Rumble Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro

Listening to the battle report from his subordinate, Ubuyashiki Kagaya rose with excitement, clenching his fists as he exclaimed:

"Another one? A powerful swordsman capable of slaying demons!"

The member of the Kakushi nodded, then continued:

"Yes, Master. According to the Mizunoto-ranked slayer Fujiwara Naoto, this swordsman did not seem to know any Breathing Styles at the start."

"Yet, by relying solely on his own god-like swordsmanship, he briefly suppressed Lower Moon Two while it was not even using its Blood Demon Art."

"Afterward, he lured the demon out of town all by himself."

"Then, after seeing our slayer use Water Breathing once,"

"This swordsman mimicked the technique on the spot, using it to sever the demon's neck!"

Having heard the detailed account, Ubuyashiki Kagaya could not help but praise him:

"What a powerful and kind-hearted swordsman!"

"I truly hope to meet this gentleman soon."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not mind in the slightest that this powerful swordsman had learned a Demon Slayer Corps Breathing Style.

Hearing this, the Kakushi member immediately asked:

"Master, shall I invite this gentleman over?"

"He is currently at the Wisteria House in Dongchang Town, and the Rumble Hashira is there as well."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head with a smile and said gently:

"How could I let a swordsman who just fought a demon endure the fatigue of travel to see me?"

"Have a Kasugai Crow deliver a message to treat him well; I will make my way to Dongchang Town to visit him as soon as possible!"

At this time, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's health had not yet deteriorated to its worst state. The Kakushi member thought for a moment, said nothing more, and turned to leave to deliver the message.

Early morning at the Wisteria House in Dongchang Town.

Kujo Tachibana's original goal was to join the Demon Slayer Corps and learn a Breathing Style.

Having finally found the corps last night, Kujo Tachibana certainly had no intention of leaving.

As for Peace Town, Kujo Tachibana had no important belongings there, only a few old clothes—he would just consider them a gift to that stingy boss, Inoue Shogo!

Kujo Tachibana had no desire to bid him farewell.

By now, Kujo Tachibana had already spent the night resting here alongside the members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Around five o'clock, Kujo Tachibana woke up early. After washing up, he took his sword and headed into the pitch-black courtyard.

The biological clock Kujo Tachibana had developed over the last decade was not disrupted by the fierce battle from the night before.

Even though his chest was wrapped in several layers of bandages, he had no intention of skipping his morning training.

He rose early to continue honing his swordsmanship.

After about half an hour, Kuwajima Jigoro, drawn by the sound of the blade cutting through the air, arrived with his own Nichirin Sword.

Seeing Kujo Tachibana insisting on training while covered in bandages, Kuwajima Jigoro admired his dedication, yet could not help but speak up:

"Young man! Sword training is not something to be rushed!"

"You will ruin your body if you keep this up!"

Kujo Tachibana, swinging his blade toward the rising sun, shook his dew-dampened black hair and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a bright smile:

"Thank you for your concern, old sir, but these minor injuries won't affect me for now."

Kujo Tachibana was not just being stubborn; it was the truth.

Ever since he recalled how to activate the Transparent World—the supreme realm—during last night's battle, Kujo Tachibana had realized that his powerful six senses allowed him to control his muscles and blood vessels at will.

One must know that the human body contains 639 muscles and 6 billion muscle fibers!

Every time Kujo Tachibana swung his sword now, he was deliberately controlling his movements, avoiding the use of the specific muscle groups associated with his injuries.

In other words, the injured areas were effectively still resting.

Kujo Tachibana was only exercising the muscles in other parts of his body.

Although the force of his swings could not reach his peak state, it would not hinder the recovery of his wounds.

Furthermore, by controlling the blood vessels around the injured areas, Kujo Tachibana could adjust blood flow to accelerate the healing of his bones.

Kuwajima Jigoro frowned, dismissing the boy's behavior as mere youthful recklessness and stubbornness!

However, the old man was not particularly skilled at persuasion or lecturing.

Since Kujo Tachibana was determined to be headstrong, he didn't mind getting a little workout in before breakfast himself!

"Fine, since you insist, young man, then this old man shall accompany you for a spar!"

Without waiting for Kujo Tachibana to respond, Kuwajima Jigoro drew his Nichirin Sword and charged toward him in the courtyard like a bolt of lightning.

"Boy! Get ready!" After this warning, Kuwajima Jigoro swung his blade directly toward Kujo Tachibana's chest.

Watching the incoming strike, Kujo Tachibana did not dare to be careless, even though Kuwajima Jigoro was missing a leg.

After all, as a successor of Thunder Breathing and a former Rumble Hashira, his combat experience and swordsmanship were not to be underestimated.

Furthermore, the physical enhancement gained from maintaining "Total Concentration Breathing - Constant" for decades was terrifying.

If not for the missing leg and the natural onset of old age, Kujo Tachibana did not believe he would have any chance of winning.

The Kuwajima Jigoro of today was not the same man he would be eight or nine years later, when the main story began.

If you were to be reincarnated as his disciple and chose to betray the Demon Slayer Corps out of fear of death, becoming something like Upper Moon Six, Kujo Tachibana was certain that the old man would not simply commit seppuku.

He would hunt you to the ends of the earth!

He would only commit seppuku after personally scattering your ashes to the wind.

Because, right now, he possessed the ability to do exactly that.

Speaking of which, one must mention the stages of training in Breathing Styles.

Breathing Styles are techniques developed by Tsugikuni Yoriichi to grant humans the power to combat demons.

The basic stage of Breathing Styles allows a user to increase their physical strength for a short period, granting ordinary people the ability to slay demons.

Most Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who learn a Breathing Style remain at this level.

Naturally, this is equivalent to "internal energy," while the swordsman's sword techniques are equivalent to "external martial arts."

Generally speaking, once a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman has mastered the basics of a Breathing Style and combined it with skilled sword techniques, they can slay ordinary demons.

The second stage is "Total Concentration Breathing - Constant"!

This state requires the swordsman to maintain the breathing technique twenty-four hours a day, without interruption, even while sleeping.

Once mastered and the body has adapted to this method, it significantly increases the swordsman's base physical capabilities.

Furthermore, by maintaining the breathing technique over many years, the swordsman's physical strength continues to slowly and steadily improve.

Mastering "Total Concentration Breathing - Constant" is the minimum requirement for approaching the strength of a Hashira!

Once a swordsman has mastered "Total Concentration Breathing - Constant" and combined it with advanced sword techniques that match their Breathing Style's attributes, their strength is equivalent to that of a Hashira, capable of slaying Lower Moon demons and contending with Upper Moons Four, Five, and Six.

Of course, specific combat power depends on many factors, such as the swordsman's physical fitness, the proficiency of their sword techniques, and their combat experience.

This is merely a rough classification.