By the time Makomo led Kanzaki Kumo up Mount Sagiri, the sun was already setting, but the whistling sound of wooden swords cutting through the air could still be heard from the courtyard.
As they drew closer, they saw an elderly man with white hair, wearing a light blue kimono with a cloud pattern and a red Tengu mask, standing with his back to them.
With his keen eyesight, Kanzaki Kumo could also see two young boys standing in front of the old man, focused on swinging their wooden swords.
One had thick, pale orange hair and delicate features that held a certain sharpness, though a hideous scar on his right cheek marred that beauty.
This person was Sabito.
The other had black hair and cool, handsome features, but his sea-blue eyes were filled with a deep sense of gloom, lacking the youthful energy a boy should have.
He was the target of the ‘Giyuu-style isolation’ in the original story, Tomioka Giyuu.
“Master Urokodaki, I’m back!”
Makomo was already waving and shouting happily the moment she saw Urokodaki Sakonji’s back.
“Makomo?
You passed the Final Selection?!” Urokodaki Sakonji turned around immediately, his voice thick with excitement.
Looking at the smiling girl, he stepped forward quickly, even ignoring Kanzaki Kumo standing to the side.
He looked the girl up and down, only sighing in relief when he saw she had no obvious injuries.
“Yes…” At the mention of the Final Selection, Makomo’s mood darkened slightly as she thought of the Hand Demon.
But some truths still needed to be told to this old man who dedicated his heart and soul to training his disciples.
After a brief silence, Makomo briefly recounted the events regarding the Hand Demon, mentioning Kanzaki Kumo’s life-saving grace, his powerful talent and strength, and his purpose for coming to Mount Sagiri.
Urokodaki Sakonji heard that the demon he had captured and placed on Fujikasane Mountain had become the culprit behind the deaths of his disciples, and that the masks he gave them to ward off calamity had become markers for that demon to identify its targets.
This revelation caused the old man, who had been full of spirit just moments ago, to look significantly dejected.
Fortunately, his will was strong enough that it didn’t take him long to adjust his mindset.
He turned to look at Kanzaki Kumo, who had remained silent throughout.
“You are Kanzaki Kumo?” It wasn’t the first time Urokodaki Sakonji had heard the name, but it was indeed their first meeting.
“That’s right, Senior Urokodaki.
Nice to meet you, I am Kanzaki Kumo.
My family’s Little old man…
ah, no, my master should have mentioned me in his previous letters to you.”
Kanzaki Kumo fully demonstrated what it meant to ‘not be serious for more than three seconds’.
Accustomed to the concepts of seniority and respect, Urokodaki Sakonji didn’t approve of Kanzaki Kumo’s playful nickname for his master, but he wasn’t about to bicker with a boy over such trivialities—after all, he wasn’t his disciple. You are reading on NovelPing, the official source.
Thinking this, he glanced at Makomo standing nearby, then turned his head to look at Sabito and Tomioka Giyuu, who were taking the opportunity to slack off.
Well, his own disciples still called him ‘Master’ properly.
Wait, are those two slacking off?
Urokodaki Sakonji snapped back to reality and noticed Sabito and Tomioka Giyuu slacking while he was talking to others.
He immediately glared at them, scaring them into swinging their swords with all their might.
Kanzaki Kumo: Poor kids…
“Kuwajima did indeed mention you in his letters; he was full of praise for your talent.” Urokodaki Sakonji shifted his gaze back to Kanzaki Kumo and spoke slowly.
“Really?
How did he praise me?” Kanzaki Kumo almost responded that way instinctively, but his rationality successfully stopped the words from coming out, changing them to: “It’s nothing, I just have a little bit of talent.”
“Kuwajima mentioned in his letter that your eyes are very special, capable of remembering any move after just one look and replicating it.
Is that true?” Curiosity flickered in Urokodaki Sakonji’s eyes; while he knew his old friend wasn’t one to brag, such a talent was a bit too formidable.
It was also the first time Makomo had heard of Kanzaki Kumo’s talent, and she looked over in surprise.
The two little ones behind Urokodaki Sakonji, though appearing focused on their swords, had also concentrated their attention here.
“Of course it’s true.
I can demonstrate it right now.
These are moves I saw Makomo use during the Final Selection.”
Kanzaki Kumo nodded and then drew his nichirin blade.
“Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash.”
“Third Form: Flowing Dance.”
Kanzaki Kumo performed two Water Breathing sword techniques in succession.
These were what he had learned from Makomo during the Final Selection—though only these two, as Makomo had resolved all the demons she encountered using only these moves during those days.
After Kanzaki Kumo finished his demonstration, everyone present, including Makomo, stared at him in a daze.
Even Makomo herself hadn’t known that Kanzaki Kumo had’stolen’ two moves from her.
However, within the Demon Slayer Corps, there was no concept of’stealing’ when it came to the inheritance of Breathing Techniques.
Urokodaki Sakonji looked at Makomo, and she nodded to him, acknowledging that these were indeed the moves she frequently used on Fujikasane Mountain.
“What an astonishing talent,” Urokodaki Sakonji could only sigh in amazement after a moment of silence.
“In that case, you should have no problem learning any sword technique.
However, if you want to grasp the true essence of a technique, you still need guidance from others.”
Through observation, Urokodaki Sakonji also noticed that Kanzaki Kumo’s moves just now had only mastered the ‘form’.
Perhaps because his comprehension was high, there was a tiny bit of’spirit’ to them, but his level was still some distance from Makomo’s; it couldn’t be considered truly mastered yet.
“That is indeed the case.
Senior Urokodaki has an extraordinary eye.”
“Enough, there’s no need for you to keep acting serious in front of me, kid.” Urokodaki Sakonji shook his head slightly.
“By the way, Kanzaki kid, let me ask you: have you already mastered Total Concentration Breathing: Constant?”
It was only when Kanzaki Kumo demonstrated those two Water Breathing moves that Urokodaki Sakonji noticed his breathing.
Because when using Water Breathing sword techniques, Kanzaki Kumo had shifted his breathing as well.
However, since he hadn’t systematically learned Water Breathing, his breathing fluctuated significantly from the Total Concentration Breathing he was originally maintaining, which was how Urokodaki Sakonji noticed it.
“Yes, I mastered it not long ago.” Although he had temporarily switched Breathing Techniques, Kanzaki Kumo didn’t feel any discomfort.
He had tried this privately while on Fujikasane Mountain; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here to learn Water Breathing in its entirety.
“Your talent isn’t just about having a pair of uniquely gifted eyes.
That fellow Kuwajima is truly lucky.” After a moment of silence, Urokodaki Sakonji spoke slowly, his tone carrying a faint hint of envy.
“Alright, it’s getting late.
Let’s eat first.
I’ll teach you Water Breathing tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Senior Urokodaki.”
As if to celebrate Makomo’s successful return, Urokodaki Sakonji had already prepared a feast of ingredients in advance.
Urokodaki Sakonji’s cooking was surprisingly good, and Makomo naturally helped out in the kitchen, appearing as though it wasn’t her first time.
Kanzaki Kumo, meanwhile, chatted idly with the two boys who were currently lying like corpses on the floor.
Of course, he was only chatting with Sabito; Giyuu was currently in his daily state of self-isolation.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”