Slicing Null Ch3

A/N: Sorry for the delays, been in a massive slump lately. Here is Slicing Null Ch3, the next Fate/Defiance chapter will be uploaded in a couple days.

Slicing Null

Chapter 3 - Set a Small Goal

By theMadLad

Mifune was momentarily stunned, he had been… rejected?

“E-excuse me?” He spoke, in a tone filled with more desperation than he would have liked to imagine.

But unfortunately for Mifune… he had heard correctly.

“I refused.” Musashi reiterated once more.

Then he began to walk off.

“W-wait!” Mifune yelled out as he quickly caught up to the walking Musashi, “Could you at least tell me why?”

Such a desperate reaction was a large change in demeanor for Mifune, one which directly contradicted his usually steady character… but he didn’t care, this opportunity was simply too large to pass up or feel embarrassed by!

The Yokai, while not as powerful as he initially believed, would still give a regular Jonin a good struggle. To take it down, at an age before puberty no less, was no easy feat.

…Especially with the knowledge that Mifune had learned from the boy who had followed him there, Takeo, about Musashi being entirely self taught!

With a great teacher… Mifune didn’t dare imagine where the boy would be now. Even the great geniuses from Konoha like The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, or his disciple, The Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi, would likely be pressured by Musashi during their youth!

A true treasure!

Mifune simply could not allow such a talent to be passed up!

Musashi paused before slowly answering, “…My sword is one that must be developed alone. It is only through perilous journey can it be tempered into a peerless blade. In the same way, one needs a certain mindset to reach the seat of zero, and only through countless wanderings can such a state of mind exist.”

Musashi didn’t lie. Higher attainments with the sword were gained not entirely with training, but through changes in mindset or with epiphanies.

Because while you can teach a man how to swing a sword, you cannot teach him how to cut through concepts.

That is something which words fail to comprehend.

In response to Musashi’s words, Mifune frowned, but still nodded regardless. He was also someone who pursued the art of the blade, and understood that trials were necessary for higher attainments.

Swordsmanship was much more than simply swinging a blade—especially for the Samurai.

But he still hesitated, although he understood that it would be difficult to push Musashi to apprentice under him, as it may only sour the boy’s impressions towards him… he couldn’t help but have a dilemma on whether to continue or not.

And eventually, he did decide.

—That it wasn’t worth the risk.

The heavens had finally blessed his homeland with a great talent, it would be the regret of his life if he were to inadvertently drive them away and alienate them.

No, while he may not be able to gain his mentorship, Mifune could still strive to grasp his loyalty or favor. He already had a head start, afterall, what other nation had Samurai?

Now he just had to place the Land of Iron firmly within Musashi’s heart.

“…Before you go.” Mifune spoke, carefully choosing his words before he bowed, “As someone who also follows the blade, I cannot in good conscience leave you without a proper sword.”

His eyes pointed to the shattered remains of Musashi’s wakizashi that laid tattered on the ground.

Although he was someone who believed in self-reliance, that doesn’t mean he was unwilling to accept help, or gifts.

He simply needed to repay them in full.

Musashi frowned at the shards of broken metal before eventually giving Mifune a subtle nod, “Very well.”

------------------------------

The Land of Iron was a harsh place, situated north of the Five Great Countries and covered with snow almost all year round.

But for what it lacked in climate and terrain, it more than made up for with its peaceful state of existence. As likely the most neutral country in the world, along with an extremely disciplined culture and a powerful and deeply respected leader, it lacked any of the internal or external conflicts prevalent in other countries.

If one was willing to deal with the snow and cold, then the Land of Iron could be considered one of the few places where someone could find true ‘peace’ in this war weary world.

But none of that mattered to Musashi.

He wanted to journey outwards and temper himself against the strongest opponents the world had to offer. Every single day since he had received the book, Musashi had trained himself diligently.

He remembered a quote that he was almost absolutely sure that FGO Musashi stole from her alternate self, which was: “Aspire to be like Mt. Fuji, with such a broad and solid foundation that the strongest earthquake cannot move you, and so tall that the greatest enterprises of common men seem insignificant from your lofty perspective.”

A powerful foundation, that’s what Musashi aspired to have.

He lacked a school to go to learn ninjutsu, but that didn’t mean the Land of Iron lacked schools of swordsmanship.

