Holding the sword with both hands, his body, which had been suspended in the air, suddenly flipped forward. The water stirred up by the blade followed his movement, forming a circular wheel.
It looked just like a Water Wheel.
He passed through the defense of flames and slashed once.
Even Kyojuro Rengoku had not expected it. He instinctively raised his sword to block, but faced with the incoming Asuramaru, his Nichirin Blade was effortlessly severed!
After the two came to a stop.
Tanjiro hurriedly turned around and frantically apologized.
"Sorry, Mr. Rengoku, I..."
Before he could finish.
Kyojuro Rengoku looked at his broken sword and burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha, that strike just now was magnificent, young man!
To be able to use two Breathing Styles so skillfully—you truly are someone acknowledged by Asuramaru!" He did not care in the slightest about the broken Nichirin Blade in his hand.
All he felt was immense pride at Tanjiro's growth.
He bent down to pick up his broken blade, then turned around with an unchanged expression and a smile.
"Young man, keep growing stronger!"
With that, he turned and prepared to leave directly.
Behind him, Tanjiro looked at his back. It was so radiant and towering that he could not help but call out, "Mr. Rengoku, please rest assured. I will definitely become stronger!"
"Mm, I believe in you!"
That was all Kyojuro Rengoku left behind.
Within the sword, Asuramaru watched Kyojuro leave and could not help the slight upward curl of his lips.
According to the original plot, Kyojuro would next fight Upper Rank Three Akaza aboard the Mugen Train, and in the end, the Flame Hashira would do so for everyone.
He would fight to the death without retreating, falling as dawn rose.
He would die carrying hope, upholding his justice and convictions until the very end.
He was a very charismatic person.
Even Asuramaru had to admit that.
Given the current situation, if Tanjiro wanted to grow stronger in a short time, aside from fully integrating his Breathing Styles.
His only option was to hunt demons.
As for learning Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing and combining it with his own to strengthen it, that was not something he could master overnight.
Asuramaru's thoughts were very clear.
Once Tanjiro could completely master switching freely between the two Breathing Styles, they would leave the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters and hunt demons!
He silently calculated in his heart, beginning to plan how they would proceed.
Meanwhile, outside.
Tanjiro and the other two returned in miserable fashion and continued that day's training.
Fortunately.
The next day.
After not being seen for quite some time, Hotaru Haganezuka finally appeared outside the Butterfly Mansion with a newly forged Nichirin Blade.
He immediately ran into an excited Tanjiro, who waved and happily greeted him. "Mr. Haganezuka, how have you been? It's been so long. My Nichirin Blade..."
Before he could finish.
Hotaru Haganezuka, who was approaching him, drew a sharp blade without a second thought and charged straight at Tanjiro, cursing as he did so.
"You dared to break my Nichirin Blade! I'm going to chop you to death! Atone with your life!!!"
Experiencing Sword Sharpening
Seeing this, Tanjiro had no time to think and immediately dodged to the side, brushing past Hotaru Haganezuka and his blade. When Haganezuka turned around.
The face behind that ugly mask was terrifyingly twisted. He swung the blade in his hand and loudly rebuked him.
"You broke my sword! This isn't over! You bastard..."
Faced with the rebuke, Tanjiro did not make any excuses for himself and immediately apologized. "Ah! I'm truly very sorry. The enemy was too strong, and I nearly died there too..."
Asuramaru watched the scene from within the sword, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
After all, strictly speaking, that Nichirin Blade should have been considered broken by him.
Meanwhile, outside.
Tanjiro never made any excuses for himself and simply continued apologizing.
What he received in return was Hotaru Haganezuka's constant accusations and insults. "It's all because you were too weak that the sword broke! Since you broke my sword, you should just die!"
He raised his blade and began slashing wildly.
In response.
Tanjiro could only turn and run, apologizing as he fled. "Sorry... I'm really very sorry..."
Even though he had the strength to easily subdue Hotaru Haganezuka, he still had no intention of fighting back. All he did was keep apologizing.
The two chased each other around.
However, Hotaru Haganezuka had never truly intended to chop Tanjiro to death. After chasing him for a while, he stopped in anger.
Tanjiro, who was ahead of him, also turned around. After letting out a long breath, he asked, "Mr. Haganezuka, have you forgiven me?"
Upon hearing that, Hotaru Haganezuka, who had just stopped, seemed to have his anger stirred up again.
"How could I possibly forgive you?!"
However, this time he did not attack again. Clearly, he was not as furious as before, though he still had the attitude of someone who very much wanted to chop Tanjiro to death.
Yet Tanjiro acted as though he had not noticed. He simply walked over with a gentle smile and said, "Then, Mr. Haganezuka, you came all this way. Please rest in the residence first."
With that, he walked ahead to lead the way.
Hotaru Haganezuka followed close behind, though his attitude did not change much. He still barked resentfully.
