Chaos continued on the training grounds.
Uesugi Sasuke was like a god presiding over a chessboard, shifting every piece wherever he pleased.
The Hashira had gone from fighting individually to trying to cooperate, then back to fighting individually again. Every tactic crumbled effortlessly before Amenotejikara.
The combat experience they took such pride in had now become their greatest restraint.
Their experience told them the enemy was right there, but in reality, the enemy was everywhere and nowhere to be found.
Sanemi Shinazugawa's attacks grew increasingly frenzied, his blade whipping through the air, yet he could not even touch the hem of Sasuke's clothes.
Kyojuro Rengoku's fervent onslaught missed again and again as well, lending even his booming voice a trace of helplessness.
"Damn it! I can't keep up at all!" Mitsuri Kanroji's flexible sword moved like a darting snake, yet it kept coiling around empty air.
Only one person had remained unusually "quiet" from beginning to end.
The Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka.
After his first few attempts proved fruitless, he gave up actively pursuing Sasuke.
He slowly closed his eyes and stood motionless, as though cut off from the fierce battle around him.
He immersed his entire mind in the unique rhythm of Water Breathing.
His mind was as still as water.
When the mind was as calm as a mirror, even the slightest change in the outside world would send clear ripples across its lake.
He no longer used his eyes to see, but his whole body to feel.
To feel the almost imperceptible movement of air caused by each spatial swap.
To feel that distinctive presence, concentrated like lightning, whenever Sasuke appeared.
He regarded each of Sasuke's instantaneous movements as a raindrop falling onto a lake.
What he needed to do was not chase the raindrops, but predict