Chapter 181 - 169 Waseda High School Kendo Department

Words : 1374 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

Chapter 181: Chapter 169 Waseda High School Kendo DepartmentThe Waseda University Affiliated High School is located at No. 62 Bajyo Lower Town, Shinjuku District, Tokyo. It was founded in Showa 37 (1962). It is one of the prestigious Waseda series private high schools, offering nearly 40 recommended admission quotas to Waseda University every year. The total of entrance fees, miscellaneous fees, accommodation fees, food costs, and other expenses amounts to approximately 1 million yen annually. The school is fully equipped, with complete facilities and single dormitory rooms. Tutors are also hired to help students with university entrance exams, allowing them to attend prep classes without leaving the campus. This is a veritable private aristocratic academy, and ordinary families cannot afford such exorbitant fees. Of course, Kamigoe High School is the same, and in some respects, it even does better. The members of the Kamigoe Kendo Department waited at the gates of Waseda High School with their sword bags and clothes bags. Hanamaru Yugetsu looked at the golden words "Waseda High School" at the school gate and said: "Hmm... I remember there are a few skilled students here." He was obviously referring to kendo. Uesugi Sakura looked at his sunglasses-wearing face and asked, "Uncle Yugetsu, how does your skill compare to my father-in-law’s...?" Honestly, he hadn’t seen Hanamaru Yugetsu fight. "Not great, not great; my brother knows the Jigen Style Secret Technique, and I’m just a newbie." Hanamaru Yugetsu’s tone seemed dismissive, but generally, he had this laid-back demeanor. Calling himself a newbie was completely self-deprecating. Uesugi Sakura knew that his uncle was also a well-known Jigen Style swordsman in the kendo world. He took this opportunity to ask more about his father-in-law’s move—"Cloud Shine." "Uncle Yugetsu, the Jigen Style Secret Technique... is it ’Cloud Shine’?" Hanamaru Yugetsu turned his head, glanced at him through his sunglasses, no expression visible: "You’ve seen it?" "I saw my father-in-law use it once this morning." "During sparring," Uesugi Sakura added. "He needs to use that move against you during sparring?" Hanamaru Yugetsu’s voice revealed deep surprise and doubt, but then he reconsidered, "Hmm... maybe he wants to teach you. My brother cares so much about little Hanabi, and now you’re his son-in-law. Teaching you the secret technique isn’t impossible." He turned back to look at the people walking from the school gate. He pondered for a moment. "To be precise, ’Cloud Shine’ as a Jigen Style Secret Technique is not a specific move, but rather an adjective." "—As if lightning flashes across the clouds during a storm." "As long as you grasp the essence, every strike you make can be called ’Cloud Shine.’" As people from the school gate approached, Hanamaru Yugetsu spoke with a more serious demeanor. Uesugi Sakura continued to listen as he continued: "In the Jigen Style, there’s the rule of ’practicing three thousand cuts swinging in the morning, and three thousand cuts swinging at night,’ just like Nakamura Hanjiro’s four-person cut in Bakumatsu, who practiced eight thousand times daily against the trees in his garden to master the kasaya cut." "Once mastered, even a single strike can leave him almost unparalleled." Uesugi Sakura understood a bit; it was like with one exceptional move, you could conquer all. Using Cheng Yaojin’s three axe strikes to describe the Jigen Style seemed quite fitting. If the momentum is strong and the move is absolute, the effect will be good. Uesugi Sakura nodded and said, "So... to learn the secret technique ’Cloud Shine,’ do you need to practice swinging every day?" "It seems simple, doesn’t it?" Hanamaru Yugetsu smiled at him, "But while the practice method is simple, it doesn’t mean it’s easy to master. Many things are like that." "But once you master it, being invincible among your peers is the basic standard." After saying that, Hanamaru Yugetsu reverted to his previous demeanor, patting Uesugi Sakura’s shoulder and saying earnestly: "Kendo is so boring; why practice so much and get so tired, enjoy life first. "Being first in the nation is just for the title and some money; little