Today's lesson took place in a grassland field. Kei's father had led her here, carrying two swords with him. One of them is his regular sword, strapped in his sword belt while the other was carried across his back. Unlike the former, however, the weapon is contained inside a long synthetic leather bag preventing her from seeing inside. Once they reached their usual training location, her father turned around and handed her the sword bag, to which the girl excitedly open it up to look at her newfound sword. Her excited expression swiftly changed into one of a disappointment when the bag revealed a wooden sword in the shape of katana.
"Eh, a wooden sword? But I want to use a real one." Kei complained as she looked up from her sword towards her father. While it was certainly an improvement compare to the bamboo sword she wielded before, she was confident she would be able to use a live blade with her skill level.
"Fool! I've beaten stronger shinobi than you with that wooden blade!" her father scolded, causing the girl cowered slightly in fear. Keeping a stern look on her, he took a moment to compose himself before continuing, "I will let you use a real sword once you graduate from the academy. Now, get ready for suburi."
"Yes father." the girl replied meekly before taking her position beside him, not wanting to incur further wrath. Every time before she started her lesson with her father, they would practice multiple sets of cutting practice together to warm up. Each set, they would alter their striking angle to the imaginary opponent in their mind. After a thousand swing or so, Kei found her arms shaking and her breathing quite labored. In comparison her father barely broke a sweat, chuckling at the sight.
"I-I'm ready." the girl finally announced as she straightened up herself. In response her father smirk nodded, summoning a wooden blade from a scroll as he faced her.
"Well then, let's see how long you will last today."
With a loud kiai, the father and daughter rushed towards each other as they trade blows against each other.
"Eh, a wooden sword? But I want to use a real one." Kei complained as she looked up from her sword towards her father. While it was certainly an improvement compare to the bamboo sword she wielded before, she was confident she would be able to use a live blade with her skill level.
"Fool! I've beaten stronger shinobi than you with that wooden blade!" her father scolded, causing the girl cowered slightly in fear. Keeping a stern look on her, he took a moment to compose himself before continuing, "I will let you use a real sword once you graduate from the academy. Now, get ready for suburi."
"Yes father." the girl replied meekly before taking her position beside him, not wanting to incur further wrath. Every time before she started her lesson with her father, they would practice multiple sets of cutting practice together to warm up. Each set, they would alter their striking angle to the imaginary opponent in their mind. After a thousand swing or so, Kei found her arms shaking and her breathing quite labored. In comparison her father barely broke a sweat, chuckling at the sight.
"I-I'm ready." the girl finally announced as she straightened up herself. In response her father smirk nodded, summoning a wooden blade from a scroll as he faced her.
"Well then, let's see how long you will last today."
With a loud kiai, the father and daughter rushed towards each other as they trade blows against each other.