Chapter 146: Jade Dragon Flag, IH Convention, I want it all!

Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio

At Saito’s home in Osaka.

“Father, I heard you calling me just now. What’s the matter?” Shinji Saito was at the lower seat, looking at the old man at the upper seat respectfully.

Fukutaro Saito looked at his son with cloudy eyes, “Have you mastered the true potential of the sword power?”

Shinji Saito was abashed, “Father, I’ve been involved in the business for many years. I can’t meditate anymore. To me, sword power is vague and insubstantial. Considering the magnitude of sword power that Tomoshichi had comprehended at the age of 22, he managed to emerge as the second runner-up in this year’s Asahi Kendo Tournament, when he reaches 30 years old, I will let him take over the position as the head of the household.”

The current Saito family is headed by Shinji Saito. However, he had no talent in the area his family specialized in and preferred to dabble in business.

Fukutaro Saito had two sons.

The elder son used to be a genius in Kendo. He fought with Miuma Sugawara of the Sugawara family, and both of them signed their consents for a deathmatch. Unfortunately, he was defeated by Miuma Sugawara, who sliced him across his waist and caused his death. It was only after his death did Fukutaro make Shinji Saito head of the household.

Shinji Saito has two sons and a daughter now.

The elder son is Tomoshichi Saito, who is rather talented as he comprehended sword power at the age of 22. He is now 24 years old.

Fukutaro Saito nodded. He had already predicted this to happen, yet he still hoped that Shinji Saito would be interested in Kendo as he was one of his sons. He continued as if he were about to faint, “Tell Tomoya to come back to me.”

Shinji Saito was shocked. He then raised his head and said, “Father, Tomoya is on a mission at the Deity Rising Palace.”

Fukutaro Saito then replied in a soft tone, “The people from the Deity Rising Palace have always requested our family to protect them every year, helping them chase away spirits without giving us any benefits. Do we look like a charity organization?”

The Deity Rising Palace isn’t gaining any benefits… Shinji Saito, on the other hand, was showing respect to the Deity Rising Palace. The Deity Rising Palace was an organization made up of the Onmyoji and witches. They were well distributed in Japan, and their headquarters was in Tokyo. However, its existence was not known by many, as they were highly mysterious.

Fukutaro Saito soothed his emotions and said, “Let’s replace Tomoya with Tomoshichi. I have received news saying that the successor of the Yagyu Flying Sword Style has shown himself?”

“Alright.” Shinji Saito answered politely, “Everyone is talking about it on the internet now. However, it is just a method by NHK to drum up the Jade Dragon Flag Competition, so I think we can ignore it.”

“If memory serves me right, Tomoya should be a high school student as well. Let him participate in the competition.” Fukutaro Saito coughed, and Shinji appeared puzzled by his words, he said, “I was notified by Sword Saint Takeda that he will choose a successor on Mount Genrei. He will pick the best one out of the Big Eight whose age is under 18 to be the successor.”

“But it is not necessary for us to join the Jade Dragon Flag Competition, right? If Tomoya is to join the competition, he will probably reveal his true strength.” Shinji Saito was totally confused. His disciple would be the one who was joining the competition, not Tomoya, who was his second son.

Cough… Fukutaro Saito shook his head and said, “Sword Saint Takeda wants to choose the successor from the Big Eight, but he did not mention that it would be from the current Big Eight.”

There were hundreds of Kendo clans in Japan. Although the Saito family was one of the eight most prominent Kendo clans, who knew if there would be some geniuses popping out from other small clans?

When that day comes, these small clans will bring their young and talented fighters to Mount Genrei to fight for the precious position. Only the strongest would be qualified to be the successor of Sword Saint Takeda.

When the Sugawara family received this news, they saw the nonsense spouted by Togoro on NHK’s program. They made a request for all other families, still practicing ancient Kendo styles, to allow their children to join the Jade Dragon Flag Competition.

The Sugawara family was the most powerful in the Ancient Kendo Community, and they had the most influence in both the business and political world. Hence, no one dared to go against them when this notice was released. The purpose of the Sugawara family’s plan was clear and straightforward – to see if there were any emerging geniuses among all the Kendo families so that they can make proper preparations to become Sword Saint Takeda’s successor.

By combining the advantages of the styles from hundreds of families, Sword Saint Takeda managed to create the Almighty Nature Stroke, which was an absolutely breathtaking style. Therefore, as the most powerful Kendo family in modern Japan, the Sugawara family would definitely not allow this precious chance of becoming his successor to slip away.

Now Shinji Saito had fully understood the situation.

For Father to allow Tomoya to join the competition, there had to be quite a few powerful disciples from the other eight families. The Jade Dragon Flag Competition was a platform for each Kendo family to compare notes through the friendly Kendo matches as a preparation to find out the best successor on Mount Genrei.

As for the Asahi Tournament, it was a competition for the Big Eight of Japanese Kendo to learn from each other. It was also an indicator to check if any families had lost track of their strength levels. If so, they shall be eliminated from the original Big Eight of Japanese Kendo and will be replaced by other families who were more suited to take the position.

“I understand father. I will allow Tomoya to join the Jade Dragon Flag Competition.”

“Good… Now go.”

After leaving the house, Shinji Saito immediately contacted his second son Tomoya to tell him of the succession of the Sword Saint so that Tomoya will want to do well in the Jade Dragon Flag Competition. He also told him to try his best to force the strongest fighters from the other families to reveal their true strengths. It would also help him in narrowing down the focus in searching for the best candidate to become the successor of Sword Saint Takeda.

“Alright.” Tomoya was confident. Shinji Saito smiled and said, “Do not place too much pressure on yourself either. Just try your best like you always do.”

“No, Father! I have to be the champion of the Jade Dragon Flag Competition. I heard people saying that there will be another IH Convention during the summer break. I must take down the title of champion too.” Tomoya Saito was so confident that it made Shiji Saito excited. “I will make sure that Sword Saint Takeda would know that only I, Tomoya Saito is qualified enough to be the inheritor of the Almighty Nature Stroke!”

Not only the Saito family but also the Sugawara family, the Yagyu family, Momoi family, Ono family, and Ito family were sending disciples.

Within these two days, several Kendo clubs of various high schools in Japan were going through weird scenarios.

They realized that a lot of new students had joined the Kendo club as the days came closer to the Jade Dragon Flag Competition. They had never met these students before, but all of them were extremely powerful. With their strong foundations and outstanding techniques, they were all qualified for the Jade Dragon Flag Competition.

Some of them joined the Jade Dragon Flag Competition to try their luck. However, they were like the other Kendo club members from Sakura Kyu. When more and more strong fighters started to join the competition, they would be motivated and thus, becoming competitive in the Jade Dragon Flag Competition.

Just as the young disciples from various clans were joining the Kendo clubs intending to win the Jade Dragon Flag Competition, Kimura Kazuki was living a normal life, teaching Harunaka the ‘Rainstorm Style.’

Harunaka’s talent had surprised him because Kimura Kazuki had no idea about Harunaka’s learning capabilities as she did not like learning at all.

However, she was gifted when it came to Kendo skills and techniques. Harunaka was conscientious, and she managed to improve tremendously within a short time.

Kimura Kazuki was grateful and happy for her improvement. It seemed that there was still hope for the Women’s Team to become champions.

Following the anticipation to win the competition, the day of the Jade Dragon Flag District Qualifiers had finally arrived.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep