Chapter 95: The Faces of the Nine Hashira x Giyu Tomioka Rushes Forth
Giyu Tomioka was a calm and introverted child. Protecting his master and exterminating demons was his life's purpose. At the same time, Giyu was also incredibly nostalgic and deeply attached. He always wrote letters home to his master during festivals and holidays. The red haori he wore was a memento from his late sister, Tsutako. When his sister died protecting him from a demon, the boy resolved to live on, carrying her portion of life as well.
He took the letter from Kagaya Ubuyashiki. A single glance confirmed it was Master Sakonji Urokodaki's handwriting. Thinking back on how he hadn't returned for the New Year because he was tracking Akaza, the boy felt a pang of guilt. He composed himself and began to read aloud seriously.
"To Master Ubuyashiki, may you be well. From Sakonji Urokodaki."
"Six months ago, I took on a student named Eiichiro Kamado. His talent is extraordinary. I report this specially to the Master."
'So, Master has taken a new student after all.' Giyu Tomioka couldn't help but feel happy for his master. He had always known how much his master suffered, especially after Sabito died protecting him from the Hand Demon. His master had been utterly devastated. For him to finally move past it was truly remarkable. Giyu gathered himself and continued reading.
"Eiichiro is the most outrageously talented child I have ever encountered in my life. According to his younger brother, Tanjiro, even before becoming my student, he had already slain demons twice on his own."
Giyu's eyes flickered. This new junior brother has some skill. He continued:
"When we first met, he passed my selection test in less time than it takes to brew tea..."
"After that, in less than half a month, he completed ten thousand swings for the first time, achieving an air slash with a reach of three meters..."
"Mm... Ten thousand swings in half a month, and an air slash? Eiichiro is stronger than I was!" The speaker had yellow hair tipped with fiery red—the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
"Talent must be realized to become brilliant. No need for modesty, Kyojuro." A man with white hair wrapped in a flashy jeweled headband, gold ornaments on each ear, and two short swords linked by a chain on his back—the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui—recalled his own arduous path as a shinobi. He wasn't overly surprised. In fact, a certain vacant-eyed child nearby seemed even calmer than him.
Muichiro Tokito, as usual, showed no interest in anything, indifferent to everything. Ten thousand swings in half a month? Please. He was the man who became a Hashira in just two months!
Hiss... hiss... The white snake, Kaburamaru, flicked its tongue, seemingly impatient. If the Master hadn't specifically asked Giyu Tomioka to read the letter, Obanai Iguro wouldn't have bothered listening; his own haiku were far more interesting. Beside him, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, was even more restless, barely suppressing his agitation so as not to be disrespectful in the Master's presence. As for some genius named Eiichiro? Killing demons was far more satisfying!
"Giyu, continue reading." Sensing the growing restlessness, the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, clasped his hands together with a sharp clap. "Silence!" The air in the main hall seemed to freeze for an instant, falling completely quiet.
Giyu Tomioka looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who gave him an encouraging nod. The boy continued reading:
"Eiichiro... completed twenty thousand swings in the second month, thirty thousand in the third, forty thousand in the fourth, fifty thousand in the fifth. Now, he is approaching sixty thousand. His air slash can even reach a distance of twenty meters..."
"And this is without me teaching him any Breathing Styles, achieved purely through his own effort."
Hmm?!
After the restlessness and forced silence, the atmosphere in the room finally shifted subtly.
The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, looked thoughtful. "If what former Hashira Urokodaki says is true, then we must admit, this child is talented." The young Shinobu had been interested in pharmacology since childhood. To prescribe the right medicine, she had devoured medical texts on human anatomy. She had a profound understanding of the human body's limits. "At the very least," she stated matter-of-factly, "it indicates that Eiichiro possesses exceptional natural physical strength, comparable to that of an average demon." She glanced at Gyomei Himejima—another individual whose physique rivaled, or even surpassed, that of demons.
"Namu Amida Butsu..." Gyomei Himejima fingered his prayer beads, tears streaming down his face again. Whether it was because he found a kindred spirit or something else, he was moved to tears.
Giyu Tomioka took it all in, continued reading towards the end, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn't speak them. He simply froze. Instantly, the room fell silent once more.
"Finished?" Sanemi, hearing no more, couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glare, his eyes heavily bloodshot. Giyu Tomioka didn't answer. The other Hashira looked over, puzzled. The boy finally seemed to react, stiffly turning his neck to look at Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"Allow me to read the rest," Ubuyashiki said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Master."
The letter returned to his hands. The head of the Ubuyashiki family, who had fought Muzan for nearly a thousand years, surveyed the room and said meaningfully, "Therefore, I have rated this child, Eiichiro, as 'Upper Kinoe'."
"If anyone in the future can slay Muzan Kibutsuji, it will surely be my disciple—Eiichiro Kamado."
That name! Sakonji Urokodaki? How arrogant!
BOOM! The atmosphere in the room instantly ignited.
Kyojuro Rengoku burst into laughter. "Hahaha! I really want to meet this fellow!"
"To have the former Water Hashira vouch for him like this, he must be truly remarkable."
"Perhaps it's all just appearances? I'd like to see if that child is as flamboyant as imagined, capable of even killing Muzan!" Tengen Uzui was intrigued as well. Beside him, Muichiro Tokito stared with his hazy eyes. "Is it over?"
The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, nodded vigorously, her stomach rumbling. She was hungry again. "I wonder if this Eiichiro child can eat as much as I can..."
The Hashira reacted variously. Finally, the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, spoke. "Master, let's bring the child here to see. If he is truly talented, we must cultivate him carefully."
"Who will go?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked, agreeing.
All the Hashira—except Muichiro, who was zoning out—turned to look at Giyu Tomioka. Kagaya Ubuyashiki followed suit, his gaze settling on him.
Giyu Tomioka: "..."
He uttered two cold words: "I will." He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his resolve firm. Let me, his senior brother, test him and see if he is truly worthy of Master's evaluation! For once, the usually taciturn boy burned with a rare passion.
That same day, a Kasugai crow took flight, carrying the news of Giyu Tomioka's impending return towards Sagiri Mountain.
Meanwhile, at 5:30 in the morning, Roy finished dinner under Gotoh's care, once again entered the familiar Sea of Cognition through 'deep sleep', swam for a bit, and pushed open the gate to the Demon Slayer world.
The familiar sensation of falling... The boy opened his eyes again, but Makomo's pretty eyes were nowhere to be seen. It seemed that ever since she realized Roy could see her, the little girl had been avoiding him, always looking down when they spoke, never meeting his gaze.
It was amusing, and a little frustrating. Regardless, Roy paid her no mind, ate breakfast with his master as usual, and went out to practice his sword.
Today... with his explosive increase in physique, he wanted to see if he could finally break through the bottleneck that had held him back for days!
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