He would often leave to wander various towns and villages in order to observe various techniques he could not learn otherwise. The Book of Five Rings had no mention of Chakra, and he wasn’t so arrogant as to ignore the world’s most fundamental system of power.

—Chakra.

The combination of Physical and Spiritual energy.

The power of the body and the mind as one.

…and a form of energy originating from an alien space goddess belonging to a clan of parasitic world eaters.

Musashi snorted.

What a strange world to live in.

It didn’t help that most Samurai in this world were rather… strange. They didn’t quite fit his previous life’s definition of ‘Samurai.’ Here they made up an entire military force—an army of just samurai, while in his last life, historically, Samurai were a military nobility.

Knights, instead of Soldiers.

In ancient Japan, they were the elite warriors born and raised for battle, unlike the Ashigaru, who were largely overlooked in history and came mostly from farmers, who were conscripted and made up the silent majority of armies as normal foot soldiers.

But here… that was not the case.

In the Land of Iron, the Samurai were all uniformed with a more industrialized form of armor that was only reminiscent of the more well known designs pertaining to a stereotypical samurai. Their armor was made of heavy segmented plates that covered their shoulders, chest, stomach, back, lower sides, and thighs.

But more importantly for Musashi, they also wielded two swords! It was a fighting style Musashi heavily agreed with, as it was almost just like himself!

Unfortunately, they held two wakizashi instead of one wakizashi and a katana. As a practitioner of Niten Ichi-ryū, Musashi heavily disagreed with using a single sword wielded by both hands… like Mifune beside him.

Because if you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely left to right, and it is also over encumbering to use when running on uneven roads, swampy ground, muddy fields, stony ground, or in a crowd of people.

…It was another reason he refused to learn under Mifune.

It didn’t help that he, and even most Samurai, focused on a single kenjutsu over all others… Iaidō, which consisted of quick-drawing a sword from its sheath in a fluid motion that allowed one to instantly defeat an opponent before returning it to the sheath for the next opportunity.

While Musashi could see the appeal, and even pragmatism of the move in regards to preventing an opponent from using Hand-Seals to launch a jutsu… that didn’t mean he agreed with it.

Dexterity alone was not sufficient to win and become strong! It was an inferior strategy of a weak spirit to be dependent on a quick, surprise attack without the benefit of greater strategy!

He hated it!

…But perhaps that was his pride speaking, as he should definitely give it a proper try prior to such criticism. It just… disgusted him inside to see one base an entire fighting style around Iaidō.

He couldn’t help it, perhaps in the world of Naruto, Iaidō would be considered strong, but in the world of his past life… it was nothing more than showmanship and a good means of practice.

Useful to draw against an unarmed opponent quickly… but against a swordsman of skill—meaningless.

Was it any wonder it only became mainstream during peacetime?

…

After briefly greeting Takeo and his mother to reassure them of Musashi’s safety, Mifune led Musashi further into the Land of Iron, inside the city at its heart—Kamakura. The city was large, bigger than one would expect despite the harsh environment. Musashi did not live far from it, as his house resided in the poorer regions at the city’s outskirts.

Kamakura’s architecture was different from the traditional wooden Japanese style homes prevalent in places like Konoha, this was due to the harsh winters where such open housing was unable to keep warm and properly insulate those within. Here most people’s homes were built with stone, which could better insulate a house’s interior, but even so, the more traditional Japanese tiled roofs remained.

…Meanwhile, Musashi’s poor home was still made of wood and became very cold during the winters, which was basically all the time.

Well, at least he could say that he did build it himself.

Musashi had sold the original house which belonged to his family, as his father had left little of, if any, money as inheritance. But not only that, he didn’t want to get a job and work for money, as it would take away time he could otherwise use for training.

Working a job would only lower the speed at which he could draw his sword!

So he sold his house, saved the money earned in the process, and only spent it extremely frugally throughout the years since. Everything else, he essentially did on his own, whether that be catching and hunting food, acquiring water, or even as previously mentioned… building his own house.

…FGO Musashi seemed extremely adamant and detailed about it. But Musashi didn’t blame her, as ending up in random places constantly and without the ability to control when and where you end up… makes knowing how to build a house wherever and whenever, extremely useful.

