"Umu! What incredible power!"
Kyojuro Rengoku looked at the mountain peak leveled by a single slash, fierce fighting spirit blazing in his golden eyes, and offered his heartfelt praise.
After several months of recuperation at the Butterfly Mansion, the Flame Hashira had not only recovered completely, but his spirits had also reached an unprecedented peak.
Having fought Upper Rank Three to the death and been pulled back from death's door by Sasuke, his understanding of "life" and "protection" had reached a new level.
He threw himself into Sasuke's hellish training with two hundred percent enthusiasm.
Now, during the Hashira's sparring sessions, Kyojuro's attacks were the fiercest.
Every swing of the Nichirin Blade in his hand carried roaring flames, as though it would set even the air alight.
"Kyojuro."
During a break in the sparring, Sasuke approached him.
"Your flames burn hot, but they aren't enough yet."
"Umu? Please teach me, young Uesugi!" Kyojuro's voice was as booming as ever.
Sasuke looked at him, his Rinnegan seeming to see through every trace of energy flowing within his body.
"Demons' regenerative abilities come from their powerful vitality. They can quickly recover from ordinary slashes, so long as their necks aren't severed. But there is a kind of power that can suppress their regeneration at its very source."
Sasuke extended his hand, and a small cluster of black Amaterasu flames burned at his fingertip.
"My flames are one such power, and yours can become another."
He looked at the Nichirin Blade in Kyojuro's hand.
"Try pouring all your will, all your vitality, into your blade. Use every ounce of strength in your body to grip it tightly, to 'command' it to burn."
"Not just flames on the edge, but turning the blade itself into a red-hot branding iron."
"The Bright Red Nichirin Sword..."