Kanna's ear. "Couldn't you come up with a better plan?"

"Sorry, sorry. This was the simplest and clearest way." Kanna grinned, then went on howling. "Ah! That hurts! It's going to break!"

Shinnosuke shoved Kanna away. His eyelid twitched as he stiffly declared, "For insulting me and attacking the warden, you're being sent to solitary confinement for two weeks, effective immediately."

"I'll be back!" Kanna shouted as the deeply exasperated Shichigatsu marched him back to his cell.

"Heh, how interesting." Watching the farce, Hozuki Mangetsu smiled.

At seven that evening, Shichigatsu secretly brought Kanna and Amayuri to a training room.

The room was decorated mostly in white. The character for "stillness" hung in the center of the wall, with various ninja weapons and training equipment lined up on either side. Shinnosuke sat on the floor, waiting for them.

When they arrived, Shinnosuke skipped the pleasantries and got right to the point.

"Starting today, I'll teach you swordsmanship here every evening. During the day, practice on your own in your cells. If you have questions, ask me at night. All right, time is short. Let's begin."

"I know every sword technique in Kirigakure, and I've studied most of the styles passed down among the samurai. Some swordsmanship schools have fallen out of fashion and declined, so you only need to know about them. The other major schools are the ones you'll need to learn and master."

"Kirigakure's sword techniques include the Silent Killing Technique, Inchi Style, Inso Style, Meiso Style, and Seimusō Style. As for the samurai schools, I'll teach you only the ones that form the core principles: Ittō-ryū, Shintō-ryū, In-ryū, Nen-ryū, Nii-ryū, Iai-ryū, and Mutōdori-ryū, which is also included in the secret techniques of every school."

Before Shinnosuke had even finished, Amayuri spoke with conviction. "I'll learn Nii-ryū!"

Nii-ryū, or the Two-Sword Style, had developed from the original two-sword style. Its two swords represented "yin" and "yang," symbolizing opposition. It sought to transcend that opposition and reach unity, a swordsmanship style that contained the principles of heaven and earth.

"Very good." Shinnosuke nodded in approval, then turned to Kanna. "What about you? Which one do you want to choose?"

Kanna was a little dumbfounded. Amayuri already had some experience with swordsmanship, so she knew what she needed. But how was he supposed to know which style suited him?

What were Inchi Style, Inso Style, Meiso Style, Seimusō Style, In-ryū, Nen-ryū, and Shintō-ryū? He had no idea what any of them were!

Seeing Kanna's indecision, Shinnosuke smiled faintly.

"You don't know? I see. You've never studied swordsmanship before. Then I'll teach you the style best suited to a ninja: the Silent Killing Technique. It's the swordsmanship practiced by the Anbu. How does that sound?"

Actually, I'd rather pick one with a cooler name, Kanna thought to himself. Seimusō Style, for instance. That name blows the Silent Killing Technique out of the water.

But it was best for a novice to keep his mouth shut. Besides, Kanna didn't expect to master a ridiculous Eight-Sword Style like Killer B's. He only wanted to learn the ideas behind it. He'd still rely on ninjutsu for actual combat, so the Silent Killing Technique would do just fine.

"No problem! The Silent Killing Technique it is!"