7 The Breath Of All Things

Time flew by, and a year had passed. 

Since Hayashi had become the top student, life had become rather dull. 

The assistance provided by the ninja school had proven inadequate. Aside from theoretical knowledge, practical skills were of little use to him. He had already mastered techniques like the Three Body Technique and shuriken throwing to perfection. 

Thus, three months ago marked the point when his shadow clone could last for four hours. It was then that he bid farewell to school life.

Day in and day out, apart from meals, he spent his time exercising. He practiced swordsmanship tirelessly and delved into the meaning of the blade to understand his own path of swordsmanship.

In the span of a year, the Hawkeye template had unlocked to [9.22%]. 

In the spiritual realm, Hawkeye had transitioned from a child to a teenager. 

Throughout his growth, Hawkeye had spent far more time practicing swordsmanship and seeking understanding than engaging in combat. Even scenes of battle had become scarce in the spiritual realm.

Yet, to him, Hawkeye's sword practice and comprehension held greater significance than mere combat.

Although Hawkeye rarely fought, Hayashi keenly felt his strength rapidly ascending.

Because...

"Peaceful... so serene..."

Upon returning from the spiritual realm to the training area, Hayashi was struck by the stark difference in the world around him.

The environment, the entire world... At that moment, it seemed to be enveloped in a profound tranquility.

To his ears, there was only the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat. Yet, amidst the silence, another sound emerged—the unmistakable sound of breathing emanating from ahead.

The source of the sound emanated from a pile of wooden puppets specially crafted by woodworkers.

Realizing that the breathing sound indeed originated from the wooden puppet, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Even after ten seconds, the surreal sight persisted.

Hayashi rose to his feet and retrieved a samurai sword he had purchased half a year ago from a nearby sword stand.

With a sharp "shhhhhh", the blade was drawn from its sheath, slicing through the air with a silvery white streak.

"Catching!" 

The blade descended smoothly, cleaving through the pile of wooden puppet effortlessly. 

Moments later, the pile was neatly divided into two halves, crashing heavily to the ground.

[Ding! You have successfully embarked on the path of the swordsman. Reward: Beginner's Gift Pack.]

[Ding! You have received a 'Beginner's Gift Pack'. Would you like to open it?]

Staring at the divided wooden puppet, he was still reeling from the shock. His mind was processing the events, trying to make sense of what had just transpired.

It wasn't until the second notification chimed that he responded, "... Yes." 

As the notification rang out, two objects materialized before his eyes. They rested on the tatami, waiting to be discovered.

One was a sleek black kimono, while the other was an unassuming bamboo sword. 

"No interface, yet it feels like a game notification... reminiscent of digitalization. But there's no personal information template or space backpack... Huh?" Hayashi muttered to himself as he picked up the kimono and bamboo sword, his curiosity piqued. 

The moment his hand grazed the fabric of the kimono and the bamboo sword, a surge of unfamiliar information flooded into his mind. 

The kimono wasn't just any ordinary garment; it possessed unique properties. Upon wearing it, the kimono would adjust to the wearer's body shape. Furthermore, it boasted self-cleaning capabilities and could even undergo chakra repair to mend any damages it sustained. 

While not offering any defensive capabilities like armor, the kimono's useful benefits made it exceptionally suited for combat. It alleviated the need for frequent washing and maintenance—a godsend for the lazy. 

However, amidst the allure of the kimono, Hayashi's attention was drawn to another item—the Shigure Kintoki. 

It was the weapon wielded by Yamamoto Takeshi, the rain guardian of the Vongola Family in 'Hitman Reborn'. Though it appeared as a simple bamboo sword on the surface, it possessed the remarkable ability to transform into a formidable sword of unparalleled sharpness when wielded by someone possessing both courage and talent. 

Setting the kimono aside, he rose to his feet, clutching the bamboo sword. With a fluid motion, he swung the blade at a wooden post lying nearby. 

"Swish-crack!" 

In an instant, a streak of white light flashed by, cleaving the wooden post effortlessly into two halves as if it were mere paper. 

As Shigure Kintoki gleamed golden in his hand, the bamboo sword transformed. Its blade shimmered with a cold, metallic sheen, radiating an aura of deadly precision. Even the handle morphed into black and white iron. 

With a mere thought, Hayashi reverted Shigure Kintoki to its original form—an ordinary bamboo sword. 

"Though it may not rival the Yoru of the twelve Supreme Grade Blades, it's still a fine blade," Hayashi remarked, assessing its quality. 

Without delay, he assumed a cross-legged position on the floor. Placing the bamboo sword on his lap, he closed his eyes and took steady breaths. Soon, he entered a state akin to sleep.

This was Mushin—a method cherished by swordsmen for understanding their own path of swordsmanship and cultivating their mental state. 

In this serene posture, he found himself enveloped in profound tranquility. 

The world around him once again transformed, enveloping him in a serene aura. Faint whispers of life reverberated from every corner, like the gentle pulse of nature itself. 

Some were his own, while others belonged to the myriad of things surrounding him. 

After a prolonged period of meditation, Hayashi opened his eyes and couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "As expected of Hawkeye," he murmured.

"To have attained the ability to sense the Breath of All Things at such a young age... He must be on the verge of reaching the realm of Grandmaster" 

He had finally glimpsed the immense strength of Hawkeye's swordsmanship. 

Despite the template being unlocked to a mere 9.22% progress, not even a tenth of the way there. He had already honed his ability to sense the Breath of All Things.

While this ability didn't guarantee the ability to cut steel, it brought one closer to that elusive state. 

As Hayashi had previously explained, there was a vast chasm between a swordsman who could not sense the Breath of All Things and one who could. Though he himself had not yet reached the level of cutting steel, he had certainly embarked upon the path of a swordsman. 

However, this journey would prove longer and more arduous than that of a swordsman ascending to the realm of Grandmaster. 

As for why being able to sense the Breath of All Things didn't equate to being able to cut steel, the explanation was simple: while there were countless objects with different properties in the world, not all could be easily cut through.

Swordsmen and great swordsmen in the One Piece World possessed the ability to cut through mountains and seas because they could sense the Breath of All Things in nature. By capturing that breath, their blades could treat objects as if they were human adversaries to be severed. 

Yet, even someone as formidable as Hawkeye had encountered limitations. His slash had been thwarted by the 'Diamond' Jozu, demonstrating that even great swordsmen couldn't cut through everything. 

So why was Hawkeye revered as the world's greatest swordsman? 

The answer lay in his unparalleled skill and mastery in this domain. 

But Hawkeye's ascendancy hadn't come overnight; he had meticulously cultivated his abilities over time, as evidenced by the progress of his template. 

Hence, for Hayashi to replicate the feat of slicing through an iceberg with a single stroke, it would require a considerable investment of time and effort.