"Don't think I'll let you off so easily!"
Tanjiro could only smile helplessly at that.
The two entered the residence together and came to a sunny side room, where they sat down.
Tanjiro hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Mr. Haganezuka, um, my Nichirin Blade..."
At the mention of the Nichirin Blade, the emotions Hotaru Haganezuka had just calmed were ignited once more. He threw back his head and roared.
"You still want a Nichirin Blade?! Impossible, absolutely impossible! I will never give you a Nichirin Blade!!!"
His attitude was resolute and admirable.
But Tanjiro could not be happy about it. Without that sword, how was he supposed to continue his training?
And if Mr. Haganezuka found out that he had broken two more Nichirin Blades, would he chase after him with a sword again?
Just as he felt lost.
Hotaru Haganezuka's gaze from behind his mask fell upon Asuramaru at Tanjiro's waist, and his eyes held nothing but longing.
"Of course, it's not impossible for you to get a Nichirin Blade!"
Hearing that, Tanjiro came back to his senses and hurriedly asked earnestly, "What do I need to do to earn your forgiveness?"
The moment he finished speaking.
Hotaru Haganezuka, who had long been unable to contain himself, eagerly pointed at Asuramaru and said with urgency filling his voice.
"Let me personally sharpen the sword at your waist once, and I'll give you the Nichirin Blade I forged!"
This condition truly put Tanjiro in a difficult position. After all, it was not something he could decide, and Asuramaru did not seem to like being touched by others.
At that thought.
He gritted his teeth and was determined to refuse.
But Asuramaru's voice sounded in his mind. "Tanjiro, hand me over. It just so happens that I haven't been maintained in a long time."
To be honest, Asuramaru wanted to try it too.
After all, he was a sword now. It was the perfect chance to experience what being sharpened felt like.
Upon hearing that, Tanjiro was stunned for a moment.
He could not hear any reluctance in Asuramaru's words. He was entirely willing, and only then did Tanjiro feel relieved.
If Asuramaru were being forced into it for his sake, then he would rather not have that Nichirin Blade!
Under Hotaru Haganezuka's expectant gaze.
Tanjiro drew Asuramaru from his waist, respectfully presenting him with both hands as he requested, "Please use your finest sharpening technique!"
"Hmph! Who do you think I am?!"
After retorting unhappily, Hotaru Haganezuka also carefully accepted Asuramaru with both hands.
As he looked at Asuramaru in his hands, the sword appeared utterly flawless in his eyes. Whether it was the craftsmanship or anything else, it was the very pinnacle of perfection!
This was simply an unparalleled treasure!
At that moment, there were no other thoughts in his mind. His thoughts had been emptied, and in his field of vision, there was nothing but Asuramaru.
Nothing else could fit into it anymore!
He turned around and set down the sword, took out a high-quality whetstone and tools from the bag beside him, then picked up Asuramaru with both hands.
And began sharpening him.
As he sharpened the sword, he continued muttering praises.
"This exquisite technique is simply unprecedented. Just what kind of divine craftsman could forge such a blade?!
Why didn't he leave behind the swordsmith's name? I understand... He must have poured everything he had into forging this blade. Once it was complete, whether he left his name behind no longer mattered!"
With every rub and stroke.
Asuramaru felt something faintly. It was like someone massaging your feet. Honestly, it was kind of comfortable...
At the side, Tanjiro watched and seriously learned the technique of polishing a blade, hoping that he could personally sharpen Asuramaru in the future.
Half an hour later.
Hotaru Haganezuka finally stopped his hands. It was not because he had finished sharpening it, but because he discovered that he could not sharpen it at all. After all that time.
The whetstone had been worn down considerably, while Asuramaru was no different from before he had been sharpened. Still, the sword truly was in excellent condition.
So he simply stopped. Reluctantly, he returned the sword in his hand to Tanjiro, then turned and took out another brand-new Nichirin Blade from his bag.
Then his masked face suddenly pressed close, and like a demon, he pointed at Tanjiro and gave him a friendly reminder.
"This is the Nichirin Blade I brought you. If you dare break it again, I'll definitely kill you next time!!!"
"O-okay!"
Tanjiro sheathed Asuramaru, then accepted the Nichirin Blade. When both of his hands gripped its hilt.
The blade gradually became stained black.
Special Treatment
This was within both of their expectations.
Tanjiro sheathed the Nichirin Blade and returned it to his waist, once again feeling the familiar weight on both sides after so long.
"Alright, you have your sword, so I'm leaving too." Hotaru Haganezuka had no interest in staying any longer. Having observed and experienced Asuramaru up close this time.
He needed to return and continue trying to forge Nichirin Blades, striving to create one equal to or even surpassing Asuramaru!
"Take care, Mr. Haganezuka."
Hearing that, Tanjiro stood up and walked out of the side room with him. They crossed the corridor and arrived at the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard.
Before you continue