Ancient Kyoto

When he arrived at the training ground,

he saw a group of young swordsmen diligently practicing their Breathing Styles and swordsmanship. As their swords flashed through the air, the elemental forces of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire also began to manifest.

Clearly, these swordsmen had all mastered the rudiments of the derivative Breathing Styles.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi was among them, guiding some of the less gifted swordsmen.

There had never been a shortage of geniuses in any world. Just like the Hashira later established in the Demon Slayer Corps, each was a Breathing Style genius far beyond ordinary people.

These Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen had either been raised by Ubuyashiki from childhood or survived battles against Demons. They were all elites.

Some geniuses needed only a little guidance from Tsugikuni Yoriichi to learn, and even develop their own Breathing Styles.

But the less gifted among them needed Tsugikuni Yoriichi to teach them patiently.

Fortunately, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was a patient man.

"Lord Sarutobi!"

"My lord!"

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen arrive, the many warriors practicing hurriedly lowered their swords and respectfully greeted him.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen had not taught them Ninjutsu, he was still an honored guest whom the Ubuyashiki Clan Head treated with respect.

And the strength Sarutobi Hiruzen had displayed was beyond the reach of these warriors, who had only just begun learning swordsmanship.

Sarutobi merely nodded in acknowledgment, then went over to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

He didn't speak to Tsugikuni Yoriichi right away. Instead, he waited until Yoriichi had finished instructing the swordsmen.

"Yoriichi."

"How's the progress?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.

"Most of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen have learned a Breathing Style."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi replied with a smile, seeming quite pleased.

"The rest just need more practice..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, looked helpless. Who cared about the swordsmen's progress?

"I meant your progress on a Breathing Style suited to me."

"And no matter how skilled they become, they'll never reach your level, will they?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi smiled sheepishly.

"There's nothing special about someone like me..."

"There will surely be swordsmen who surpass me in the future."

"As for the Breathing Style you asked me to develop, Mr. Sarutobi..."

"I have a direction in mind."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi said,

"But I still need some advice from you..."

"After all, the Breathing Style you're asking for doesn't follow the same system as the one I usually use..."

Ordinary Breathing Styles pushed the body to its limits and trained its abilities, while Sarutobi Hiruzen's request was the opposite.

He wanted to nourish and restore his body's abilities, which posed a challenge even for Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

Fortunately, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was talented enough to put Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind at ease.

"You've already got an idea?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Yes..."

"If the goal is simply to extend your lifespan..."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi became serious as he discussed his area of expertise.

"That would be quite easy to achieve."

"But I believe you're aiming for more than that, Mr. Sarutobi..."

"Do you have a particular element in mind?"

"Or is there a kind of energy you'd like to emulate and learn from?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into thought.

He understood that Tsugikuni Yoriichi was asking which elemental direction he wanted the Breathing Style to take.

"I don't have any particular preference..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.

"If I had to choose, I'm good with Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and Lightning..."

"What?"

This time, it was Tsugikuni Yoriichi's turn to look perplexed.

To use Breathing Styles with the attributes of Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and Lightning all at once—that was something only a Deity could do, wasn't it?

He'd probably need five lungs. Even Tsugikuni Yoriichi could use only one Breathing Style attribute at a time.

"I was joking..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled. It was quite amusing to see the usually composed Tsugikuni Yoriichi change expression.

He hadn't actually been lying. He really was good with all five attributes.

But those five elemental attributes probably wouldn't pair well with something like extending his lifespan.

"If I had to say which attribute I leaned toward..."

A glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, as though he'd thought of something.

"It would be..."

Kyoto,

Though the Land of Days was a small country with a sparse population, its capital was still quite prosperous.

At least, compared to the desolate scenery Sarutobi Hiruzen had passed along the way,

Kyoto looked like a true ancient city.

Buildings stood in close rows, and people thronged the streets.

Even at night, countless oil lamps shone, making the city seem as bright as day.

The Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters was far from the city, but still within the Kyoto region. It wasn't very far away, and the carriage ride had taken only half a day.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had come down from the mountain to look for experimental subjects. He figured that Kyoto was densely populated, so it wouldn't lack people—or Demons. With such a large population, it should be possible to raise some high-ranking Demons.

At the same time, he'd come to look around the capital and experience the customs and culture of ancient Japan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was dressed in white robes, with Masahiro, who carried a sword, at his side. His slightly graying beard and dignified face gave him an air of authority.

Passersby bowed and moved aside as they went past, all assuming Sarutobi Hiruzen was some great personage. They were the very picture of deference.

"My lord."

"Kyoto is quite lively at night..."

"If you don't care for it, you can retire first."

Masahiro bowed slightly. Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's calm expression, he assumed that he didn't like the surroundings.

After all, traveling by carriage in this era was quite bumpy.

"No need..."

"I'll just look around."

Sarutobi Hiruzen declined Masahiro's suggestion.

The jolting of the carriage hardly affected a Ninja's physique.

It was just that, having lived two lives and carrying Sarutobi's memories, Sarutobi Hiruzen found nothing new in such bustling sights. At most, he'd look twice; he wouldn't let his feelings show.

Kyoto's streets were still lined with stalls selling strange wares and snacks at night.

But after taking a few glances or catching a whiff of the food, Sarutobi Hiruzen lost interest.

No matter how unusual things were in this era, it was still an ordinary ancient world.

Even the supernatural Demon Slayer Corps and the Demons kept to the shadows instead of revealing themselves to the world.

Clearly, ordinary people's history was the true course of this world.

"Just as I thought. Even if I'm curious..."

"Having inherited the Third Hokage's memories, I already feel profoundly separated from this mundane life."

"In my previous life, I experienced far greater splendor than what's before me,"

"and now, I only want to peer into the boundless supernatural."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, feeling that he couldn't fit into this era.

"But..."

"Since the ordinary course of history is this world's dominant theme..."

"If I could transform this world into one of supernatural powers..."

"the Space-Time Source Energy I could obtain would probably be immense."

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought,

"But with my current abilities, I'm probably incapable of doing that..."

"Teaching a few people to use Chakra would be easy enough."

"But to spread Chakra widely and influence the course of technological history..."

"I'd probably have to bring the Ten-Tails Divine Tree here."