'Shinobu, you need to calm down! Getting angry over such a small matter is childish!'
Her calm gaze fell upon Kiyokawa Izumi not far away. As if to prove her maturity, her emotions remained very stable.
There's no need to fuss with such a little guy — Kiyokawa Izumi's actual age in this body was only slightly younger than Shinobu.
Seeing that his scheme hadn't worked, Kiyokawa Izumi could only raise an eyebrow at her.
No, is she really not angry at all?
Then why were all the medicines he was given bitter?
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't petty; he genuinely hadn't deliberately remembered it until now, he was just saying it casually.
He didn't care at all whether the medicine was bitter or not!
"One point five meters! One point five meters!"
The Kasugai Crow, who loved to watch the excitement, suddenly shrieked.
"?!"
Kiyokawa Izumi looked at his Kasugai Crow, utterly shocked.
This little guy is so bold?
Do you know whose territory the Butterfly Mansion is?
Aren't you afraid she'll pluck all your feathers?
Wait a minute!
Will she think I taught the Kasugai Crow to say that?
He secretly glanced at Kochou Shinobu from the corner of his eye; the small hand under her sleeve was already clenched into a fist, and with her head slightly lowered, her expression was completely hidden.
Kiyokawa Izumi wouldn't believe it if someone said she wasn't angry!
But he could swear to the heavens that he absolutely did not say such a thing! And he absolutely did not mock her height!
Who knew where the Kasugai Crow learned that.
Isn't this scoundrel trying to frame him?
"I swear, I really didn't say such a thing! Shut up right now!"
Kiyokawa Izumi quickly explained, not forgetting to angrily scold the Kasugai Crow above his head.
He shot it a look that said, 'I'll settle the score with you later!'
The Kasugai Crow stood on the eaves, tilting its head slightly, full of confusion.
The atmosphere on the scene was eerily quiet.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, if you can't control your strength, don't blame me, okay?"
Kochou Shinobu spoke the harshest words in the gentlest tone.
Sweating profusely!
Is it still not too late to apologize?
But I'm innocent!
The troublesome Kasugai Crow had already flown away without a sound.
Without giving Kiyokawa Izumi a chance to explain, Kochou Shinobu's nichirin blade was already out of its sheath. Her slender right finger rested on the right side beneath the tsuba, slightly hooked, and the long nichirin blade quickly spun around her finger.
Roughly three rotations, Kiyokawa Izumi thought to himself.
The blade-spinning action hadn't finished when Kochou Shinobu smoothly switched it to her left hand. The nichirin blade, like a dancing butterfly, rapidly spun around the back of her fair hand. The blade itself disappeared, leaving only a cyan arc.
It was also three rotations, and when he looked again, the nichirin blade was already grasped in her right hand.
The movements were elegant and graceful, making Kiyokawa Izumi's hands itch a little — Coach, I want to learn to spin the blade too!
"Is it still not too late for me to admit my mistake now? Believe me, I absolutely, absolutely did not teach that!"
You're not angry, are you?"
"How could I be angry? There's no such thing!"
Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly, that familiar smile seemingly telling Kiyokawa Izumi not to overthink it; as the Insect Hashira, she was a mature adult.
How could she get angry over such a small matter?
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter!"
"?!"
As she spoke, Kochou Shinobu's petite figure vanished before his eyes.
"!!"
One could underestimate her strength, but never her speed.
Kiyokawa Izumi hadn't activated his Sharingan immediately, meaning he was in his normal state.
'Miscalculation!'
In less than a breath's time, a distance of over ten meters was crossed in an instant, and the slender blade tip appeared in the center of his vision.
Too fast!
It wasn't a normal quick attack, but a fatal thrust.
The force was even enough to pierce a demon's skull!
Kiyokawa Izumi didn't even react — among all the demons he had fought, none were as fast as Kochou Shinobu.
He was extremely lacking in relevant combat experience.
Even the Former Water Hashira was far inferior to this speed.
None of those who become Hashira are simple!
Kochou Shinobu's overall strength might be at the bottom, but she was not someone a low-level swordsman like Kiyokawa Izumi could contend with.
However, this elder sister did show mercy in the end; the blade tip was not aimed at his eyeball.
"Do you want to concede?"
Kochou Shinobu, who had stopped just before his heart and slightly lowered her body, said with a light chuckle.
'This feels a bit embarrassing...'
Kiyokawa Izumi grumbled in his heart, but such a battle might not be a bad thing.
Wouldn't it make up for his lack of combat experience?
In the future, he wouldn't be caught off guard by agile demons — speaking of which, there really aren't many who are faster than her, right?
"Sorry, but I want to try again!"
Hearing the determination in his words, Kochou Shinobu looked up slightly, meeting a pair of ominous eyes, mysterious and captivating.
The slight suppressive feeling that came with the Sharingan was definitely useless against a Hashira.
At most, it would surprise them for a moment, but only for a moment.
Perhaps they would think to themselves: 'What strange eyes.'
'Eyes I've never seen before, very unique.'
This level of surprise was not enough to cause a Hashira-level Swordsman's movements to falter.
Kochou Shinobu, though curious in her heart, didn't ask on the spot, still intending to tease Kiyokawa Izumi a bit more.