It also works as a great metaphor for training… and it was something Musashi actually ended up using as well.

…

Upon entering Kamakura, Musashi noticed the eyes that trailed his form, eyes filled with envy, intrigue, and respect. It was likely that they viewed him as Mifune’s next disciple, as for what other reason would they look at him with such eyes?

Mifune was respected in the Land of Iron, to an almost impossible degree. Before the Second Shinobi World War, Amegakure, the Land of Rain, invaded the Land of Iron, wishing to acquire resources necessary for the country’s rapid industrialization prior to the Second Shinobi World War, not daring to invade a more powerful country such as the Land of Fire.

But in the end, they were ‘repelled’ by Mifune, with the Daimyo of the Land of Iron brokering a deal with the Daimyo of the Land of Rain in the aftermath. The Land of Iron’s Daimyo would then go on to create the country’s current neutral status after the war, before dying without heirs.

…And without a proper Daimyo, Mifune became the Land of Iron’s current leader by default. None could match his reputation and he became what is essentially, a military dictator. Or more accurately if one was from feudal Japan—the Shogun.

But that term didn’t exist here, so he was simply ‘the General.’

Of course there were many issues with this on the international stage, but with the country’s current neutral status helping to lessen them to an extent, along with Mifune’s upright and righteous character, it was a mostly non-issue… however, if he was replaced with someone more… ambitious, the situation might have had a lot more issues.

…Afterall, a successful Military Dictatorship in a world like Naruto would definitely keep Daimyos across the world over up at night in a cold sweat.

Regardless, it was all politics… something Musashi really didn’t give a single fuck about. He had yet to truly become a vagabond, but it was not something he would lose sleep over, much less think about in general.

His head was only filled with images of swords.

“Here we are.” Mifune spoke, interrupting Musashi’s tangent of thoughts as he looked up to the building ahead of him. It was decently sized, with multiple large chimneys billowing out smoke that fought against the snow falling from above.

Musashi could even hear the faint clangs of metal on metal coming from within.

“This is?” Musashi asked with the tilt of his head.

“A Blacksmith, the greatest in all the Land of Iron.” Mifune spoke with a nostalgic smile as he glanced at the sword bound at his hip, “He was the one who forged Kurosawa for me.”

Musashi was surprised, “Really?” He had long heard of Kurosawa, the most famous sword from the Land of Iron, and he couldn't help but ask… “Why did you name it Kurosawa by the way?”

If anyone saw how casually he regarded and spoke with Mifune, they would definitely make a face similar to swallowing a raw lemon whole before challenging Musashi to a life or death duel.

But for Mifune, who had already recognized Musashi, this was of course a non-issue, “A reminder.” He spoke with a mix of emotions gleaming in his eyes, before they were chained down with iron will, “It’s name means ‘Black Swamp’ and I named it so in allusion to the Salamander of Hanzo, whose poison still mars my head. Salamanders are born in the swamps, it is an area between soil and water, from there they live their whole lives, and from there… they die. Such a life is one of balance, one of harmony,” His eyes glinted as he eyed his sword, “...and one which only has one possible beginning and end—the Black Swamp.”

Huh.

Mifune probably named it such to remember the will he had the day he fought against Hanzo, not to mention how Hanzo’ epithet was also, ‘Hanzo the Salamander.’ A way to temper himself through allegory in his sword, by reminding himself of the person who he viewed as a sort of ‘fated rival,’ but all-in-all, Musashi still thought it was kind of cringe.

But regardless, it was Mifune’s way.

—And he respected that.

Musashi gave a nod in response to Mifune’s words, and then they stepped inside.

“Shintōgo!” Mifune yelled out, but to no avail, as the pounding of heavy iron muted any sound within the building.

Yet Mifune persisted regardless, walking further into the forge as he yelled out the same name in repetition, “Shintōgo! Shintōgo! Shintōgo!”

…Until eventually, someone responded, “WHAT!”

Mifune laughed as they reached their destination, where a short and elderly man stood beating an ingot of iron into shape. He sighed in frustration before shaking his head and looking over with a scowl, which upon laying eyes on Mifune, became a smile, “Mifune?”

