Sunlight Breathing

"That man was the greatest swordsman, the creator of the original Breathing Style, Sun Breathing. He'd met Muzan Kibutsuji and still hadn't managed to kill the Demon King!

"If even he couldn't kill the Demon King, how could we, his inferior imitators, possibly stand a chance against Muzan Kibutsuji? We'd only be going to our deaths." As soon as he finished speaking, Suzuki Mufeng suddenly yanked Shinjuro Rengoku toward him and clenched his fist, punching Shinjuro hard in the face. "Mufeng, what are you doing?" "Mr. Mufeng, Father, please, both of you, calm down!" The Rengoku brothers were startled by Suzuki Mufeng's sudden attack and immediately rushed to get between them. "You keep saying it's impossible and pointless. I've wanted to punch you in the face for ages. That felt great." Suzuki Mufeng had been unhappy with Shinjuro Rengoku's defeatist talk, but after punching him in the face, he felt much better. "You bastard! I'm a former Flame Hashira! How dare you hit me!" Shinjuro Rengoku stepped forward and darted in front of Suzuki Mufeng, slamming a fist into his cheek. Suzuki Mufeng wasn't about to let him get away with that. He immediately aimed for Shinjuro's face and hit him back. The two of them fought like ordinary men brawling in the street, trading punches. "Father, Mufeng, both of you calm down! Stop it!" "Don't fight! Please, stop fighting!" "Oh my, Mr. Mufeng and Rengoku, what are you doing?" "Stop it already, you idiots!" In the end, the Kocho Sisters arrived at the Rengoku estate and found them like this. Shinobu Kocho finally pulled Suzuki Mufeng and Shinjuro Rengoku apart, putting an end to the farce. "Pfft, Mr. Mufeng, your face! I have some medicine for the swelling. Here, use this." "Haha—Suzuki Mufeng, it hasn't even been that long, and you've turned into a Boar's Head!" Suzuki Mufeng kept a straight face and immediately formed Hand Seals, using Water Style: Water Wave. A small puddle formed at his feet, and its reflection showed his swollen, pig-like face clearly. After everyone intervened, Suzuki Mufeng and Shinjuro Rengoku were forcibly separated and confined to a room and the courtyard, respectively. "Ugh—That old man really hit hard!" "Mr. Mufeng, the ointment should clear it up in about a day. Also, Mr. Rengoku asked me to give you this." Suzuki Mufeng was a little surprised. He hadn't held back against the old man and had aimed every punch at his face. And yet he was giving him something? Could this be some kind of elaborate revenge? "The Rengoku Family has passed down the Book of Successive Flame Hashira for generations. I can't believe he was willing to bring it out." As soon as Suzuki Mufeng got the book, he began reading. Sure enough, it contained records of Sun Breathing, including its breathing techniques and movements, though the descriptions were rather crude. "Moon Breathing is the Breathing Style closest to Sun Breathing. Flame Breathing must be the undisputed second-closest." As he skimmed the book, he saw how each generation of Flame Hashira had refined Flame Breathing. Yet it always retained traces of Sun Breathing and could never surpass it or reach its level. Perhaps that was what had driven Shinjuro Rengoku to despair. "But the insights of those who came before are still useful. The first Flame Hashira studied every movement Yoriichi Tsugikuni made while using his Breathing Style and recorded it here, giving later Flame Hashira invaluable experience. With this theoretical foundation, I may know how to perform Sunlight Breathing, First Form." Suzuki Mufeng jumped down from the steps and stood in the middle of the courtyard. He drew the Nichirin Sword at his waist as warm sunlight fell upon him. For a moment, Kanae Kocho thought she saw a pure white radiance around him. Suzuki Mufeng closed his eyes, and his breathing rhythm abruptly changed. He put power into his waist and spun, holding the Nichirin Sword. He seemed to vanish, and a ring of light formed along the sword's path, like a halo created when sunlight refracted and reflected. The blade's gleam shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow. "How was that, Kanae? My Halo?" Kanae Kocho was startled when Suzuki Mufeng suddenly appeared beside her, and her body trembled. The ring of light was still there, yet Suzuki Mufeng had appeared at her side. "How did you get beside me? Who was the one swinging the sword?" She looked back toward the middle of the courtyard, but the halo had already vanished. She was sure she'd just seen it. "Just a little trick. I used light to create an afterimage, then added a little visual misdirection to make it look like magic. I also incorporated features of Flame Breathing and Thunder Breathing to give it enough speed and power." He'd also drawn on Body Flicker Shisui's techniques from the Naruto world. Hokage Mufeng had been close to Shisui Uchiha as a child, so he knew quite a bit about Shisui's afterimage Body Flicker Technique. "There are still flaws. I really need to visit the Kamado Family and see Hinokami Kagura before I can truly complete Sunlight Breathing, First Form: Halo." Suzuki Mufeng took a book from his robes and handed it to Kanae Kocho. "This contains all the medical knowledge I know. I'll leave it in your hands." Kanae Kocho took the book and looked at Suzuki Mufeng, who was packing his things, before speaking. "The Master already knows that you killed the fleeing Lower Rank Six. Although some of the Hashira objected, the Master wants to make you a new Hashira. What do you think?" "I don't deserve it. The Flame Hashira defeated Lower Rank Six. I only finished the job. Let's talk after I've truly killed one of the Twelve Kizuki." As Suzuki Mufeng was about to leave, Kanae Kocho's Kasugai Crow suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed on her shoulder. "The Eternal Paradise Cult has appeared in the Entertainment District. There may be a member of the Twelve Kizuki there. Flower Hashira, please investigate! Please investigate!" The Eternal Paradise Cult—hadn't Doma killed Kanae Kocho? Could it be happening in the next few days? "Miss Kanae, I'm heading to visit a relative of mine who's seriously ill. He needs your help. Could you come with me?" He didn't want this girl he'd only recently met, as lovely as a flower, to wither away. That was the only excuse he could think of. Besides, Tanjuro Kamado really was in poor health, so he wasn't lying about that. "But I have a mission, Mr. Mufeng. Please allow me—" "That's all right, Kanae. As soon as I finish what I need to do, we'll head straight to the Entertainment District and investigate together. It won't take up your time." Kanae Kocho had wanted to refuse and say that the Twelve Kizuki were more than Suzuki Mufeng could handle right now. But when he leaned close, she somehow found herself agreeing. Suzuki Mufeng breathed a sigh of relief. With me there, maybe I can change the original story's ending. "Suzuki Mufeng, so this is what you've been up to! While I was away, you secretly tried to win over my sister. When did you start having designs on her? Confess!" "Shoo, shoo. This is grown-up talk. Kids shouldn't butt in." "Big Sister! You're too softhearted. Hurry up and turn him down!" "I'll ask the Master about it. Besides, I'm only going with Mr. Mufeng to see a patient. It shouldn't take long. Shinobu, take this book back for now." "Miss Kanae, there's no need to waste time. Let's set off as soon as possible."