Chapter 23: Ghost Shadow Blade vs. Ghost Shadow Blade

The Iga members standing on the right side of the dueling platform all silently closed their eyes. They could not bear to watch yet another young talent from their sect die under Akimoto Rei’s blade. Although they had not seen anything particularly impressive about Kurohane Ichi, he was, after all, the personal choice of their sect leader, and he had managed to hold his own for quite some time. While the preceding match had seemed somewhat dull, they would have preferred for it to remain that way forever rather than witness a blade pierce through Kurohane's body.

Inoue Izumi’s smile stiffened. Although he had guessed that Akimoto No would teach him that technique, he had not expected a nineteen-year-old to be able to execute it. It seemed this Akimoto Rei was indeed a genius; his victory last time was certainly no fluke.

"My son is quite something, isn't he? It took him only four years to master the Ghost Shadow Blade. Ha!" In Akimoto No’s eyes, the outcome of this match was already decided. Within the Iga sect, only Inoue Izumi was capable of breaking Akimoto No’s Ghost Shadow Blade.

"He is certainly much better than you," Inoue Izumi remarked. He did not give up just yet; he remained focused on Kurohane Ichi, waiting—anticipating the miracle he had once seen in the Wolf King’s prison cell.

"Ghost Shadow Blade."

Just as almost everyone believed the match was decided, an abrupt voice rang out through the silent martial arts hall. It was the voice of Kurohane Ichi.

"What is he doing?" Some opened their eyes, staring in astonishment at Kurohane Ichi, who was currently raising his katana.

What followed was a scene that stunned everyone. The katana in Kurohane Ichi's hand eerily split into several blades. Multiple blade shadows surrounded his body, mimicking the exact effect Akimoto Rei had just displayed. The only difference was that Kurohane Ichi's blade shadows varied in length, width, and thickness. As Kurohane Ichi swung his sword, the multiple shadows transformed into white silhouettes, meeting Akimoto Rei’s blade shadows head-on.

"What is going on here?" Seeing such a strange and shocking display, everyone was dumbfounded. Was the "Ghost Shadow Blade" not a secret technique passed down only to the leaders of the Koga sect? How could an Iga member use it? Furthermore, the Ghost Shadow Blade was powerful, eerie, and complex, making it extremely difficult to master. Akimoto No himself had spent nearly six years perfecting it, and Akimoto Rei’s four-year mastery was already something to be proud of. Yet, this technique was now being used by a fourteen-year-old boy! And in the middle of a Koga-Iga duel, no less.

Akimoto No was shocked. Why? Why did this Iga brat know his secret technique? Could it be Inoue Izumi? No, that was impossible; even Inoue Izumi, who had crossed swords with him many times, could not possibly know it.

Akimoto Rei was stunned, casting a suspicious glance toward Akimoto No at the head seat, his advancing blade shadows slowing down.

*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.*

Ghost Shadow Blade against Ghost Shadow Blade; just like Akimoto Rei, he used offense to neutralize offense. The attacks collided, emitting a harsh, grating sound. Both men recoiled simultaneously, neither sustaining any injuries. Several deep gouges were left in the center of the platform.

It was truly magnificent, and incredibly dramatic. The Iga members could not help but cheer inwardly. Now they finally understood why their leader had sent Kurohane Ichi to compete—he had been playing the fool to catch the tiger all along!

"Good!" Even Inoue Izumi was shaken by the technique Kurohane Ichi had unleashed. He had not misjudged his student. If his guess was correct, Kurohane Ichi had learned it on the spot just now while Akimoto Rei was using the Ghost Shadow Blade. It seemed his decision to have the boy build a solid foundation over the past two years had been the right one.

