After watching Kanzaki Kumo spar with Sabito and Giyu firsthand, Shinjuro grew eager to have a go himself. He pulled Sabito, who had rested for a while, into a spar, while Kanzaki Kumo returned to his seat between Kanae and Makomo to watch.
Although Sabito had only just become a Hashira and was still young, leaving him somewhat short on experience compared with Shinjuro, his talent was exceptional. After just a few brief exchanges, he managed to figure out Shinjuro's moves and patterns, then began to overpower him.
Shinjuro was certainly no weakling. After all, he had fought his way up one kill at a time. Unfortunately, this sole remaining Hashira of the previous generation had run into a whole group of monstrously talented people.
Gyomei had left him with no desire whatsoever to spar as soon as he became a Hashira. Kanzaki Kumo, who came later, could also keep him firmly on the defensive. Kanae had spent the least time practicing a Breathing Style out of all the current Hashira, yet she was already slightly stronger than him.
Even Makomo, who was relatively less outstanding and could only fight him to a draw, still had youth on her side and considerable room to improve.
Shinjuro, however, was already at his physical peak. In a few more years, his physical abilities would begin to decline, and his strength would no longer be what it was now.
Shinjuro knew this himself. So, optimistic as he was, he could not help feeling somewhat dejected as one gifted young person after another surpassed him.
He had once been a Hashira who stood above the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet now he ranked at the bottom among the current Hashira. Anyone would have felt a considerable sense of disappointment at that change.