By the time Makomo brought Kanzaki Kumo up Mount Sagiri, the sun was already setting, but the whoosh of wooden swords cutting through the air still came from the courtyard.
As they drew closer, they could see a white-haired elder standing with his back to them, wearing a water-blue kimono patterned with clouds and a red tengu mask.
With his keen eyesight, Kanzaki Kumo could also see two boys standing in front of the elder, concentrating on swinging their wooden swords.
One had thick, pale orange hair and fine features with a sharp edge to them, but a hideous scar on his right cheek marred those good looks. This was Sabito.
The other had black hair and fine, cold features, but his sea-blue eyes were filled with dejection, completely lacking the vitality a boy his age should have had. He was Giyu Tomioka, the one everyone "ganged up on at the sight of Giyu" in the original story.
"Master Urokodaki, I'm back!"
Makomo had already started waving and calling happily the moment she saw Sakonji Urokodaki's back.
"Makomo? You passed the Final Selection?!" Sakonji Urokodaki immediately turned around, excitement in his voice. Looking at the smiling girl, he strode over, even overlooking Kanzaki Kumo beside her, and examined her from head to toe. Only after finding no visible injuries on her did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yes..." At the mention of the Final Selection, Makomo thought of the Hand Demon, and her spirits sank a little.
But there were some truths she still needed to tell this elder who devoted himself wholeheartedly to training his students.
After a brief silence, Makomo gave a simple account of the Hand Demon. She also mentioned how Kanzaki Kumo had saved her life, his remarkable talent and strength, and his purpose in coming to Mount Sagiri.
Sakonji Urokodaki learned that the demon he had once captured and brought to Mount Fujikasane had actually become the culprit behind his students' deaths, and that the masks he gave his students to ward off disaster had become the means by which that demon identified its targets.
All of this immediately left the previously vigorous elder considerably dispirited.
Fortunately, his resolve was strong enough that it did not take him long to compose himself. He turned to Kanzaki Kumo, who had stood silently to one side throughout.
"You're Kanzaki Kumo?" This was not the first time Sakonji Urokodaki had heard that name, but it was indeed their first meeting.
"That's right, Mr. Urokodaki. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kanzaki Kumo. My little old man... ah, no, my master should have mentioned me in his letters to you."
Kanzaki Kumo demonstrated perfectly what it meant to be "unable to stay serious for three seconds."
Accustomed to respecting one's elders and superiors, Sakonji Urokodaki did not approve of Kanzaki Kumo's teasing name for his master, but he would hardly argue with a boy over such trifles. After all, this was not his student.
With that thought, he glanced at Makomo beside him, then turned to look at Sabito and Giyu Tomioka, who were taking the opportunity to slack off.
Yes, my own students still address me properly as their master.
Wait, are those two slacking off?
Coming to his senses, Sakonji Urokodaki noticed that Sabito and Giyu Tomioka had taken advantage of him turning away to talk to someone else to slack off. He immediately shot them a glare, frightening them into swinging their swords with all their strength.
Kanzaki Kumo: Poor kids...
"Kuwajima did mention you in his letters. He had nothing but praise for your talent." Sakonji Urokodaki turned his gaze back to Kanzaki Kumo and spoke slowly.
Really? What did he say about me? Kanzaki Kumo instinctively wanted to respond that way, but his reason successfully stopped those words from leaving his mouth. Instead, he said, "You're too kind. I only have a tiny bit of talent."
"Kuwajima mentioned in his letters that your eyes are very unusual, that you can memorize any move after seeing it just once and reproduce it. Is that true?" Curiosity showed in Sakonji Urokodaki's eyes. Although he knew his old friend was not one to boast, a talent like that was a little too extraordinary.
This was also Makomo's first time hearing about Kanzaki Kumo's talent, and she looked over in surprise. Though the two boys behind Sakonji Urokodaki appeared to be concentrating on swinging their swords, their attention had also shifted over to them.
"Of course it's true. I can demonstrate right here. These are the moves I saw Makomo use during the Final Selection."
Seeing their reactions, Kanzaki Kumo nodded, then drew his Nichirin Blade.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash."
"Third Form: Flowing Dance."
Kanzaki Kumo performed two Water Breathing sword techniques in succession. He had learned them from Makomo during the Final Selection, but those were the only two, because Makomo had dealt with all the demons she encountered over those few days using just those moves.
After Kanzaki Kumo finished his demonstration, everyone else present, Makomo included, stared at him in a daze.
Even Makomo herself had not known that Kanzaki Kumo had "stolen" two moves from her.
Still, within the Demon Slayer Corps, there was no notion of "stealing" when it came to passing on Breathing Styles. After all, they were all meant for killing demons, so there was no need to keep them secret, as long as they did not spread outside the Corps and endanger the peace of ordinary people.
Sakonji Urokodaki glanced at Makomo, who nodded to him, confirming that these were moves she had frequently used on Mount Fujikasane.
"What an astonishing talent." After a moment of silence, that was all Sakonji Urokodaki could say in admiration.
"In that case, you'll have no trouble learning any sword technique you want. But to grasp the true essence of a technique, you'll still need someone's guidance."
Through observation, Sakonji Urokodaki had also realized that Kanzaki Kumo had only learned the "form" of the moves he had just performed. Perhaps because of his high comprehension, he had also captured a tiny bit of their "spirit," but his standard still fell somewhat short of Makomo's. He could not yet be said to have truly learned them.
"That's exactly right. You have a discerning eye, Mr. Urokodaki."
"All right, there's no need for you to keep pretending to be serious in front of me, boy." Sakonji Urokodaki shook his head slightly.
"By the way, young Kanzaki, let me ask you something. Have you already mastered Total Concentration: Constant?"
It was only when Kanzaki Kumo demonstrated those two Water Breathing moves that Sakonji Urokodaki noticed his breathing. When using Water Breathing swordsmanship, Kanzaki Kumo had also switched his breathing, but because he had never truly studied Water Breathing systematically, his breathing had changed considerably from the Total Concentration Breathing he had been maintaining. That was what allowed Sakonji Urokodaki to notice it.
"Yes, I only mastered it recently." Although he had switched Breathing Styles temporarily, Kanzaki Kumo had felt no discomfort. He had already tested this privately on Mount Fujikasane; otherwise, he would not have come here to learn Water Breathing in full.
"Your talent goes beyond having an exceptionally gifted pair of eyes. That Kuwajima really got lucky." After a moment of silence, Sakonji Urokodaki spoke slowly, a faint note of envy in his voice.
"All right, it's getting late. Let's eat first. I'll teach you Water Breathing tomorrow."
"Thank you, Mr. Urokodaki."
Seemingly to celebrate Makomo's safe return, Sakonji Urokodaki had already prepared a generous supply of ingredients in advance.
Sakonji Urokodaki turned out to be quite a good cook, and Makomo helped out in the kitchen with practiced ease. From the look of it, this was far from her first time. Meanwhile, Kanzaki Kumo chatted on and off with the two boys lying like corpses on the floor.
Of course, he was only chatting with Sabito. Giyu was currently in his usual withdrawn state.
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