After eight years, the teenage Kyūta has become a distinguished kendo practitioner. The boy gradually discovers that he can predict his master's movements, and can dodge and move adeptly in combat.
Their initial training sessions go poorly, but Kyūta realizes that he can learn from Kumatetsu by imitating him while performing his household chores. Taking Ren as a disciple, Kumatetsu gives him a new name, Kyūta. However, the Grandmaster declares the actual duel of succession has not come yet. When Ren cheers for him, Kumatetsu is easily defeated. As he watches a battle between Iōzen and Kumatetsu, Ren is impressed with Kumatetsu's persistence despite the lack of support from onlookers. Though Ren is fiercely opposed, he follows Kumatetsu back to the Beast Kingdom out of curiosity but is unable to go back to the human world. While wandering the streets of Tokyo with his makeshift companion, Tatara, Kumatetsu meets Ren and suggests that the boy becomes his disciple. The Grandmaster suggests that Kumatetsu find a disciple in hopes of inspiring him to succeed him.
In the Beast Kingdom, the grandmaster has decided he will retire in order to reincarnate as a deity and names two potential successors: the popular Iōzen, who is also the father of two children, and the powerful Kumatetsu, who is lonely and lazy. Ren steals some food and sleeps in an alley, reminiscing the aftermath of his mother's funeral. With no news of his father and refusing to live with his legal guardians, Ren flees into the streets of Shibuya. Nine-year-old Ren has recently lost his mother.
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