CHAPTER 500: CHAPTER 343 FUJIMAKI CHIDORI

There are five days remaining until the competition.

The sound of bamboo rustles in the courtyard, its leaves swaying gently in dappled light, evoking a tranquil summer atmosphere.

Occasionally, a few leaves spin down onto the pond surface, causing ripples and startling the fish, which in turn create playful splashes against the backdrop of bamboo hitting rocks, bringing a sense of calm and joy.

There is a pond here, as well as a corridor, and by following it upward, one can reach the dojo with a plaque reading "One-Mind One-Sword Style".

Uesugi Sakura spends most of his time in the dojo sitting in the resting area, gazing at the four large characters visible when you look up straight ahead.

He often looks at them, and often thinks about them.

What thoughts did the person who penned these four characters have back then?

After warming up in the Kendo Dojo, Kusunoki Kubomaru was in high spirits.

He set down the wooden sword and sat down beside Uesugi Sakura, upon seeing a bottle of cola, he casually picked it up and drank it empty.

Two gulps and it was gone with a satisfying sound, then he looked at Uesugi Sakura, who was observing him drink the cola.

"300 yen," Uesugi Sakura said calmly.

Kusunoki Kubomaru put down the empty bottle and said with a smile:

"Why do you always sit in the resting area? I never see you spar with anyone, what’s the point of only practicing the basic Kanji?"

His Sword Dao level was very high, managing to exhaust several disciples just during the warm-up stage.

They kept saying they couldn’t continue.

You must know that in the recent exchange with Yamanaka Budokan, those disciples were able to evenly match their opponents in sparring.

The Yamanaka Budokan is a famous Kendo Hall in the Tokyo Circle.

Uesugi Sakura, dressed in white with black hakama, didn’t make many moves and just asked while looking at the plaque:

"Senior Brother Kusunoki, how do you interpret these four words?"

"Huh—?"

Kusunoki Kubomaru followed his gaze and saw the words [One-Mind One-Sword Style].

He rubbed his chin, then made a fist with his right hand and struck it above his left palm: "Isn’t it simple? It’s just the literal meaning!"

Uesugi Sakura didn’t respond, instead, he looked towards the bamboo forest outside the gate and said:

"What are those?"

"Bamboo."

"More than the bamboo, what I care about is the sunlight that flickers and sways through the gaps."

"What does that mean?" Kusunoki Kubomaru didn’t understand what he was saying.

"It means that with things outlined, you can better display the sensation of bamboo moving in the wind."

Kusunoki Kubomaru glanced at the bamboo outside the wooden gate, then looked again at Uesugi Sakura.

He spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

Uesugi Sakura continued: "Spring cherry blossoms, summer fireworks, autumn ginkgo, winter snow, with these things, people’s feelings about the seasons become stronger—I’m pondering... whether our perception of [One-Mind One-Sword] has deviated due to the changing times."

Tachibana Youko suddenly walked in from the door, came in front of the two and after a pause said:

"Senior Brother Fujimaki has arrived."

Kusunoki Kubomaru suddenly laughed and said to Uesugi Sakura: "The troublemaker is here."

When coming to the dojo today, Uesugi Sakura had already heard from Senior Brother Kusunoki that this Fujimaki is the top disciple.

He is the senior in their generation of the One-Mind One-Sword Style.

As Uesugi Sakura joined later, most disciples called him Senior out of respect for the strength he had previously demonstrated.

By participating in the team competition this time, he had pushed the senior brother from the General’s spot.

Without prior notice or reminder, he suddenly knocked the senior brother out of the lineup.

This feeling was like having your bowl knocked out of your hand just as you were about to eat.

Just as Tachibana Youko had said, Senior Brother Fujimaki soon arrived, with the other two seniors, Koshin and Higuchi, accompanying him into the dojo.

It was clear the few had just met up.

Fujimaki’s first impression was quite lackluster, neither handsome like Koshin Kagami nor short like Kusunoki Kubomaru.

On appearance alone, he indeed didn’t stand out.

But one thing about him was striking.

Upon arriving at the Kendo Hall, he didn’t bow, merely scanned those in the dojo before walking up to Uesugi Sakura under everyone’s gaze.

Whispers began in the dojo.

Now everyone knew Uesugi Sakura had snatched the General’s spot for this competition.

Thus, the disciples were focusing on what changes might happen in the resting area.

Which one is stronger... They didn’t know...

They only remembered the recent instance when Uesugi Sakura lost his temper.

—After all, both were fellow disciples not to be messed with.

Fujimaki Chidori’s gaze shifted among Tachibana Youko and Kusunoki Kubomaru, finally landing on Uesugi Sakura.

Crossing his arms, his stance and demeanor indicated he was someone who had never faced setbacks:

"Oh—"

Uesugi Sakura greeted calmly as usual: "Senior Brother Fujimaki."

"No need."

Fujimaki Chidori waved his hand to cut him off: "You can call me Senior Brother, but Junior Brother! Why on earth did the mentor let you take the General spot for this match!?"

Seeing this, Koshin Kagami, who came with him, smiled and stood between the two, explaining:

"You’d have to ask the mentor about this, Junior Brother doesn’t know either."

"If I could find the mentor, I wouldn’t be here!" Fujimaki Chidori spoke cleanly and succinctly, his words subtly tinged with anger and resentment.

He then turned to question Uesugi Sakura, who stood almost eye-level with him:

"Does Junior Brother know?"

He spoke with great momentum, despite his ordinary looks, exuding an internal and external air of "keep off the grass".

Crossing his arms, slightly tilting his chin and gaze accentuated this.

Uesugi Sakura shook his head.

He had also been looking for the mentor lately, wanting to inquire about the Hook Jade matter.