And indeed, Kurohane Ichi was learning on the fly. Gifted with an exceptionally high IQ since childhood, he possessed an astonishing memory and analytical ability. Although Inoue Izumi had not taught him any specific techniques over the last two years, he had ensured that Kurohane's basic training was rock-solid. Initially intending only to test the waters, he had not expected to actually succeed. Of course, there was still a gap compared to Akimoto Rei’s execution; if Akimoto Rei hadn't hesitated, causing his attack to slow down, Kurohane might have already been defeated.

Although Kurohane Ichi’s display of the "Ghost Shadow Blade" had shocked the entire arena, the battle was not yet over. He could not afford to relax. Gripping his katana with both hands, he stared at Akimoto Rei with vigilance.

"Interesting."

"Isn't it?"

"Ghost Shadow Blade."

Akimoto Rei had just seen the astonishment on Akimoto No’s face, which was proof enough that Kurohane Ichi’s technique hadn't been taught by him. If not by him, then by whom? This was a technique passed down only to the Koga sect leaders. He had been considered a genius for mastering it before the age of twenty, yet this boy had mastered it too. How did he learn it? If it wasn't Akimoto No, and it wasn't himself, there was only one possibility. Could he be one of those legendary martial arts prodigies?

To confirm his suspicion, Akimoto Rei used the "Ghost Shadow Blade" once more. Several white blade shadows rotated rapidly around him, emitting a hum as they sliced through the air. The sharp sword energy seemed to distort the air around the blades.

"Ghost Shadow Blade."

Kurohane Ichi watched Akimoto Rei’s hands intently, mimicking his movements while simultaneously analyzing the principles of the sword style and filling in the gaps in his secret manual. This time, Kurohane Ichi’s "Ghost Shadow Blade" finally possessed the grace Akimoto Rei had shown earlier. The white blade shadows were no longer uneven in length or width; they were uniform in length, aura, and weight, appearing like reflections of the katana held in his hand.

And this was the truth of the "Ghost Shadow Blade": creating identical blades through phantom blade energy, all to hide the real blade within the shadows and strike the enemy.

*So that is how it is.*

This time, Akimoto Rei realized it. When he saw Kurohane Ichi fully execute a mature "Ghost Shadow Blade," his suspicion was confirmed. The boy was truly learning on the spot. Earlier, he had deliberately slowed his blade's speed so that Kurohane Ichi could see it more clearly and mimic it more accurately, all to verify his own conjecture.

To be able to copy an opponent's technique perfectly after seeing it only once, without knowing the secrets behind it—a technique that he himself had spent four years practicing even after knowing its mysteries—left Akimoto Rei, who had considered himself a genius, stunned.

If such a person wasn't a genius, then what was? To think the Iga sect possessed such a talent.

*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.*

The collision of blade energies produced a piercing resonance. Neither side had revealed their true blade yet.

"Here." Akimoto Rei spotted an opening and thrust forward, shielded by two blade shadows.

"Hah!" Kurohane Ichi thrust his blade forward as well.

*Ping, ping.*

Four phantom blades canceled each other out. Kurohane Ichi lunged with his real blade toward Akimoto Rei, while Akimoto Rei countered with his own.

*Thud.*

Was he not afraid of death? Seeing Kurohane Ichi thrust forward toward him with absolute resolve, completely indifferent to whether he himself would be struck, Akimoto Rei cursed him as a madman in his heart. Seeing this, Akimoto Rei immediately switched from offense to defense, forcing himself to check his momentum and striking the side of Kurohane’s blade to deflect it. He did not want to die here with Kurohane Ichi; he still had a future and his own path to follow.

A mouthful of blood surged up his throat. Forcing himself to stop his attack had taken a toll, and blood was already seeping from the web of his hand gripping the sword.

Kurohane Ichi, blade in hand, stared coldly at Akimoto Rei, a reckless, desperate ferocity in his eyes.

Life? He had already discarded it several times over. He had no attachments in this world other than his master; he lived only to repay the years of care his master had given him. Knowing the importance of this match and the strength of Akimoto Rei, Kurohane Ichi did not seek victory—he sought only to remain undefeated.

As for the outcome, did it really matter?