Two Exceptionally Gifted Siblings

Tanjiro drew in a deep, forceful breath. After several rounds of inhaling and exhaling, he finally calmed down.

"Big sis! I'll leave it to you, then!"

The familiar resolve returned to Tanjiro's eyes. His confidence had certainly taken a hit, but if his sister was the one outpacing him, wasn't that a good thing?

Tanjiro would much rather see his sister progress quickly than slowly. If Chinatsu had a fan club, he would undoubtedly be her number-one fan, waving its banner with all his might.

The two hurried to the clearing. Chinatsu gripped her ordinary sword with both hands, and as she changed the rhythm of her breathing, faint ripples resembling flowing water appeared along the blade.

If the sword in her hands had been a Nichirin Blade, the weapon unique to members of the Demon Slayer Corps, those watery ripples would have been even more distinct.

After switching her Breathing Style, Chinatsu demonstrated Water Breathing's Tenth Form, Constant Flux, in front of Tanjiro.

This sword technique used spinning movements to build up the power of its rippling, waterlike sword energy. It was Water Breathing's finishing move. Once enough power had accumulated, even an all-round Breathing Style like Water Breathing could deliver force on par with other, attack-oriented Breathing Styles.

Since this was only a demonstration, Chinatsu did not spin many times. Once she had formed a small "water dragon's head," she slashed at a nearby tree. With a bang!!!, the large tree broke cleanly in two.

"Th-that's amazing... Wait! Big sis, after using such a powerful move, how do you feel? Are you tired? Does anything ache? Let's..."

Thump!

Before Tanjiro could finish, Chinatsu brought her free hand down on his head in a chopping motion.

"Could you stop making such a fuss? Sure, I tire easily, but not so easily that a single swing wears me out," Chinatsu said, somewhat exasperated.

She was the eldest sister, older even than him, the eldest son. Yet after all their time together, Chinatsu kept feeling as though Tanjiro was actually the oldest sibling, their "big brother."

That won't do. It's fine for Tanjiro to be kindhearted and look after people, but I can't lose my dignity and authority as his big sister!

Although Chinatsu had inherited the original owner's memories and will, she had no intention of following her example and becoming a gentle, refined young lady.

Nezuko alone is more than enough when it comes to being sweet and ladylike!

Chinatsu planted both hands on her hips and nodded to herself. Tanjiro tilted his head in confusion.

He kept feeling that his sister had changed, though not so much that she seemed like a different person. He could tell that she was still just as gentle at heart. Perhaps she had become more assertive on the surface because she had witnessed their family being slaughtered by a demon.

I have to get stronger! Tanjiro thought.

Tanjiro tightened his grip on his sword and began practicing Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux, following Chinatsu's earlier demonstration.

Urokodaki had watched everything unfold from a short distance away. Seeing the two train so diligently left him both pleased and a little troubled.

He was pleased because, at this rate, both would soon complete their training. Provided they did not meet an untimely end, they would undoubtedly become powerful in the future, making them far less likely to lose their lives while hunting demons.

What troubled him was that he could throw away the training plan he had drawn up just last night for today. Not only had Chinatsu already mastered Tenth Form: Constant Flux, but judging by how things were going, Tanjiro probably would not take long to learn it either...

"What a bother. Now I'll have to start all over again. Oh well. Better a little extra work for me than these two children dying at a demon's hands later..."

Muttering quietly, Urokodaki turned and returned to the wooden cabin. Tanjiro continued practicing Water Breathing's Tenth Form, while Chinatsu sat on a nearby rock and tried hard to recall her old memories.

Hinokami Kagura.

This was a kagura dance passed down through generations of the Kamado Family. It originated with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the strongest man in the world of Demon Slayer. Yoriichi Tsugikuni had once been friends with an ancestor of the Kamado Family. After Yoriichi personally demonstrated a complete set of Sun Breathing forms, that ancestor recorded them under the name "Hinokami Kagura," calling it a dance that prayed to the fire god for peace and safety.

The kagura dance was not strictly passed down only to sons rather than daughters. Before their father's death, the entire Kamado Family had watched its complete sequence of movements every year.

However, Tanjiro alone knew its unique breathing method. After all, only one successor was needed. The other boys were too young, while the girls had no interest.

The original Chinatsu: A kitchen knife is all I need.

Nezuko: Isn't it enough that my brother knows it?

Chinatsu searched her memories as hard as she could, but in the end, she could only barely recall the movements of Hinokami Kagura. She had absolutely no recollection of its breathing method.

Oh well. I'll try copying the movements first.

Chinatsu put the thought into action immediately. Sword in hand, she danced through the movements she remembered her father performing. After just one full sequence, she was drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

Hinokami Kagura was already physically demanding. Combined with her current constitution, it was downright murderous.

Chinatsu reached up to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Having seen her dance, Tanjiro hurried over in confusion and asked, "Big sis, was that... our family's kagura dance?"

"Yes. Since you recognized it, I suppose my dancing wasn't too bad," Chinatsu answered as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"That's not how you're supposed to breathe. Without its special breathing method, Hinokami Kagura uses up a lot of stamina. Father taught me how to breathe, so I can teach... Wait, a breathing method?"

Tanjiro froze. Suddenly, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"Big sis, do you think our family's Hinokami Kagura breathing method might be something like Water Breathing?" Tanjiro turned toward Chinatsu, feeling that his own suggestion sounded rather absurd.

"Why not try it and find out? Maybe it is." Chinatsu smiled inwardly, knowing she had successfully nudged him in the right direction.

Tanjiro was no fool. Now that he had learned Water Breathing, comparing it with Hinokami Kagura's breathing method immediately allowed him to sense the intricacies of the latter.

"I... I'll try!"

Tanjiro nodded and gripped his sword tightly with both hands. Opening his mouth, he drew in a deep breath and recalled the breathing method his father had taught him.

A faint, sunlike flame appeared along the sword in his hands...