Sakura, you’d be better off drinking more with me." "That’s the real way to enjoy the prime of your youth." "So we should disband and go home quickly; Uncle Yugetsu, I’m listening to you." "..." Uesugi Sakura thought, Uncle Yugetsu, you may not need money and live comfortably, but I do need money! The 2 million I just had is gone, and my pocket money is much less now, depending entirely on little Hanabi to support me. I would be embarrassed if I said I wasn’t living off a woman. Therefore, he disregarded his uncle’s suggestion. Seeing no response from him, Hanamaru Yugetsu shook his head, his casual attire making him look quite young: "Little Sakura, you don’t even know how to care for Uncle Yugetsu; I haven’t rested for a whole hour." He was referring to the time he spent taking the train. The Waseda High School Kendo Club advisor arrived. He was a brawny man with a square face, whose robust frame reminded one of Dwayne Johnson. Of course, not as muscular as that, but bulkier than an average Japanese person. Clearly, he hadn’t skimped on intake of high-protein foods. Upon seeing the group, he immediately recognized Hanamaru Yugetsu and, intrigued, approached to chat. What Uesugi Sakura overheard was generally about topics like, "Why haven’t you participated in competitions for so long?", "The Jigen Style needs someone like you.", "Are you interested in participating in this year’s national competition?"... and so on. Of course, Hanamaru Yugetsu always brushed them off by saying, "Kendo is boring, and I prefer drinking more." Kumazawa Onijiro’s eyes even showed surprise looking at him. After some miscellaneous chit-chat, the advisor, named Kumazawa Onijiro, learned that he was now the newly appointed advisor for the Kamigoe Kendo Department and was here just to understand Kamigoe’s current strength. It was supposed to be a martial arts exchange, but actually, they were here to learn. Uesugi Shio understood that Kamigoe’s foundation was inadequate, so through the school, they expressed an intention to exchange with Waseda High School, and only yesterday did they learn the other party had agreed. "Everyone, please follow me," Kumazawa Onijiro said to the Kamigoe group. On the way, they saw many students still at school over the weekend. Their uniforms were suit-style. Shirts, ties, suit jackets, with the school emblem on the right chest. The pants and suit jacket were the same color. The girls’ skirts were tweed-patterned short-skirts, and the ties were replaced with red ribbons as accessories. Girls with slightly shorter legs weren’t visible at all besides seeing their thick, gray leggings, leaving no interest. Truly uninteresting. Accustomed to the sailor suit short-skirts of their school’s uniforms, the boys of the Kamigoe Kendo Department thought so. They arrived at the Waseda High School Kendo Club. On the side corridor of the Kendo Hall were the words "Kendo Hall," and the small horizontal words below read "Waseda High School." Kumazawa Onijiro led everyone inside. Possibly because they were there for the exchange visit, there were still many students training on a Saturday. Many students practicing strikes and empty swings, their helmets soaking with sweat, and the heavy gear made Uesugi Sakura feel hot just looking at them. Why not turn on an air conditioner? Noticing them, a girl with hair stuck to her forehead ran over holding her helmet, nodding and greeting politely: "Hello, I’m Higashiyama Chizu, the captain of the Waseda High School Kendo Club; please take care of me." Also being a captain, Uesugi Shio also nodded politely in return: "Uesugi Shio, captain of the Kanzaki Togoshi Private Academy Swordsmanship Department, visiting for the first time, please take care of me." Although she usually seemed lazy, she did well in terms of etiquette. Kumazawa Onijiro smiled, waving to the members of the Waseda Kendo Club, standing in the middle to introduce everyone together: "I just met the Kamigoe swordsmen, and to exchange martial arts, one must come with the attitude of equal learning. Later, we will select five people for a confrontation exchange match. "Everyone please remember, regardless of strength, etiquette is most important." The Waseda Kendo Club members said in unison, "Yes!"

Chapter 181 - 169 Waseda High School Kendo Department

Comments (0)