The long-awaited day arrived—the day where Nobu would stake his existence against the very family that abandoned him.
All clans gathered inside the colossal palace arena, banners fluttering, crowds roaring with anticipation. Nobu and Beru arrived late, stepping through the grand doors as the announcer declared the fifth match.
The fight was between Nobu's younger brother and the eldest son of the Yashu Clan.
It ended in three strikes.
A powerful punch.
A swift sweep.
A crushing kick.
The Yashu boy fell, unconscious. No surprise—there was a vast difference in strength between them.
Match after match continued. The strongest fighters claimed easy victories… and Nobu too, without saying a word, won three consecutive rounds. His movements were sharp, controlled, and terrifyingly fast. The crowd didn't know his name before—now they whispered it with shock.
Then came the final match:
Nobu vs. His Own Brother.
His brother stepped forward arrogantly.
"Heh. Don't think a weakling like you can impress anyone."
He launched a heavy strike, intending to end it in one blow—but Nobu's expression didn't even change.
He caught the attack.
And countered.
A kick slammed into his brother's stomach.
A punch cracked across his face.
Another blow—too fast for the eyes to follow.
His brother finally managed to land a punch on Nobu's stomach—
—but Nobu didn't even flinch.
With one leap, Nobu soared into the air, spun, and his heel crashed down onto his brother's back like a falling meteor.
BOOM!
Dust exploded.
Silence filled the arena.
The referee, stunned, raised Nobu's hand.
"Winner! Nobu!"
Nobu stood tall… while his family watched him with disbelief.
The Prize of Legends
The announcer granted him the reward—
A legendary sword.
Kagemaru.
The clans—especially the supreme clans—praised his skills. He had defeated his own flesh and blood and won the entire tournament as a VIP.
The Supreme Clan leader requested him to speak.
Nobu stepped forward.
"One day… I will become the leader of all clans. And history itself will remember my name."
Laughter erupted instantly.
Mocking. Insulting. Doubting.
But Nobu didn't care.
He had already proved them wrong once.
He would do it again.
The Truth of Kagemaru
When they reached home, Nobu proudly showed the katana to Baku.
Baku stared at it for a long, silent moment… then pulled out an old photograph.
In it, Baku was younger. Beside him stood two men:
• Nobu's grandfather
• Hokori Clan's first leader
And in Baku's hand… was Kagemaru.
Nobu and Beru froze in shock.
"Why… is that sword with you in the picture?"
Baku exhaled deeply and began speaking—his eyes filled with a pain that time could never heal.
"We were best friends once… brothers. But when I found Kagemaru in the mountains and mastered swordsmanship… everything changed."
His voice trembled with memories.
"They said someone like me—a man without a clan—didn't deserve such a sacred weapon."
One night, they invited him for drinks…
They poisoned him.
Stole Kagemaru.
Stabbed him in the chest…
and threw him into the river like trash.
"But I survived. A stranger saved me and gave me a place to live."
Baku clenched his fist.
"They betrayed our bond… for power and greed."
Nobu's breathing grew heavy.
His grandfather—his own blood—had betrayed his closest friend for a sword.
Now that generation had forgotten the sword's history, and so Kagemaru ended up being gifted to the winner today…
To Nobu.
Fate had returned the blade to its rightful side.
Nobu gripped the katana tightly.
"I'll destroy everything they built on betrayal. I swear it."
For the first time…
Baku smiled a genuine smile.