Due to special historical and cultural reasons, kendo is very popular among Japanese police.
Most police officers have learned kendo, and even an annual national police kendo tournament is held.
This has led to a large number of high-ranking kendo practitioners being police officers, many of whom are masters.
For example, the Chief of Osaka Prefectural Police, Hattori Heizo.
And another example, the Chief of the Criminal Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Oda Giri Toshirō.
Both are recognized as kendo masters within the police force, and both have won kendo tournament championships.
“Director Shiromata.”
The kendo dojo, as the venue for the competition, gradually became filled with a gunpowder-like atmosphere.
Even with Hattori Heizo's serious personality, he could feel his heart beating faster.
He looked at his superior and asked in a deep voice: “How are we going to choose, are we going to have a fight?”
“Yes.”
Seeing this taciturn man, now with his sharpness shining like an unsheathed sword, Shiromata Shotaro felt a sense of awe. Perhaps only such a swordsman could be recognized by the demon blade, Oni-giri.
Their previous tests were too conservative.
Yes.
Before holding this kendo tournament, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department had already organized a group of reliable personnel to contact Oni-giri.
But it was all to no avail.
In the end, the demon blade even got angry.
Scarlet blood mist rose from the blade, and the red-haired youth who had appeared that night, arms crossed, said with a disdainful tone:
“If you want to obtain his power, then fight to your heart’s content. Only the strongest can earn his recognition.”
Regardless of whether this was true or not.
Japan could only choose to do so if they wanted to obtain the demon blade’s power.
The Metropolitan Police Department took the initiative and gathered all their kendo masters.
As for those outside the police system, they were not considered for now.
“Then, let's begin.”
To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, Shiromata Shotaro didn't want to waste time. He had all the participating officers draw lots to decide their opponents, and the competition equipment would be real swords.
“What?!”
This was a situation where they would not only decide the winner but also determine life or death.
Many police officers felt their excitement cool down, considering whether they would be killed by their colleagues during their match.
“I'll go first.”
Oda Giri Toshirō, the chief of the Criminal Division, stepped forward.
He was a serious and earnest man, dressed in a black suit.
Now, he removed his suit jacket and shoes, took out a katana, stood in the competition area, and said solemnly:
“Those of you who are weaker than me, there’s no need to step forward. I won’t hold back.”
“Chief Oda, you’re still as strict as ever.”
Sameragi Shimaji, who had originally wanted to join in the fun, touched his graying hair and shook his head with a sigh.
“He doesn’t want too many casualties among his colleagues.”
Hattori Heizo understood Oda Giri Toshirō’s intentions. He also removed his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, took up his katana, and stood on the platform.
“Please give me your best, Chief Oda.”
“Hattori, I knew you’d come up.”
The two looked at each other, neither going to the locker room to put on protective gear.
In reality, kendo masters of their level could kill with a wooden sword, let alone a real sword.
So protective gear was pointless, it would only slow them down.
“I’ll try to hold back.”
Hattori Heizo was a man of few words, but this single sentence revealed his arrogance.
He stood still with his katana, while Oda Giri Toshirō walked forward, hand on the hilt, searching for an opportunity.
Clang!!
The blade suddenly unsheathed, with overwhelming power and force, cleaving down towards Hattori Heizo’s head.
This was also the practical characteristic of Oda Giri Toshirō’s kendo school, Shinto Muso Ryu. It placed greater emphasis on using momentum and strength to overwhelm the opponent in battle.
But Hattori Heizo was the opposite.
As the name suggests, he has a close connection with Hattori Hanzo from the Sengoku period. In fact, Hattori Hanzo is the ancestor of the Hattori family.
So he used the Niten Ichi-ryu style.
The moment Oda Giri Toshirō drew his sword and swung, Hattori Heizo’s eyes focused like a sword edge, and a flash of light rose from his side.
With a loud clang, the two blades clashed head-on.
Oda Giri Toshirō’s wrist dipped downwards, the tip of his blade rebounded upwards, and the katana in his hand, taking advantage of the rebound force, drew a circular arc. With his wrist as the center, using the rebound force of the two swords colliding, it swirled downwards, slicing towards Hattori Heizo’s waist.
“Hiss!!”
In this split second, Hattori Heizo took a deep breath, his abdomen caved in two inches, and his sword quickly sank down.
At the same time, he let go of one hand, holding the sword with only one hand, using the lower end of the hilt to block Oda Giri Toshirō’s blade.
Simultaneously, taking advantage of Oda Giri Toshirō’s force on his hilt, with his right palm as the lever point, this light stroke swept towards Oda Giri Toshirō’s neck, offense and defense exchanged in an instant.
The two exchanged blows in just a split second, twice reaching the point where life and death were at stake.
On the sidelines, Shiromata Shotaro, as a witness, didn't even dare to shout “stop,” fearing that if he said anything, it would distract the two.
At this moment, whoever lost their focus would be either injured or killed.
“Good!!”
Oda Giri Toshirō became more excited the more he fought. At this life-or-death moment, he stepped forward, raised the hilt of his katana, forming a sloping angle in front of his neck with the blade higher than the hilt.
Hattori Heizo’s blade landed on the blade, sliding outwards.
In this world of deduction, karate masters can break stone pillars with their bare hands, dodge rifle bullets, and kendo masters are naturally no ordinary beings.
The reaction speed of both was far beyond normal humans, their katanas had each become a blur of light, their battle was thrillingly dangerous, life hanging by a thread.
“Whew......”
In this process, the participants, with their hearts and minds on the fight, were actually fine.
But those watching on, Shiromata Shotaro, Sameragi Shimaji, and the others, were all on edge, fearing that something would happen to the two of them.
“We can’t let this continue.”
Deputy Commissioner Morohoshi Tojifu was sweating profusely, urging, “This is too dangerous, they’re likely to get injured.”
“The Prime Minister has already given the order.”
Shiromata Shotaro sighed, “The necessary sacrifices are expected to obtain the demon blade.”
“Those damned politicians!”
Morohoshi Tojifu muttered a curse, wanting to say more, but at this moment, the kendo dojo suddenly shook slightly, and an explosion sounded.
“What happened?”
Shiromata Shotaro frowned and looked at the police officer outside.
“Director Shiromata.” The officer looked panicked and said, “Terrorists are attacking the headquarters, they've already broken in.”
“What?!”
Shiromata Shotaro’s face suddenly turned grim.
The two on the platform also stopped immediately.
......