Chapter 3

**Sleeping Sword Talent** is the third chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the final chapter of Volume 1.

## Summary

As Honda Tadakatsu is shocked to see his left arm get cut open, Miyamoto Musashi smiles about how fun this is. Mori Ranmaru thinks that was cool and Yagyu Munenori calls this a surprise. As Oda Nobunaga sneers, Tokugawa Ieyasu can't believe Honda, who has never been injured, has just been scarred. Smirking, Honda calls Musashi a brat as Chosokabe Motochika raves about Musashi turning the tables. Shinmen Munisai claims he had been anticipating this but inwardly admits Musashi actually went far beyond his expectations. The wooden sword finally breaks apart and Musashi asks his dad to lend him his sword. Throwing him a katana, Munisai yells that this is why Musashi should always carry a sword on him before wondering how long it's been since he's seen this expression on Musashi. As Musashi draws the katana, Munisai observes how it looks like he's having fun.

Fourteen years earlier, Munisai made a funny face but his son, Shinmen Takezo (later known as Miyamoto Musashi) cried. At this point, Takezo was about to turn three yet he hadn't spoken a single word and only cried. Munisai worried about the fact that Takezo still couldn't walk or talk and began to believe he could not become a samurai. One day, as he carried Takezo, Munisai came upon a dead samurai with his katana embedded in the ground. Munisai believed the man died on the battlefield and pitied him for dying without any honour. Munisai then noticed that Takezo wasn't in his arms and saw the young boy walking while holding the sword, saying "Katana." That was the moment Takezo walked and spoke words for the very first time. As he struggled to lift the katana up, Munisai ran towards Takezo and warned him to put the weapon down before he got hurt. But as Munisai got closer, Takezo widened his eyes before slashing, cutting his father's left arm. As a few drops of blood splattered on his face, Takezo smiled and said "Blood. Katana."

At that moment, Munisai could tell that Takezo held a tremendous talent for swordsmanship, sprouting up from the earth itself. From that point on, Takezo would carry a sword at all times, whether he was playing or sleeping. He made swordsmanship a part of his own body. The day he turned eleven, Takezo's swordsmanship surpassed even Munisai, whose swordsmanship was praised by Ashikaga Yoshiteru himself. But from that day on, the fire in his eyes sputtered out. After he beat Munisai, Takezo embarked on a training journey but couldn't find anyone who was as strong as his father. Not long after that, he stopped carrying his swords. The reality that there was no-one stronger than himself deeply frustrated Takezo until finally, the once-in-a-lifetime talent with nowhere to go, fell asleep without ever realising his true potential.

As Chosokabe expresses his shock upon hearing that story, Munisai recalls how Musashi cast aside his swords because he was too strong before tearing up. Munisai then loudly thanks Honda as the Nio has woken up the sleeping monster. As he rolls his left arm, Honda guesses he should thank Munisai since Musashi wasn't the only one to awaken. After going a lifetime of being unharmed, Honda had grown too complacent and ended up being dragged out of it by a kid like Musashi. As he raises his Tonbokiri, Honda tells Musashi to continue as he feels like he's burning up. Yagyu notices how the calm atmosphere he had around him before is gone and as Ranmaru gets impressed by his spirit, Musashi admits he's never felt such strong killing intent before. Glad to know that there's been a martial artist like Honda this whole time, Musashi resolves to become stronger and swears to become the strongest by using Honda as his spring board. Liking this, Oda shouts out that he wants to see blood spilled. Right after, Musashi charges in and Honda smirks. As his muscles expand and the clothing on his back is ripped open, Honda proceeds to use **Hundred Fold Spear – Full Throttle: Lightning Burst**. Musashi realises his thrust has gotten faster but he can see it. Musashi leans down and grazes his katana against the Tonbokiri. He then begins running towards Honda while dragging his katana along the Great Spear.

Honda then tells Musashi to get crushed as he pushes the Tonbokiri down. As Musashi gets surprised by how heavy the spear is, Yagyu notes that crushing Musashi with the spear is a viable strategy. As his feet dig into the ground and his hand on the katana's hilt starts to bleed, Musashi realises he's going to die before gripping the hilt with his other hand and pushing upwards so hard, that he manages to slice through the polearm, severing the Tonbokiri. Ieyasu can't believe Musashi sliced through Honda's spear. With Honda seemingly defenseless, Musashi aims to slice off his head, only for his katana to be stopped by something. Holding Musashi's katana back by applying the polearm in his hand onto the pommel, Honda compliments how light this is. He makes sure to inform Musashi that he still isn't near his limit before jabbing the blunt end of the polearm into Musashi's gut five times, sending him flying. Ieyasu believes Honda has finally won but Honda knows Musashi jumped back at the last moment there, noting that is a big deal. Chosokabe encourages Musashi to get up and Munisai says his swordsmanship can't end like this. As he spits up blood, Musashi shakily lifts his left hand and urges Munisai to give him his wakizashi. After Munisai hands it to him, Musashi gets up.

Dual-wielding had long been Musashi's secret technique. With the nourishment of a strong opponent, he will begin to grow rapidly. As the world's greatest talent, the one standing before him, was the world's strongest military commander. Honda urges Musashi to come as Musashi comments on how there was someone stronger than him. Had these two people not met, Musashi's evolution would have never surpassed the speed of history. Musashi draws his wakizashi and resolves to surpass Honda.

In order to cut down the giant tree, Niten Ichi-ryu is unveiled.

## Appearing Characters

* Chosokabe Motochika
* Honda Tadakatsu
* Miyamoto Musashi
* Mori Ranmaru
* Oda Nobunaga
* Shinmen Munisai
* Tokugawa Ieyasu
* Yagyu Munenori