Chapter 534

The face under the mask quickly flushed red and hot.

He couldn't show his face!

He just felt like he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into; he didn't dare to answer at all, let alone look in the direction of Konoe Hitomi, and suddenly lowered his head, his voice dry and hoarse:

"I... I'm going to the restroom..."

After speaking, he walked away from the center of the dojo quickly, as if escaping a flood or a wild beast, with a look of near-collapse.

Kojima Yoshinobu and Arai Kotaro heard Natsume Chikage's question, "Are you also a beginner like me," as if hit by a heavy hammer, and both fell into deeper shock and silence.

They completely understood why Horie Kenichi had to "go to the restroom."

Because that shame and embarrassment had become too intense to face.

That was a swordsman who had won the Tamaryu Flag championship!

He was a four-dan adult competitor and a recognized genius!

However, it was such a genius who was continuously defeated twice in a crushing manner by a novice who had just held a sword for the first time and had his legs restricted by ropes.

No matter who it was, they would definitely not be able to save face at this moment.

The two looked at each other, seeing increasingly thick suspicion and a trace of wavering in each other's eyes.

They vaguely felt that the matter might not be explained by simple "going easy."

There might be something incomprehensible and extremely wrong with this A-kun.

Otherwise, a pure novice would never be able to defeat Horie Kenichi so easily and freely twice in a row.

This boy's talent... is probably terrifyingly strong!

Far exceeding any of their initial imaginations!

Konoe Hitomi witnessed Horie Kenichi being quickly defeated again in almost the same way, and her always calm eyes finally twitched slightly.

Her sitting posture remained unchanged, but her fingers folded on her knees rubbed gently imperceptibly.

It seems that a re-evaluation is needed...

Natsume Chikage turned to Kojima Yoshinobu and Arai Kotaro on the sidelines and suggested in a calm tone:

"You two should be clear that my time is very tight, only two weeks."

"Therefore, I hope to have actual combat with stronger opponents so that I can improve my strength to the greatest extent in the shortest possible time."

His gaze fell on Arai Kotaro.

"Mr. Arai, can you be my opponent next?"

The implication was self-evident.

Both of them heard the hidden meaning in Natsume Chikage's words—he thought Horie Kenichi was too weak, and might even have mistakenly thought the other was a "novice" like himself.

The matter-of-factness revealed in this calm tone made both of them feel a trace of slight anger at the same time.

This kid has only practiced for such a short while, and he dares to be so arrogant?

Even if he really has talent, so what?

Maybe Kenichi just wasn't in a good state today, or had other things on his mind!

You have to know, Kenichi has been practicing with you for so long, his physical strength was not at its best.

Plus the invisible pressure exerted by Konoe Hitomi, leading to mental fluctuations and poor performance, it's entirely possible!

But the two of them are different.

They have both been through many battles; what big waves haven't they seen?

And they would never go easy!

Thinking of this.

Kojima Yoshinobu's expression carried obvious anger, and he said in a deep voice to Arai Kotaro:

"Kotaro! Since A-kun has said so, then you go, let him experience for himself what true, unquestionable kendo is!"

Arai Kotaro nodded heavily, a flame of seriousness igniting in his eyes:

"It should be so!"

He then turned to Natsume Chikage, reminding him with an extremely solemn expression:

"Kenichi might have had many concerns today, and his state was not at its best, which is why it happened. As for the specific reason, I think you should know in your heart."

Natsume Chikage followed his gaze, glanced at Konoe Hitomi and the black-clad person sitting in the distance, and nodded knowingly:

"So that's it. It seems that we really brought unnecessary pressure to you all on our side."

Arai Kotaro saw that he "understood," his face softened slightly, and he said in a deep voice:

"It's good that you understand."

"But there is one thing I must state in advance: I am different from Kenichi. My rank is kendo six-dan. The Tamaryu Flag championship you are determined to win, I have also won with my own hands!"

He gripped the bamboo sword tightly, his momentum as heavy as a mountain.

"So, you have to be careful. In the upcoming duel, I will not, and it is absolutely impossible for me to hold back!"

Natsume Chikage just nodded slightly and calmly to this:

"Please enlighten me."

The two put on their face masks and set up their stances on both sides of the starting line.

Kojima Yoshinobu looked at Arai Kotaro, who was ready to go, full of confidence.

Arai Kotaro was the best among the six-dan swordsmen under his tutelage, rarely meeting an opponent of the same rank.

With him taking action, he would definitely be able to easily suppress A-kun.

"Start!" Kojima Yoshinobu announced loudly.

Arai Kotaro's strength was indeed far above Horie Kenichi's.

He did not rush to attack, but stood still like a rock, maintaining a perfect middle-stage posture, controlling movement with stillness, showing the demeanor of a master.

He intended to wait for Natsume Chikage to attack first, then capture flaws from the opponent's movements and counterattack.

However, in this seemingly calm confrontation.

Arai Kotaro's originally calm expression, through the gap in the face mask, actually became visibly solemn.

An indescribable sense of alarm crawled up his spine like a cold snake.

He didn't know why, but a very strange feeling rose in his heart—as if as long as he moved first, even if it was just the smallest adjustment, he would immediately fall into defeat.

This feeling was unreasonable, but it was extremely clear, making the palms of his hands holding the sword sweat slightly.

And Natsume Chikage opposite him still had an expression as calm as water.

At this moment, his senses seemed to be elevated to the extreme, and he could even "feel" the extremely weak breathing rhythm changes and blinking moments of Arai Kotaro, who was confused by the alarm, hidden under his calm appearance.

And it was at that moment when the opponent's breath fluctuated extremely slightly due to this momentary hesitation.

Natsume Chikage moved.

He swung his sword.

Thanks to that indescribable, near-instinctive extraordinary understanding of the essence of kendo, as well as the strength and precision boost brought by the "Hot-Blooded Baseball Bat."

At this moment, his spirit, will, body, and the bamboo sword in his hand reached an unprecedented harmonious unity.

As if touching the mysterious threshold of "man and sword as one."

This sword was so fast that it exceeded the limit of visual capture!

No complex feints, no signs of gathering power.

Just the simplest, most direct frontal attack!

But in everyone's eyes, the tip of the bamboo sword seemed to turn into a cold moonlight that erupted instantly, tearing through the air at a speed that broke common sense, pointing straight at the target!

"Men—!!"

By the time Arai Kotaro reacted and hurriedly used his bamboo sword to block, it was already too late.

"Bang—!"

A dull and solid impact sound!

Arai Kotaro only felt an irresistible huge force coming from the center of his face mask, and his whole upper body staggered back two steps uncontrollably before barely stabilizing.

His eyes under the mask widened in extreme shock.

I... was hit?

Kojima Yoshinobu was also shocked beyond measure.

In his field of vision, A-kun's thrust just now was as fast as lightning, and the trajectory was clean and terrifying!

His face was complex, and he spat out words slowly:

"A-kun... one point..."

Arai Kotaro's face under the mask instantly flushed red.