Hashira?

(Asahi POV)

Finally, the last day is over and the Final Selection has concluded. I have created the first form of his own Breathing Style: Blade Breathing. The name suited me very well since I knew the future had many more weapons of various degrees in store for me. I could already turn the knife into other forms, but I didn't want to for now. I am aware that I will get a Nichirin weapon and that will be the one I will 'feed' the knife to have it transform into a ō-wakizashi. I might be an idiot, but I do like to keep up with the theme of this world. Although people like Tengen Uzui and others also have special Nichirin blades they use, so having a wakizashi won't be that special. 

The length of my knife can't be longer than a short sword. I do have some leeway though when it comes to that, but it can't be as long as a Katana, that much is certain. I'll see how it turns out. 

I walk down and reach the temple where only one other person is waiting. That's the one I saved from the Hand guy. Quite a bad haul for the Demon Slayer Corps, but oh well. It is what it is. I can solve the problem soon on my own anyway, so no need to sacrifice more young men and women for the cause. The two Ubuyashiki girls arrive. I don't understand why two are needed for this, except to make it seem weird. 

"Welcome back you two and congratulations. We're pleased to see you're safe. First, we will issue your uniforms. We will start by taking your measurements, next your rank will be engraved on the back of your hand. 

For your reference, there are ten ranks in total. ionoe, Kinoto, Hinoe, Hinoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Mizunoe, Mizunoto. One of you will start at Mizunoto, which is the norm for those who pass the Final Selection. This time, there is a special case. Mizunoto is the lowest rank in the Demon Slayer Corps. 

In a moment, you will be given the chance to select the ore that will be used to forge your swords. However, it will be 10 to 15 days before the weapons are ready for you. But first ..."

*Clap Clap*

One of the Ubuyashiki girls claps her hands two times. 

*Caw Caw*

Two Kasugai Crows fly towards us and one of each lands on our shoulders. 

"Now that you're Demon Slayers, you must each be assigned your own Kasugai Crow."

"W-we get crows? ... Why?" my traumatised friend asks. It seems he suffered more than just physically. I hope he can pull himself back together, otherwise he will die quite soon. 

"The Kasugai Crows are primarily used to facilitate communication."

"Communication ... b-but how?"

"They can talk," I say to make this go quicker. 

"Now, the time has come. Please select an ore to use for your sword. The steel you will use to protect yourself and to annihilate countless demons will be that of your own choosing."

I look at the different ores and then just shrug. I don't think it matters honestly. I turn to the two girls and ask them. 

"I am wondering if there is a chance to ask for the smiths to create not a Katana, but a Wakizashi. Would that be possible?"

"Requests are allowed, as long as they are able to be fulfilled. I will relay your request."

"Thank you," I say and then just pick one of the ores at random. 

"Asahi, there is a special request for you, sent by Oyakata-sama. If you would, your Kasugai Crow has a message for you."

"*Caw* Message for Asahi, Message for Asahi. You are to travel to the Demon Slayer Headquarters at once. You are to travel to the Demon Slayer Headquarters at once. Caw."

"For real? Already? ... Ohhhh, right. I did kill that one guy ... what was his name again? The one with the thing, that did the other thing and then I cut him ... yeah, right. Very well then, let us leave."

I follow my Kasugai Crow towards the hidden headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. I don't know why I am summoned honestly. I can't be made a Hashira already, since all those who pass the Final Selection start at the lowest rank, Mizunoto. To be promoted to Hashira, you have to either kill 50 demons in total or one of the 12 Kizuki. But there is another requirement which is that you have to be at the Kinoe rank. Since I am not at the Kinoe rank, this makes no sense for me to be promoted to Hashira already. 

Naturally, I am stronger than most if not all Hashira already, at least I think so. After training with Urokodaki for a month, I gauged his top strength and speed and know that I am stronger and faster than him overall. Strength doesn't matter though and you have to go through the ranks. There might be a chance for me to rise through the ranks fast since I did kill quite a few of them during my travels and a Lower Moon was in there as well. 

.

After travelling for two days and nights without stopping, I finally arrived at the headquarters. After a while, I was led to a small yard where four people were waiting for me. I recognised the young man immediately, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, after his father committed suicide. The other three were no doubt the current Pillars. I can only hope that there are more right now, because if not, then we are not looking good. Although, now that I'm here, it doesn't matter that much anymore. 

"Greetings, Asahi. I am glad that you came today. Please have a seat."

"Thank you."

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current head of the Ubuyashiki house. I try to lead the Demon Slayer Corps to a future where we can finally rid the world of the demon progenitor. These are the current Pillars, the Hashiras, the strongest Demon Slayers in our Corps. As you can see, we only have three. Ideally, we would have 9 of them, but we are not having a fruitful time and our endeavour is not going well."

Kagaya was speaking slowly with a calm voice that soothed me. I can tell that he is a genuinely good person, which makes following him all the more easy for me. 

"The requirements to join the ranks of Hashira are as follows. A Demon Slayer who is talented may take two years, others maybe five. You rise through the ranks by defeating and killing demons and after you reach the highest rank of Kinoe, you have two options. Either you kill 50 demons in total, or you manage to kill one of the 12 Kizuki.

You might be asking yourself why I have called you here since you haven't achieved the appropriate rank of Kinoe. However, we have been observing you ever since you slew one of the 12 Kizuki and are aware that you have defeated a lot of demons even before you passed the Final Selection or learned proper Breathing Styles. We are in a predicament, however, and the Demon Slayer Corps are in desperate need of new strong potential.

Therefore, given the amount of demons you have already slain as well as the Lower Moon Six, I officially grant you the position of a Pillar."

!!!

"What?"

"Oyakata-sama, you can't be serious! We don't even know anything about him. How can you just make him a pillar?"

Kagaya smiles at the protests coming his way. 

"I am well aware of the big exception I am making. However, if other than your doubt of Asahi's strength, you don't have any other problems, then I believe there is a simple way to make sure, whether I made a mistake."

"... and what would that be?"

"If Asahi-san agrees, I suppose that you ask for a friendly spar to gauge his skills and see whether or not he is suited for the heavy responsibility of a pillar."

...

I look around at the three and smile. I am more than alright with it. This will give me a chance to see the prowess of the current generation of Hashiras. I stand up and bow towards the Master. 

"I am willing to showcase my strength, Oyakata-sama."

"I knew you would. So, who would like to do the honours?"

"Allow me to do so, Oyakata-sama."

I recognise him immediately. Shinjuro Rengoku, the current Flame Hashira and father of Kyojuro the next Flame Hashira. He has unruly orange hair that flares out around his face, becoming redder near the ends above his ears, which he wears messily tied back behind his head. He has fair skin, bushy black eyebrows and bright, orange eyes that redden near the pupils, that are slanted inwards and shaped so as to give him a furious appearance.

"Very well, Shinjuro."

.

Both Shinjuro and I stand opposite each other. I have my combat knife in hand, while he has his hand on his Katana. There was a discussion about whether I was to be given a Katana while my Nichirin blade was getting made, but I declined, telling them that short swords and knives were my favoured weapons anyway. 

I made it longer to resemble a tanto though. This makes it a bit easier. Tantos are shorter than wakizashis and normally, I wouldn't use them all that much. I prefer the wakizashi or knives. I might try to multiply my knife, like the Essence states, to wield one in both hands in the future. I get into my stance and wait for him to make the first move, which he does.

*Whooosh*

He pushes himself off the ground and unsheaths his Katana as he moves. With years of experience, Shinjuro swings his blade down and slashes it towards me. Instead of dodging, I block his attack with my tanto. 

*BANG*

Our blades clash and unlike what he thinks, I don't move a millimetre from my spot. Instead, I push him backwards, winning the contest of strength. I move forward swinging my tanto at him with precision and skill that bellies my young age. Again, the reason for my mastery of the tanto is the Essence, which grants me the skills necessary. 

I pressure Shinjuro more and for the moment, don't use more strength than he does. I want to really pressure him and make him show me all he's got. Quick fights are fine when I'm fighting demons, but this is a spar against a Hashira and that's something I want to savour. 

Total Concentration: Constant is always active, as the name suggests. I have mastered it without the use of the gourd, which left me surprised. Truly, I am talented right now. I only need to grow some more to reach the absolute peak human strength in this world, before picking up the pace once again. 

*Swing*

*Clang*

*Shing*

Our blades dance in a deadly storm. I push Shinjuro more and more, keeping up the pressure and adapting to the amount of strength he exhibits. I can see his muscles twitch and his eyes narrow. I see all the micro expressions and read his body like a book. Finally, after proving that he can't do anything to me normally, he jumps back getting into a stance. I notice his aura changing and growing 'hotter' in a sense. His fighting spirit roars and burns brightly as he uses Flame Breathing.

Meanwhile, I do the same thing and meet his incoming attack head-on. I can use this chance to fine-tune my own Breathing Style. 

<Flame Breathing - Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun>

Shinjuro unleashes an arcing vertical slash in an upward motion, brought up by a tail guard.

<Blade Breathing - First Form: Cut>

I unleash my own attack, performing a single vertical slash downwards. 

*BOOM*

___________________________________________

I changed the name to Blade Breathing, since he will get more forms for his knife in the future. So Blade Breathing seems to fit better.