Kesshō returned to the training hall after an hour, having been delayed due to being dragged to a bath by Yuki. The hall felt oddly quiet for the fact that the other students would have been training at the time. Opening the shoji she stepped in to be greeted by the students arranged into two perfect rows on either side of her, most of whom she had seen before, and many that she just saw for the first time.

Hori stood at the end of the two rows down the middle, smiling at her. All the students were carrying a bokken so she collected hers from its place and walked through the middle of the two rows looking for an empty space to stand at, neither understanding the purpose behind this, nor being given any directions by Hori.

Just as she passed the first three students, one of the two students charged straight towards her from behind. He performed a horizontal slash aimed at Kesshō's head. Not having practiced against opponents as short as Kesshō, he missed when Kesshō ducked her head just slightly. Spinning on her heel, Kesshō elbowed him on the side of his body, accidentally hitting a pressure point. He fell to the ground writhing with pain, causing Kesshō to jump aside, surprised at her own unintended brutality, reaching out to him to ascertain if he was alright.

As she was distracted, two others charged at her at once. Kesshō snapped back to attention and deflected the first attack and struck the second person straight in the stomach with her bokken. He crumpled to the floor as the first one swung again. Kesshō tossed her bokken in the air and, in the moment his attention diverted to her bokken, she stepped within his attack and flung him over herself with the help of his own strength, causing him to land on his back. She grabbed her bokken as it fell downwards and turned to face any who dared to attack.

Everyone hesitated at first, glancing at each other and signing amongst themselves. Kesshō, keeping a completely emotionless face on the outside jumped with excitement inside, knowing that she did well, the look of approval clear on Hori's face. Everything was going just as she imagined it would once she mastered the art of the sword. There was the doubt in her mind that she got better in an instant without much practice, which was weird, but she disregarded it.

She did anticipate she would need to fight against the other students, and due to this, she was preparing strategies, moves that weren't taught, some ideas to distract or disarm them, and a recap of her Taijutsu lessons with Hori. She could see him smiling at her improvement in Taijutsu as well. The techniques seemed nearly impossible to her at first, but when she used one on the man at night yesterday, she started to understand how they were done.

With three down, there were still thirty-seven left. Believing in strength in numbers five charged at Kesshō at once, their swords raised above their head. They struck at Kesshō's head at the same time. To dodge the attack, Kesshō retreated to the side through a small opening in the attack, big enough for her. She struck the two by her side, one with her bokken and one with a spinning back kick.

With two more down, everyone charged at her at the same time, unaware that this only decreased their own chances. Kesshō was much faster than anyone here, with so many attacking her at the same time, their attacks were bound to be uncoordinated, easy to dodge, counter and redirect.

Two bokken came towards Kesshō at once. Redirecting the first to the side she ducked under the second, closing in on its owner and striking him in the stomach. Withdrawing her bokken she struck the first one with an upwards arc, flooring him then and there. Realizing her speed could be used for more than dodging attacks, she decided to put it to use, using her speed to deliver much harder hits.

She struck the bokken of the girl nearest to her four times in quick succession. Kesshō's strength alone would have done nothing but combined with her speed, the force was enough to make the girl lose grip. Seizing the opportunity Kesshō struck her on her side, winding her, and causing her to crumple to the floor.

Three bokken charged towards Kesshō just as she dealt with the girl. Sidestepping, Kesshō dodged two of the bokken and using her own redirected the third before hitting its owner in the stomach. Ducking under another slash she sidestepped the next before elbowing the first attack and kicking the second on the shin. As the two lowered their bodies in pain she palm striked them one after the other, knocking them to the ground.

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The attacks of her opponents were starting to get faster and more coordinated. Two or three distracted while another tried to sneak up on her. This, however, didn't work as they planned. Due to her superior hearing Kesshō was able to hear the footsteps of anyone that dared approach even amidst the chaos. As her opponents' numbers dwindled their attacks also became more relentless, along with being less sneaky.

Creating some distance to catch her breath, which her opponents' were also grateful for, Kesshō counted them. There were forty when she first entered the room, and now twenty-nine remained. Many had knocked each other out amidst the chaos, but Kesshō could tell the chances of that happening again were low as their numbers decreased and they started to get a better idea of how to coordinate. Just as her nerves had calmed down and her breathing evened, Kesshō prepared to charge straight in for a final stand, most likely their final stand since she did not plan to lose this.

Her opponents', completely unaware of her intentions, decided to create some distance between each other, giving Kesshō an easy way straight to the center. She knew that is exactly what they wanted her to do, having created the opening for that very purpose. If she was in the center, they would easily be able attack her from all directions. To Kesshō, it was clear as daylight that they didn't learn from their mistakes.

Springing back into battle she hit the guy that stood in the front with a blow straight to the lower jaw before continuing to the center as she dodged three strikes. She swung her own bokken without stopping as she spun on her feet and stepped to the side, her eyes scanning the position of each opponent every second and her ears alerting her of surprise attacks.

Everyone surrounded her and tried to attack, but they were too late for this. Now, having fought a fair amount of different opponents, Kesshō succeeded in getting an idea on how to deflect attacks, something she was having trouble with while fighting an imaginary opponent. And due to her Taijutsu training being all about deflecting and parrying, she was able to combine the techniques she was taught in Taijutsu with her Kenjutsu.

Kesshō focused on deflecting and dodging every single attack, hitting several people while doing so. Her movements were fluid and appeared as if she was just dancing among the other people, none of them being able to keep up with her. Every attack changed her movement, ever so slightly. She adapted to her opponents' attacks quickly and every attack on her resulted in a counter that easily knocked her opponent to the ground.

A few tried to retreat back but Kesshō was much faster than them, and the slightest opening ended with them being struck on the torso or head. With escape not being an option, the remaining ten used all their remaining strength to retaliate. Kesshō was forced to retreat at first, but soon she commenced her counter attack, not allowing them to catch a break.

Matching the movements of her opponents, she stepped right in between their attacks. Her opponents were helpless to do anything in that situation, having already overcommitted to a strike, they simply left it to their fate, which was not kind to them. Four more fell due to this before the others changed their attack patterns, not willing to lose any more.

The remaining six created a hexagonal barrier around her, their constant attacks keeping Kesshō in its center. Kessho commended their coordination which they developed greatly in such a short time. There was no gap in their attacks, all of them covered for each other's blind spots and openings. The barrier was nearly impenetrable, nearly being the keyword.

Their attacks left no opening for a person of normal height, but Kesshō, being short as she was, did have an opening, their legs, one which would be too hard to reach for anyone of normal height without being hit. Lowering her body to the ground in the blink of an eye she attacked at the legs of one of the six, causing him to stumble to the side and knock into another. This broke their entire formation and many even hit each other. Four were knocked out without Kesshō needing to do anything, and the remaining two were also on the ground.

Gently hitting the two on the head with her bokken Kesshō approached Hori. There was again the same feeling that something was wrong and she stayed on her guard as she got near him. She bowed when she was in front of him, keeping her senses on high alert even then like Kurai did when confronting the general.

Hearing the sound of something whistling through the air she stepped directly towards Hori, closing the distance in an instant. The katana barely missed her hair as it sliced down to where she was, cutting off the some of her hair. Seeing the weapon in Hori's hands Kesshō grabbed his hand and flung him over herself. He landed on his back, winded and defeated, the steel sword clattering on the floor as he lost grip on it.

"You... have done well." Hori grunted with some strain in his voice.

Kesshō bowed again, earning a smile from Hori. The lesson ended with that and Hori sent her straight towards the garden for Kyojutsu, where Mei waited patiently for her.