“Hello, old friend!” Mifune spoke before giving Shintōgo a bow, which Shintōgo excitedly reciprocated after putting down his hammer, although with a deeper angle.  As soon as they stood straight once more Shintōgo quickly spoke up, “What brings you here…” before he glanced at Musashi with intrigue, “...and your new… disciple?”

Mifune shook his head, “This is Musashi, he is not my student… but someone even I respect in regards to the sword.” Shintōgo frowned at the strange circumstance as Mifune continued, “And because of this, I view it as a tragedy for such a talent to be without a proper blade.”

Shintōgo looked at Musashi with intrigue, not only for gaining the respect of Mifune, but also for having Mifune act so casually in his presence. If he was so talented that he even caught Mifune’s attention, to the point that he brought him here… “Do you not own a sword?”

Musashi shook his head, “I do own two long swords, but I use them strictly for training my katas and strength. My true swords are a wakizashi which shattered early today… and this katana here.” Musashi spoke as he pulled out the rusted and chipped Katana from out his side without shame.

Shintōgo was disgusted, “...How could you keep it in such poor condition.”

Musashi shrugged, “It was like this when I found it.”

…Even Mifune was speechless.

Shintōgo glared at Musashi before dragging Mifune over to the corner of the room, “Why did you bring such a s-scoundrel to my smith?!”

Mifune held his shoulders to calm him down, “Listen! I met the boy today, and do you know what I saw?” Shintōgo scowled with a red face at Mifune’s words, but he held down his tongue while Mifune continued, “I saw him kill a Yuki-Onna with a wakizashi in the same condition—all by himself.”

“...A Yuki-Onna?”

Mifune nodded.

“This changes things.”

“It does.”

They both smiled at each other, but then Shintōgo frowned, “...Why didn’t you take such a talent as a disciple?”

Mifune gave a weary smile, “I offered, but he refused.” Then he shook his head, “Musashi has his own path to follow, so can you do me a favor and help me support him?”

Shintōgo sighed before giving a gentle nod, “If it’s for you, old friend.”

Mifune smiled, “Thank you.”

Then they both left the corner and walked towards Musashi, who waited in silence for their conversation to finish.

“Sorry for the wait.” Mifune said as Shintōgo walked over to Musashi with a scowl, grabbing a spare katana from a mount on his wall along with a wakizashi before holding them out to the boy.

“Excuse me?” Musashi asked.

“Take them.” Shintōgo replied, “But I have one condition—”

“—I refuse.” Musashi spoke instinctively, interrupting Shintōgo words.

Mifune laughed at Musashi’s words, even as a phantom ache tore at his psyche, “Musashi has his own pride Shintōgo, he won’t take such a gift so easily.”

Shintōgo scowled as he forced the blades into Musashi’s hands, “Such a poor and brittle blade does not suit someone who follows the way of the warrior.” Then he grasped the rusted katana at Musashi’s hip as he looked into his eyes for permission, “...But one stained with the blood of Yokai can be reforged into a suitable one.”

Musahi stared down Shintōgo before he eventually nodded, allowing the man to take the sheathed sword from his side. Mifune nodded with approval, putting a hand on Musashi's shoulder as he spoke, “Although he has a difficult character, he is more than capable of forging you blades worthy of being named.”

Musashi frowned at the word ‘blades,’ but didn’t comment. If there was one thing he learned in his life of poverty, it was that being owing someone sucked. But for a quality blade, it was a worthy burden.

He bowed at Shintōgo before speaking with respect, “I am in your debt.”

Shintōgo's scowl momentarily softened before he snorted and left for his forge, leaving only a few words before they parted, “Use those swords I gave you for now, but know that the ones you will receive will be of a far greater quality—this I swear on my name.”

Mifune watched his old friend’s reaction with a smile, before a soft sigh escaped his lips as he turned to Musashi, “It will take a few months to forge the blades, I hope you can wait in the meantime.”

Musashi frowned at the delay before he eventually shook his head, although he knew the two of them were doing it for his benefit… he couldn’t help but be a bit annoyed. But then he tossed the feeling away before he moved on from it as he looked at Mifune while strapping his new swords to his side and spoke nonchalantly, “...I suppose I’ll set a small goal and defeat every school of swordsmanship in the Land of Iron.”

…Mifune was speechless, before he sighed with emotion, 'Perhaps this was the attitude worthy of a genius?'