Throwing Them Off the Scent

The two walked all the way to the entrance of the estate.

Only then did they part ways.

Watching Hotaru Haganezuka's departing back, Tanjiro waved his right hand in farewell.

"See you next time, Mr. Haganezuka!"

But unexpectedly, Hotaru Haganezuka had not gone far before he suddenly turned around and cursed.

"You really want to see me that badly?! Don't forget what I said—if your Nichirin Blade breaks again, I'll chop you to death myself!"

"I'll use it carefully!"

Tanjiro did not give a definite answer, because he could not predict whether this Nichirin Blade would break again in the future. The only promise he could make—

Was that he would cherish this Nichirin Blade as much as possible!

"You'd better keep your word, or next time my blade will land on your neck!" Hotaru Haganezuka cursed as he walked away.

Before Tanjiro could relax—

Two figures suddenly came running up from behind. They were Zenitsu and Inosuke.

The two hurried forward.

Zenitsu, in particular, pounced over with an unhinged expression.

"Tanjiro's here!"

He seemed to be calling out to someone. Sure enough, in the next moment, Tanjiro saw a burly man with flowing white hair bound by a headband, his muscular body both powerful and aesthetically striking.

The newcomer was none other than the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui!

With his head raised, he looked down at the three of them, his gaze especially fixed on Tanjiro as he spoke.

"Brats, are you ready to train with me in a flashy fashion?!"

But as soon as he finished speaking—

Before Tanjiro and the others could say anything, Zenitsu jumped out first, shouting with an utterly unhinged expression.

"Huh?! Aren't you all here for Tanjiro? I don't want to fight you... If you have to fight someone, don't bring me along! If you must bring someone, bring Inosuke!"

After saying that, he turned and ran.

But Tengen Uzui immediately grabbed him by the collar with one large hand and hauled him back, teasing him with a smile.

"So you're the brat who needs special attention? Sanemi Shinazugawa specifically mentioned you to me~"

"That guy really deserves a beating."

Inosuke looked at the captured Zenitsu and spoke in a hoarse, deep voice beneath his boar mask. Even Tanjiro beside him did not know what to say.

The three of them followed the usual routine.

They arrived at that plain.

Tanjiro and the other two stood together, while Tengen Uzui stood opposite them with a smile. The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he said,

"Get ready. I'll make you lose in a truly flashy fashion!"

He removed the twin blades from his back and undid their bindings.

They looked like a chain, connecting two extremely Sharpness cleavers.

Without giving the three of them time to react—

His figure flashed, and he rushed forward in an instant. Fortunately, Tanjiro reacted in time and immediately warned them.

"He's coming!"

As soon as the words fell—

Tengen Uzui had already arrived before them and found his first target.

Looking at Tengen Uzui appearing before him, Zenitsu's expression became unhinged to the extreme. He only had time to say one thing.

"Why is it me again?!"

Bang!

A powerful, heavy punch landed directly in his stomach.

Zenitsu took the punch head-on and was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily onto the ground, tilted his head, and immediately passed out.

Tengen Uzui then turned around and shifted his target to Inosuke, who was not far away.

"Next, it's your turn to make a flashy exit!"

"Who's making an exit?! You're the one who should be leaving!" Inosuke grabbed his twin blades and charged forward with a roar.

One minute later.

He lay on the ground, having given up on thinking.

Everything before them proved that history was always astonishingly similar.

Even Asuramaru inside the blade could not hold it in and teased him as well.

"Tanjiro, you're the only one left again."

"After all, our opponent is a Hashira. There's nothing we can do about that." What else could Tanjiro say? If he wanted to become stronger—

This was hardship he had to endure!

With that thought, he drew the Nichirin Blade he had just received. Flames bloomed from it as he charged forward.

He engaged Tengen Uzui head-on.

"So this is Sun Breathing? Those flames are quite flashy!"

The two fought fiercely for a long time.

This time, Tanjiro's mastery of both Breathing styles had improved even further, and he could now switch between them with ease.

The usual afternoon training.

Night fell.

Asuramaru, who had been placed by Tanjiro's bedside, suddenly sensed something. Looking outside, he saw that dawn seemed to be approaching.

