Sun Hashira

Kujo Tachibana then proceeded to tell Tanjuro everything about the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as the history between his ancestor, Kamado Sumiyoshi, and Yoriichi.

It was the first time Tanjuro had heard any of this, and after taking a long moment to digest the information, he finally spoke up:

"So, young man, you're saying that the Hinokami Kagura passed down in our family is actually what you call Sun Breathing?"

Kujo Tachibana nodded, his expression grave as he said:

"And it is the most powerful breathing style currently in existence!"

(Kujo Tachibana: If you weren't suffering from long-term malnutrition, you wouldn't look like this right now.) Of course, Kujo Tachibana was not foolish enough to say that out loud.

"I see! So, what brings you to our home, young man?" Tanjuro asked curiously.

Kujo Tachibana thought for a moment before replying:

"Mr. Tanjuro, I have come here for two main reasons."

"First, I hope to learn Sun Breathing, also known as the Hinokami Kagura, from you."

"Second, I hope you will take your family, leave this place, and join the Demon Slayer Corps."

"If you are unwilling to join the Corps, that is fine, but you must move away from here!"

Tanjuro frowned, asking in confusion:

"Teaching you the Hinokami Kagura is fine, after all, you are also working to slay man-eating demons, but why must you make us move?"

"You must understand, our Kamado family has lived on this Mount Kumotori for generations."

"Besides, our family is living very happily here right now; why would you ask us to start over in an unfamiliar environment?"

"Young man, no matter the reason, I will not move."

Tanjuro's stance was extremely firm!

Kujo Tachibana helplessly patted his forehead; he supposed that made sense!

Tanjuro possessed great skill, yet he would rather go hungry and struggle to put food on the table than leave his wife and children behind to venture down the mountain.

(I, Tanjuro, am just that kind of family man!)

If he had wanted to leave the mountain, he would have done so long ago; he wouldn't have waited for someone to come to him.

"Mr. Tanjuro!" Kujo Tachibana said sharply, his tone very serious:

"Do you know! Among the demons, there are many formidable characters!"

"You have already killed four man-eating demons on this mountain, but if they come again, they will not be the same small-fry demons as before!"

"It is not that I underestimate your strength, but I fear you truly would not be able to handle them."

"Besides, even if you don't consider yourself, you should think about your wife and children!"

"When you leave the house to go work, what will happen to them?"

"And you should have noticed by now, your wife is likely pregnant again, isn't she?"

Kujo Tachibana's words forced Tanjuro to reconsider his position; it was true, his wife was pregnant again...

Wait! How did this young man know that Kie was pregnant??

Seeing Tanjuro's reaction, Kujo Tachibana understood his thoughts and explained:

"Because in my eyes, this world is also transparent."

Tanjuro was enlightened. Although he didn't know that his special perception was called the "Transparent World," he understood what Kujo Tachibana meant by a transparent world, because that was exactly how the world appeared to him.

Thinking of this, realizing that Kujo Tachibana was "one of his own," Tanjuro couldn't help but curiously and carefully sense Kujo Tachibana's body.

!!!

The moment he sensed Kujo Tachibana's lungs, Tanjuro was so shocked he stood up!

Quickly grabbing the axe hanging on the wall, Tanjuro frowned and asked softly while looking at Kujo Tachibana:

"Are you human or demon! Why have you come to our home?"

Kujo Tachibana helplessly patted his forehead. Only noticing now?

He was far too slow!

"My right lung was injured in a battle against a demon and lost its function; you can sense it carefully."

"But I am still human, and I still need to breathe; it is just that my method of breathing is different from yours. That is the reason I came to find you to learn the Hinokami Kagura."

Tanjuro froze, and after a long moment, he finally put down the axe and apologized to Kujo Tachibana with great sincerity.

"I am sorry! It was rude of me."

Kujo Tachibana smiled faintly, not taking it to heart, but said helplessly:

"So, can you understand the strength of the demons now?"

"To be honest, even if I cannot use a breathing style right now, you would still not be a match for me."

"Just think, even back when I was uninjured, there were demons I could not handle."

"If you stay here all by yourself, can you really protect your family? If something truly terrible were to happen, you would certainly regret it."

Kujo Tachibana's "talk-no-jutsu" left Tanjuro's expression incredibly complex.

Before he could process it, Kie arrived in the main room carrying several portions of food.

"Tanjuro, young man, it's time to eat. Whatever you're discussing, let's save it for after the meal."

Tanjuro finally snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and took the bowls and chopsticks from his wife.

The Kamado children arrived in the main room one after another. Since it was common in Japan to serve meals individually, each of them had a portion of food already set out before them.

As a guest, Kujo Tachibana naturally received the best, consisting of ingredients the Kamado family usually couldn't bear to eat themselves.

Kujo Tachibana showed no unusual expression; he simply finished his meal quietly and then set his utensils down.

"The food was excellent. Thank you for your hospitality!"

Following this, Kujo Tachibana looked at Tanjuro, who had also put down his chopsticks, and asked:

"Mr. Tanjuro, are you finished?"

"If you are, could you take me for a walk outside?"

Tanjuro nodded, stood up, and led Kujo Tachibana out of the wooden house.

Once the two had moved a distance away from the cabin, Kujo Tachibana spoke up: "Mr. Tanjuro, your physical condition does not seem very healthy!"

Tanjuro looked down at the town at the foot of the mountain and said softly, "It's just some old ailments. It's nothing to worry about."

Kujo Tachibana shook his head. What a stubborn man.

"Mr. Tanjuro!"

"Even if you don't care about attacks from demons."

"Do you want Tanjiro to end up like you in the future!"

"Hiding away on this mountain, starving yourself while trying to raise your children?"

"And then, just like you, leaving this world in your thirties because of heavy physical labor and a stomach that is never full?"

"Unable to even see your own children grow up?"

Without waiting for Tanjuro to answer, Kujo Tachibana began walking down the mountain.

"Mr. Tanjuro, think carefully about what I said today!"

"I will come back tomorrow. If you still hold the same opinion, then I will respect your choice."

Watching Kujo Tachibana, who had already reached the mountainside, Tanjuro took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Young man, you are right."

"Thank you!"

Kujo Tachibana smiled slightly upon hearing this. In truth, even if Tanjuro had refused, Kujo Tachibana would have reported the information regarding Tanjuro to Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

He would have had Ubuyashiki Kagaya send people to pester them every single day!

He didn't believe for a second that he couldn't force them to move.

However, it was better that Tanjuro had come to this realization on his own. Kujo Tachibana raised his hand to summon the Kasugai Crow "Zhong Kui" from the sky, instructing it to relay the news about Tanjuro to Ubuyashiki Kagaya via oral message.

The message consisted of only three sentences:

"Master, I have recruited a 'Sun Hashira' for you!"

"He knows Sun Breathing!"

"Send someone to pick up his family immediately!"