The chapter opens with a soliloquy by Enobaruchi, in which he laments the fact that he has not been able to learn the art of sword fighting. He laments that he is not strong enough to fight in the real world, and he wishes that he could have been a better swordsman than he has been. He also laments his inability to communicate with the other members of his family, who have come to the training ground to learn how to use their weapons.