Chapter 136: Hard to Know as Shadow

Takahashi thought for a moment and said, "Shadow-like, it should be a move derived from Sun Tzu's Art of War."

"The original meaning refers to fighting on the battlefield; if an army needs to remain concealed, it must hide its own movements and deployments like dark clouds obscuring the sun, so as not to be detected by the enemy."

"Sanada's move should be about actively suggesting various possibilities for the next ball to his opponent, making it impossible for the opponent to guess what kind of shot he actually intends to hit."

Kirihara suddenly realized and said, "Understood. Master is still the cultured one. Using the battlefield to explain the Court."

Yanagi Renji said, "The limit of Talent Blooming is to observe the opponent and simulate the subsequent progress of the match in one's mind. Shadow-like, on the other hand, is to actively suggest various possibilities of action to the opponent."

"This move is simply designed specifically to restrain the limit of Talent Blooming."

Yukimura's eyes flickered slightly; he recalled the match where Sanada lost to Tezuka after the Jr Tournament in elementary school.

That was one of Sanada's few defeats.

Since then, Sanada had painstakingly studied to defeat Tezuka, developing moves to counter Tezuka's several signature techniques one by one.

And Shadow-like was one of them.

Thinking of this, Yukimura spoke up: "Captain, you mentioned that the limit of Thousand-fold Mastery and the limit of Talent Blooming both have obvious shortcomings, so what are the shortcomings of the limit of Peerless Perfection?"

Takahashi turned his head to look at Yukimura; those firm and powerful eyes made him feel somewhat shaken.

Takahashi said earnestly: "Of the Three Great Doors deep within the Selfless State, Talent Blooming and Thousand-fold Mastery are not in an advanced relationship, but can only be considered parallel, whereas Peerless Perfection is something that transcends both of them."

"Peerless Perfection does not have any obvious shortcomings."

On the court.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"30-15!"

"Point for Sanada Genichiro of Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School!"

"Boom!"

"30-30!"

"Point for Sanada Genichiro of Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School!"

Ever since Sanada activated Shadow-like, Chitose had not made any more predictions.

And Sanada began to take the initiative to attack, while Chitose was retreating step by step.

Just as Yanagi Renji had guessed, Shadow-like was prepared specifically for the limit of Talent Blooming.

"I have already seen through your strength."

"Hurry up and end this boring match!"

Sanada's low voice rang out.

On the other side, the Shitenhoji rest area.

"Sanada Genichiro, what is he saying? What 'seen through the strength'."

"What 'boring match'."

Oshitari Kenya was very confused.

Shiraishi's expression began to turn serious, and he said, "Ever since black energy appeared on Sanada, Chitose has not made a single prediction."

"I think Sanada has probably already found a way to restrain Talent Blooming."

Kintaro said loudly, "How is that possible?"

"It's only been a few balls, has he found a way to break it so easily?"

Shiraishi said in a deep voice, "But Chitose's reaction cannot lie; look at the abnormal amount of sweat on his body, and then look at the refreshed Sanada on the opposite side."

"We underestimated Sanada too much. Once the National Tournament started, Rokurigaoka from Aichi Prefecture touted everywhere in the major tournament venues that Sanada was a perennial runner-up, and we were misled."

"You have to know that in our match against Rikkai last year, Sanada did not play as Singles Two, so we did not have an accurate judgment of Sanada's strength."

"And this year, all the limelight of Rikkai was stolen by the new Captain Takahashi Yanichi; everyone's eyes were on Takahashi, making us forget that this Emperor of Rikkai is also quite strong."

"If Sanada were not at Rikkai, and were at another school, he would certainly also be a remarkable presence."

"It is just a pity that Rikkai has the even more powerful Takahashi Yanichi and Yukimura Seiichi, who completely overshadowed Sanada."

"Sanada Genichiro is also an opponent who absolutely cannot be underestimated!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"30-40!"

"Point for Sanada Genichiro of Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School!"

"Score 0-1!"

"Point for Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School!"

"Vice Captain Sanada has started to catch up on the score and successfully taken the first game."

Kirihara said excitedly.

"That goes without saying, that is the Emperor of our Rikkai!"

Yanagi Renji spoke up.

"Just now we were talking about the ultimate secret technique of Vice Captain Sanada's seal; besides 'As Shadow', what is the other one?"

Kirihara continued to ask.

"The Dragon Country's work, 'Sun Tzu's Art of War', states: 'Therefore, warfare is based on deception, and moves for gain... Thus, be as swift as the wind, as gentle as the forest, as fierce as fire, as steady as the mountain, as inscrutable as shadow, and move like thunder.'"

"The remaining move must be 'Move Like Thunder'!"

Takahashi said.

Yukimura looked up in surprise and said, "Yes, it is 'Move Like Thunder'!"

Kirihara exclaimed, "What is Master talking about? It actually includes Vice Captain Sanada's 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain'."

Takahashi feigned profundity and said, "No, it cannot be called 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain' now; it must be called 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain Shadow Thunder'."

"For Sanada to be able to combine the military theories of 'Sun Tzu's Art of War' with tennis techniques to create his own secret techniques, he truly is a terrifying person!"

Kirihara continued, "Then in this match, will Sanada use his final secret technique?"

Yukimura said, "He will not. Sanada developed these two moves specifically to deal with his fated rival."

"If it weren't for Chitose Senri using the 'Talent Blooming' limit, Sanada would never have used 'As Shadow'."

Kirihara said with some disappointment, "I see, I was hoping to see even more impressive moves."

Takahashi listened to Yukimura's words, lost in thought.

Then Takahashi said, "Chitose Senri's strength is not worth using 'As Shadow' at all; even relying on 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain', Sanada can secure victory in this match."

"If he were to use the final level of his secret technique, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill."

"Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken!"

The match was just as Takahashi had said; the situation was one-sided, and Chitose Senri kept losing points.

"Score 2-0!"

"Score 3-0!"

"Score 6-0!"

"Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School's Sanada Genichiro wins!"

"The National Tournament semi-finals have ended, Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School wins, score 3-0!"

Shitenhoji rest area.

Watanabe Osamu pressed down on his hat firmly and said, "Oh my, oh my, I didn't expect that this year we would lose 0-3 to Rikkai again, and the scores were all 0-6!"

"At least last year we managed to take a few points in the small games!"

"This year's Rikkai has both the 'Three Giants' and Takahashi; even if they closed their eyes and messed around with their personnel lineup, there would be no problem. They don't even need to think about strategy or tactics."

"Sigh, why doesn't our team have so many powerhouses!"

Watanabe Osamu sighed.

Seeing the Captain, Shiraishi, put his phone back into his pocket, Watanabe asked, "Shiraishi, who were you just on the phone with?"

Shiraishi said, "Seigaku's Tezuka Kunimitsu; they are Rikkai's opponents in the next match."

"Upon learning that we lost, Tezuka called to ask about the specific situation."

Watanabe Osamu said, "Seigaku's Tezuka Kunimitsu, is that the one who was scouted by the D Country professional tennis world and invited by the Germany U17?"

Shiraishi said, "Yes, if there is any team this year that can slightly hinder Rikkai's path to a three-peat, it can only be Seigaku."

"Besides Tezuka Kunimitsu, they also have an Echizen Ryoma who has already unlocked the 'Ten-i Muhou no Kiwami'."