Then he saw Zenitsu and Inosuke sneaking around. The two quietly got out of bed and carefully pushed open the door.

Then they bolted.

Their movements flowed smoothly, and it was obvious that they were escaping to avoid trouble.

Asuramaru did not mock them. If he had been beaten up for three days straight like that, he would probably have run even faster than them.

Until dawn.

Tanjiro woke up, opened his eyes, and sat up. He saw the two empty beds beside him and hurriedly asked,

"Asuramaru, did you see where Zenitsu and Inosuke went? Why are they gone so early in the morning?"

Faced with the question, Asuramaru teased him without hesitation. "They were afraid of getting beaten up with you, so they ran away."

Hearing that answer, Tanjiro did not feel any negative emotions. He let out a long breath and relaxed.

"So that's what happened. But that's fine. Sparring with Hashira is still too early for the two of them. It won't be very useful.

It really is more suitable for them to first temper their Constant Breathing technique."

Asuramaru inside the blade also reminded him at the right moment.

"You've pretty much mastered both Breathing styles now. After today, make your preparations and leave headquarters to hunt demons."

Tanjiro unconditionally chose to trust and obey the suggestion. "Then after this morning's training ends, I'll go speak with the Master."

As soon as he finished speaking—

The door to the room was forcefully pushed open from outside. A towering, broad-shouldered figure entered. The newcomer—

Pressed his palms together. A vicious scar marked his forehead, and two streams of tears ran from his blind eyes. Though he could not see, he still faced Tanjiro and said in a deep voice,

"Namu Amida Butsu! I am the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima. Young man, prepare to begin today's training. Show me your resolve and perseverance!"

But Tanjiro looked toward his blind eyes and asked with concern, "Mr. Himejima, being blind must be very painful. Do you want to see again?"

Confusing the Enemy

Asuramaru inside the blade curled his lips in satisfaction.

He finally didn't ask for my opinion.

Outside, Gyomei Himejima was also stunned for a moment upon hearing that. In his heart, he gave Tanjiro a very high evaluation.

He really was a kind child.

But he chose to refuse treatment for his eyes. "There is no need. I have long since grown accustomed to a world of darkness."

He casually brushed the matter aside.

Whether he had eyes or not was no longer so important to him.

Hearing that, Tanjiro could only feel deep regret.

The two left the room together and headed straight for the plain. Only after they had left the Butterfly Mansion did Zenitsu and Inosuke dare stick their heads out.

Zenitsu, especially, looked at Gyomei Himejima's robust physique with a relieved expression and could not help trembling.

"Good thing we ran today. If that guy punched me, I'd probably be beaten to death on the spot..."

This time, even Inosuke did not really want to go. What he wanted was to become stronger, not to get beaten up every day.

Other than becoming a little tougher, his strength had not improved much at all.

The two of them were basically—

Getting beaten up every day, with every beating different!

Who could stand that?!

Meanwhile.

On the other side, Tanjiro and Gyomei Himejima began their sparring match on the plain.

This battle—

Was also the first time Tanjiro felt his strength being suppressed.

The Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima wielded a spiked flail and an axe connected by an iron chain. Every strike in his hands erupted with unparalleled power!

This time—

Was also the hardest battle Tanjiro had ever fought.

It could be said that he was the strongest opponent Tanjiro had faced so far!

After this battle, Tanjiro's combat skills improved by more than a level. Only when the two finally parted ways—

Did Tanjiro return to the Butterfly Mansion and finally see Zenitsu and Inosuke training desperately in the courtyard. After training for this period of time—

Both of their Breathing styles had improved considerably, and they could now maintain Total Concentration Breathing for a long time.

But when Zenitsu and Inosuke saw Tanjiro, they looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Sorry, this morning we..."

Before they could finish—

Tanjiro cut them off first with a gentle smile.

"It's all right."

Those words made the two feel even more guilty.

Fortunately, Tanjiro did not mind at all. He trained with them until dusk, then headed alone toward the depths of headquarters.

Outside the estate, he saw Sanemi Shinazugawa, his face covered in scars as he stood guard.

Tanjiro hurried forward and respectfully said,

"Mr. Shinazugawa."

"What are you doing here?!"