从鬼灭开始,成就最强魔刀! 第45章

The two of them walked all the way to the entrance of the residence.

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 barely gone a short distance before suddenly turning around and cursing.

"You want to see me that badly?! Don't forget what I said—if that 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 and take care of this Nichirin Blade as much as possible!

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

Before Tanjiro could relax.

Two figures suddenly ran over from behind. They were none other than Zenitsu and Inosuke.

The two of them hurried forward.

Zenitsu, in particular, lunged at him with an exaggerated expression.

"Tanjiro's here!"

It seemed he was calling for someone. Sure enough, Tanjiro saw a burly man with flowing white hair bound by a headband, his muscular body both powerful and aesthetically striking.

The newcomer was the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui!

He tilted his head back and looked down at the three of them, his gaze especially fixed on Tanjiro as he spoke.

"Brats, get ready to train with me in a flashy fashion!"

But the moment he finished speaking.

Before Tanjiro or Inosuke could say anything, Zenitsu jumped out first, yelling with an exaggerated 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 want someone, take Inosuke instead!"

After saying that, he turned and ran.

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

"You're the brat who needs special attention, aren't you? Sanemi Shinazugawa specifically mentioned you to me~"

"That guy really needs a beating."

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

The three of them were back to their usual routine.

They arrived at that stretch of plains.

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

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

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

They looked like a chain linking together two exceptionally sharp cleavers.

Without giving the three of them time to react.

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

"He's coming!"

The instant he spoke.

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

Looking at Tengen Uzui appearing in front of him, Zenitsu's expression became even more exaggerated as he only had time to say one thing.

"Why is it me again?!"

Bang!

A heavy, powerful punch struck him directly in the abdomen.

After taking that punch solidly, Zenitsu 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.

"You're next. Make your flashy exit!"

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

One minute later.

He lay on the ground, having given up thinking.

Everything before them proved that history was always astonishingly similar.

Even Ashura Maru in the blade could not hold it in anymore and teased him as well.

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

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

This was suffering he had to endure!

With that thought, he drew the newly acquired Nichirin Blade. Flames bloomed from it as he charged forward.

He confronted Tengen Uzui head-on.

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

The two sides fought fiercely for a long time.

This time, Tanjiro's mastery of the two Breathing Styles had improved even further. He could even switch between them with ease.

The usual afternoon training.

Night fell.

Ashura Maru, placed beside Tanjiro's bed, suddenly sensed something. Looking outside, it seemed dawn was almost upon them.

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

Then they took off running.

Their movements flowed seamlessly, and it was obvious they were escaping to avoid the worst of it.

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

Until dawn.

Tanjiro woke up, opened his eyes, and sat up. Seeing the two empty beds beside him, he quickly asked.

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

Faced with the question, Ashura Maru teased without even thinking about it. "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 of much use.

They should first work on Constant Breathing. That would suit them better."

Ashura Maru in the blade also offered an appropriate reminder.

"You've more or less mastered both Breathing Styles now. After today, get ready to leave headquarters and hunt demons."

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

The moment he finished speaking.

The room door was forcefully pushed open from outside. A towering, broad-shouldered figure walked in.

His hands were pressed together, a vicious scar marked his forehead, and two streams of tears ran down from his blind eyes. Though he could not see, he still faced Tanjiro and spoke 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 faced his blind eyes and asked with concern, "Mr. Himejima, being blind must be painful. Do you want to see again?"

Ashura Maru in the blade curled his lips with satisfaction.

He finally didn't ask for my opinion.

Outside, Gyomei Himejima was also stunned for a moment by those words, and he gave Tanjiro a very high evaluation in his heart.

What a kind child.

But when it came to treating his eyes, he chose to refuse. "There is no need. I have long grown accustomed to a world of darkness."

He brushed it off with a casual remark.

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

Hearing that, Tanjiro could only feel deep regret.

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

Zenitsu, especially, looked at Gyomei Himejima's muscular body with relief, unable to stop himself from trembling.

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

This time, even Inosuke did not really want to go. He wanted to become stronger, not 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 every day, with every beating different!

Who could put up with that?!

Meanwhile.

On the other side, Tanjiro and Gyomei Himejima began sparring on the plains.

This battle.

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

The Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima wielded a spiked flail and axe connected by a chain. Every strike he delivered could unleash incomparable power!

This time.

It was also the hardest battle Tanjiro had ever fought.

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

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

Did Tanjiro return to the Butterfly Mansion, where he finally saw Zenitsu and Inosuke training desperately in the courtyard. After all this time training.

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 he could finish.

Tanjiro cut him off first with a gentle smile.

"It's okay."

Those words only made the two of them feel even guiltier.

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

Outside the residence, he found Sanemi Shinazugawa, his face covered in scars as he stood guard.

Tanjiro immediately stepped forward respectfully.

"Mr. Shinazugawa."

"What are you doing here?!"