After two days, Kanoru and half of the samurai at the frontline camp walked out, marching toward Entori, their home. The war had ended abruptly.
Two days ago, while training his body, Kanoru was forced to stop after an hour as a storm suddenly formed. A tornado appeared to the northeast of the camp, yet strangely, it remained stationary. Despite its stillness, the surrounding wind became violent, tearing through the camp and forcing Kanoru and the samurai to flee to a safe distance.
As time passed, the tornado began emitting a blue hue. From a distance, Kanoru felt an overwhelming power of wind radiating from it. Every samurai in the sword wind realm, whether at the first or second stage, stood frozen, staring at the glowing tornado in a trance.
Kanoru, mesmerized, gazed at the blue light. With his naked eye, he felt as though he was witnessing the very mystery of the power of wind. Everything around him faded, and in his vision appeared a phantom figure practicing the sword technique he had derived from the five styles, merging the power of wind with the sword.
The figure completed the technique, paused briefly, then began performing another set of sword moves. As Kanoru observed, he realized the new technique felt both familiar and unfamiliar—it carried the essence of the first but was more refined. It was an advanced version.
After finishing the second technique, the figure continued, performing a third, which was again an evolution of the previous one. Then came the fourth technique, even more advanced than the third. Each successive technique built upon the last, forming a progression that deepened Kanoru's understanding of the power of wind.
After that, the figure slashed his sword toward him, and the vision disappeared.
Coming out of the trance, Kanoru learned that he was not alone—everyone who had entered the sword wind realm experienced the same phenomenon. Some even advanced to higher stages, while others, like him, gained knowledge of the next stage.
Ten minutes after Kanoru regained awareness, the storm dissipated. They returned to the frontline camp and began repairing the damage.
While working, Kanoru and the others heard the sounds of battle. Rushing to see what was happening, they found a figure glowing with a blue hue, fighting alone against three Niwai higher-rank samurai. Lord Mori, Master Kaomisa, and Master Negi stood nearby, silently observing the fight.
The figure moved as if he were the embodiment of the wind. Despite their combined strength, the three Niwai higher-rank samurai could only match him, neither side able to land a decisive blow.
After half an hour, a ship arrived, and from it, four higher-rank samurai moved at incredible speed to the battlefield. The fight came to a sudden halt. It was then that Kanoru and the others finally saw the glowing figure's face—it was Master Junzo. But something had changed. He looked younger, and the aura he emitted was far greater than that of any higher-rank samurai.
Without a word, the four higher-rank samurai on their side and the seven enemy higher-rank samurai vanished from sight.
As a joyful atmosphere spread through the camp, everyone knew that even if the war had not officially ended, their chances of victory had dramatically increased after Master Junzo advanced to the final stage of the sword wind realm. Master Junzo alone could now fight against three higher-rank samurai.
However, they were still one higher-rank samurai short compared to the enemy. But one of the enemy's higher-rank samurai was a pirate, and their forces were made up of warriors from two different families—the Niwais and the Sanadas. Even a slight disagreement between them could lead to the war's end.
Kanoru's guess proved right. Just two hours later, a rumor spread through the camp—the war had ended.
By evening, more details emerged. The Niwais would return to their territory, while the Sanada family was granted control of the Western Coast. This coastline stretched from the river down to the Eagle Mountains in the south.
The next day, the Niwais and the Sanada withdrew from their frontline camp across the river. However, Kanoru's side kept their camp intact, staying vigilant. They did not trust the Niwais, and they knew little about the Sanada.
But today, Kanoru and half of the higher-rank samurai were finally allowed to return home.
Now, riding his horse, Kanoru was eager to return home and begin training. He now knew how to advance to the third stage of the sword wind realm and needed to strengthen his body to withstand the energy behind the third gate. The war had pushed both his realm and strength forward by leaps and bounds.
"I still don't want to participate in another war until I can fight against higher-rank samurai," he thought. The risks were too high if he lacked the strength to either face or escape from a higher-rank opponent.
Beside him, a voice asked, "What are your plans after returning home?"
Kanoru glanced at Asuna and replied, "What other plan is there besides training?" Then, after a moment, he asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing," Asuna said.
Kanoru then asked, "Did you meet Master Junzo?" He had wanted to meet Master Junzo to confirm the training method he had grasped during Junzo's advancement to the fourth stage of the sword wind realm.
Asuna nodded. "Yes, I met Uncle Junzo."
"Why?"
"I wanted to ask about the enlightenment I received during his merging with the wind spirits," Kanoru explained.
Asuna responded, "I know about that."
"Then tell me."
"According to Uncle, it wasn't enlightenment but rather your understanding of the power of wind showing you the way forward. That's why only those who already understood the power of wind received the gift."
Hearing this, Kanoru felt reassured. The knowledge he had gained about advancing to the third stage of the power of wind was not wrong.
With this thought in mind, he continued talking with Asuna as they rode toward Entori.
Two days later, as the sun set, they finally arrived home. Their journey had been slow, with no urgency. Every night, the group celebrated the war's end, savoring their victory before returning home.
At the gate of his home, Kanoru found his father, mother, and sister waiting for him. As soon as he stepped down from his horse, his little sister jumped and hugged him. While holding her, he noticed her strength had increased.
After entering his home, he learned that his sister had managed to open the first gate, even if only for a short period. The happiness didn't end there—his father and mother had advanced to middle-rank samurai a year before turning thirty. Since strength began to decline after thirty, reaching the middle rank before then not only fortified their bodies but also meant they would be more resistant to disease and could live longer.
He spent the entire next week with his family, training his body and working to master the second sword technique with forty moves. Unlike the first technique, this one didn't focus on sword movements but rather on controlling the power of the wind. He had to merge two different methods of controlling wind into one.
One day, while training his body and circulating the chakra behind the third gate, he had to stop as his father informed him that the Lord had summoned him.