Anno Zuomura was lying on the tatami, looking at the wooden ceiling, thinking quietly.
In the trial gym, except for training with Hijikata Okita and the others, he spent all his time thinking.
He asked Okita Souji why he drew his sword.
The girl swung the sword and told him with a smile that the reason why she drew the sword was to change her destiny.
Thinking back to the many things the two of them talked about on the road, you can understand why Okita Souji had such a reason to draw his sword.
Hijikata's reason for drawing his sword was to maintain the relationships around him.
"I don't want anyone close to me to die, that's why I draw my sword."
The young samurai said these words very handsomely under the sunset.
He then recalled the words of the samurai named Serizawa Kamo whom he met at the beach on a rainy day.
"Mr. Kondo told me to find my own mentor..."
"Serizawa-kun asked me not to stay and go further..."
He sat up suddenly.
In fact, he already knew what he was going to do.
Maybe, I just can't bear to leave this place.
Although I only stayed at the Natural Rishin Ryusei Center for a month, this place gave me the feeling of Anno Samura...
Although I have never experienced what it feels like to be at home, this is indeed Zuo Cun's evaluation of the Trial Guard Hall.
So give up the knife and stay here?
No......
Zuo Cun subconsciously clenched his fists.
He likes the feeling of fighting.
As long as you hold the sword tightly, you will feel a sense of excitement from within.
But if you must pursue the sword, you must...
No, I should sober up.
The country is changing...
The sword is very necessary.
He thought of the chats he had with the fishermen at the beach these days.
These fishermen will gossip about national affairs when they have nothing to do, and they are surprisingly knowledgeable.
General Perry of the United States forcibly opened Japan's borders and signed a treaty.
Let everyone see the incompetence of the shogunate.
Turmoil is coming, this is Zuomura Annuo's premonition.
I can't just see happiness in the moment, I have to think about...the long term.
The young man's eyes sparkled.
This is the sword I drew for the long-term happiness in the future...
............
"So, you are leaving." Shusuke Kondo looked at Anno Zumura with a small cloth bag hanging on his body, his eyes fluctuating slightly.
"Yes." Annuo was wearing a gray-blue Wu uniform. In his bag was a small amount of money and another Wu uniform that Hijikata Okita, Shimazaki and others had collected for him. "Sorry for bothering me for so many days."
"Nothing." Kondo Shusuke smiled and squeezed Zuo Cun's shoulder, "Then, I wish you good luck in martial arts."
"Thank you." Zuocun bowed deeply and turned around.
Three shadows came out from behind Kondo Shusuke.
"Hey, Zuo Cun, you bastard, do you want to leave us without saying goodbye!" A young man in Wu clothing with his chest exposed shouted loudly.
"Hey, hey, stop first!" Another young man slightly taller than him shouted equally loudly.
Okita Souji looked at Zuomura Ano's back and pursed his lips.
Kondo Shusuke asked the people around him: "Inoue, aren't you going?"
Genzaburo Inoue smiled: "No need, Hijikata and the others are enough."
Zuomura Annuo stopped.
Sighed softly.
"Samura-kun, do you really want to leave?" Okita Souji looked at the thin back.
Zuomura Annuo turned his back to everyone and nodded.
"I have found my own reason to draw my sword."
"Troubled times are coming, and it is not advisable to just hope for temporary comfort."
"When I draw my sword, it will be for future happiness."
All three were silent.
"I want to congratulate you, but...I feel like you are such a jerk." Shimazaki Katsuta smacked his lips.
"It's impossible to let you go like this." Hijikata Tobizo put his hand on the handle of the knife.
Anno Zuomura turned around and raised the corners of his mouth.
Okita Souji took a step forward.
"Hijikata, Shimazaki, let me do it." Okita Souji was jealous, his hand already holding the handle of the sword.
Hijikata Toshizo and Shimazaki Katsuta looked at each other.
"Forget it, then I'll leave Samura to you Okita."
Zuomura Annuo didn't say anything, but also put his hand on the handle of the knife.
It's not a pheasant feather, but an ordinary sword.
Zheng——
The knife was unsheathed, flashing with a faint cold light.
"Let me try it - the determination on your sword." Souji Okita smiled imperceptibly. "Don't blame me if you die."
"We are samurai. Since our swords are facing each other, we must be prepared to be chopped down."
"Of course." Zuo Cun's eyes also solidified.
Of course he will be serious, this is a matter of dignity for both parties.
The two people were about ten meters apart.
Okita Souji moved first.
With a kick on the ground, Okita Souji seemed to be jumping, and his petite eleven-year-old body reached in front of Samura in only two or three steps.
This is a thrust—
Zuo Cun's pupils shrank, and his target was his chest——
Ping!
The blades exchanged, and Samura used his strength to move a little to the right, staggering Okita's thrust.
Okita's reaction was extremely fast. After being dodged by the thrust, he quickly stabilized his body and slashed Zuomura's neck from left to right with the knife in one hand.
Blocking the slash, he raised his sword and slashed down.
Okita took Zuomura's sword, and the huge force made Okita involuntarily step back.
This time, it was Zuo Cun's thrust.
The speed was no less than Okita's, and it hit Okita's chest.
Okita smiled indifferently.
Squat down.
The "advantage" of her height allowed her to miss Zuo Cun's stabbing path and lift the knife from bottom to top——
Zuocun felt a chill.
What a vicious slash!
Suddenly he noticed a tree behind Okita.
Zuocun did not choose to retreat, but jumped up.
He climbed the tree.
Before Souji Okita could react, Samura jumped down from the tree again.
With the strength to jump down, he swung his own slash.
Okita Souji placed his sword to the side. There was no time for her to dodge at such a close distance, so she could only block.
Ping————
"Uh-huh -" Okita Souji couldn't bear the power of this slash, and was knocked back several meters, sitting on the ground.
And Anno Zuomura.
Snap.
The knife in his hand fell to the ground.
His hand was... numb due to the reaction force.
"You can stop." Kondo Shusuke appeared between the two with a satisfied smile.
"In this battle, it was a draw, Souji Okita fell down, and Anno Samura threw his sword. They can all be regarded as symbols of failure. So, do you have any objections?"
Zuo Cun pulled Okita up, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
"no disagreement."
"Let's just tie it."
Anno Zumura bowed to Kondo Shusuke and Okita Souji each, picked up his sword, sheathed it, and showed a smile.
"Well, everyone, we'll meet again if we have the chance."
Kondo Shusuke and his four disciples stood beside him and looked at the young man.
The chicks leave the nest and try to find food on their own.
