My swordsmanship soul compelled me to drop this bullshit manga simply because the writer dub the "katana" as the civilian tool. The best dueling weapon to use is a smallsword, jian, or a dagger. This is not subjective, it's a fact because these weapons weigh less and it offers ease of intricate movements with those weapons to apply precise technique. Katana are chambered type of weapons like longswords. There needs to be an arc to generate power in order for the weapon to deal significant damage. That's why daggers, smallswords, or jians are the best for dueling because they rely on thrusting techniques-while the jian is more versatile offering some cutting power. Thrusting techniques are faster because there aren't much preparatory movements involved in a thrust. No, just no. There limits to how much you can tout your horn and boast about your stupid weapon but really now..katana are the last type of weapon i'd use if i was an assassin. I'd rather use a wakizashi. Such trash.