Sakonji Urokodaki

Haruto arrived at Mount Sagiri as the sun sank in the west.

Earlier, he had sent Cang Kong-the parrot who loved blue skies-to tell Godogawa that he would soon be heading to Mount Sagiri.

Godogawa's reply had been: Your swordsmith, "Hotaru Haganezuka," is waiting at the Swordsmith Village to discuss forging your Nichirin Blade.

Haruto: =͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)

Did whatever you feared most really always come to pass?

No wonder that Ubuyashiki fellow had smiled so happily when I said I didn't want Hotaru Haganezuka.

Well, I'll bring Mr. Haganezuka a few servings of mitarashi dango when I get back. Hopefully he won't lose his temper over my returning a few days late.

In front of the wooden house at the foot of the mountain, Haruto saw the current Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki, whose hair had turned gray. He wore a Great Tengu Mask crafted in the same style as the masks worn by Sabito and Giyu, and looked both mysterious and composed.

Beside him stood a short, slender girl in a short kimono patterned with plum blossoms. Her long hair was dark green, and she looked innocent and adorable.

She tilted her head slightly and gave the white-haired boy a shy smile.

The three first greeted Mr. Urokodaki. Haruto handed over the visiting gifts he had bought in the village below the mountain, then turned to Makomo and pulled a beautifully wrapped present from his back basket.

"A gift for my visit."

Makomo's emerald eyes widened, showing a hint of bewilderment and delight. "Is it for me?"

"Yes. When they told me they had a younger sister at home, I picked this out along the way. It isn't anything expensive, but please accept it."

Haruto nodded as though it were only natural. Never mind visiting someone else's home-even simply bringing gifts back for family or acquaintances after a long trip was perfectly normal.

If anything, these two coming home empty-handed was the strange part.

The two fox boys: When did you buy that?!

Sabito looked embarrassed and spread his hands at Makomo. "You know I'm broke."

Giyu nodded. "I have money, but I forgot."

...He would have been better off saying nothing.

Makomo thanked him and took the present inside.

Urokodaki's house was not large, but it was just right for the master and his three students, making it feel very cozy.

Mr. Sakonji was indeed easy to talk to, especially after he saw Giyu taking the initiative to talk with Haruto despite his expressionless face.

With little room indoors, they set up a stove outside.

Sakonji Urokodaki had prepared a huge amount of meat and vegetables, which made Sabito secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Did you take out all the food stored in the cellar, Master?"

He asked quietly.

"No." After a moment of silence, Sakonji replied, "I heard the name Haruto Takanashi from a swordsmith."

He recalled Hotaru Haganezuka gesticulating wildly in front of him: How could a ten-year-old child eat an entire pig?!

"Huh? The Master seems to know Haruto quite well, too."

"He grew up in the Swordsmith Village, after all. He had far more opportunities to meet Oyakata-sama and Hashira-level swordsmen."

As the sky darkened, Haruto sat beside the fire, deftly threading marinated fish onto iron skewers before planting them in the earth beside the flames.

"If there's a lotus pond nearby, you can wrap the marinated fish in lotus leaves, coat them in a layer of pond mud, and toss them into the fire.

"Once the mud has baked until it cracks, break it open, and the fish inside will be incredibly tender and juicy.

"It's a Chinese cooking method..."

Makomo and Giyu both sat by the fire listening to him, their hands moving briskly as they added ingredients to the cast-iron pot suspended above the coals.

Little Makomo's eyes were sparkling. She really was adorable.

Giyu looked so wooden. Who knew what he was listening for?

Once everyone had eaten their fill, Haruto turned to Sakonji Urokodaki and explained the purpose of his visit.

"Your swordsmanship is good, but it integrates poorly with your Breathing Style...?"

Sakonji considered this, then asked Haruto, "Have you mastered all the Flame Breathing forms?"

Haruto shook his head. "I've only mastered five so far."

"Show me."

The boy set down his chopsticks, picked up his Nichirin Blade, and stood in the middle of the clearing.

Demonstrating Flame Breathing in front of a bunch of Water Breathing swordsmen was unexpectedly nerve-racking and embarrassing.

Haruto adjusted his breathing and entered a state of Total Concentration. "Flame Breathing, First Form..."

Sakonji Urokodaki watched closely with his hands behind his back. The firelight rising from the blade illuminated his fiery-red mask.

The Flame Tiger trembled as it charged out from the blade. Nearly exhausted, Haruto panted heavily, aches seeping from every joint.

He turned his gaze toward Sakonji. The white-haired elder paused before speaking. "No offense intended, but I think you should give up Flame Breathing."

Huh?

Haruto was at a loss.

Sakonji walked over to Haruto and slipped his arms out of his sleeves.

"You've met Shinjuro Rengoku, haven't you? What sort of person do you think he is?"

Haruto thought for a moment before answering. "Mr. Shinjuro is a very warm, enthusiastic person. Even though I keep bothering him about my training, he never shows the slightest impatience."

"Setting aside his family's traditions, the most important reason Shinjuro Rengoku became an outstanding Flame Breathing swordsman was his personality.

"To practice Flame Breathing, you must be passionate and outgoing, with convictions that burn like fire. Unfortunately, I haven't seen either of those qualities in you."

Despite saying he meant no offense, Sakonji Urokodaki did not soften his words at all. "You chose the wrong path. This path is destined never to lead you to success."

"The wrong... path?"

Haruto raised a hand to his chest. His heart beat beneath it, yet it held none of Mr. Shinjuro's fiery passion.

"Your swordsmanship is exceptional, comparable to that of a Hashira-level swordsman, but it integrates far too poorly with your Breathing Style."

Sakonji shook his head. Integrating swordsmanship with a Breathing Style was a matter of talent. A lack of talent was difficult to remedy; even a cultivator could do nothing about it.

"Find a conviction that will ignite your passion," Sakonji said. "Or... join the Kakushi. You won't face much danger there."

Haruto was disappointed, but he still thanked Sakonji sincerely.

I'll be taking on all sorts of demon-hunting missions soon. Am I supposed to keep stumbling forward like this?

"Don't lose heart. I'm sure there's a solution." Sabito patted his shoulder, a gentle smile in his silver eyes.

"What did Haruto give you?" Giyu asked Makomo.

"Giyu-"

"I was just curious."

"None of your business~"

Inside the house, Makomo's Nichirin Blade rested on the sword rack.

A new wisteria-shaped sword tassel had been attached to its round guard.

Even the cloth bag it had come wrapped in had been neatly folded and placed in a drawer.