Hashira Training

Muichiro caught the attention of the other Hashira's. "I couldn't move during the previous battle because I got poisoned. I was using my breaths to try and delay the poison from circulating through my bloodstream."

Listening closely, Hiroto remembered back when he was fighting against Upper Moon Six that he was also able to slow down the poison using his breaths, although it did take a toll on his body still.

Muichiro continued, "But a boy who tried to save me nearly lost his life, and my old memories came back. Then I got so angry that I lost complete control of my emotions. I think my heart rate went over 200 BPM, and my body became burning hot."

"He's right…" Hiroto added in, causing the others to turn towards him. "Both times when the mark appeared, it would usually happen during events that would cause your emotions to surge and become unstable. When I think back to both instances where I got the mark, I remember my body burning hot, but I just shrugged it off and thought it to be from the poison back then."

Hiroto paused and added, "But I saw it appear on not just me, but on Mitsuri's chest as well. Back when we were fighting the Upper Moon's separate body, a flower-like mark appeared on her, and I could feel the scar on my hand itch, as though it was reaching out to her. After that, well, it was mostly just the fight that I focused on afterward."

Both Obanai and Shinobu turned to Hiroto. They both had looks that seemed to be piercing him, as though their eyes were saying, 'Why were you looking at her chest?'

Hiroto waved his hands quickly to deny anything.

"That's right," Muichiro said. "Those events led up to the mark appearing, and not just that… I think my body temperature went over 39 degrees. (Celcius)"

Looking surprised, Shinobu looked at Hiroto and asked, "How were you two able to move in that condition? That would've been life-threatening."

Hiroto shrugged and said, "I'm not sure, but since my breathing techniques usually raised my body temperature normally I thought it was just normal."

"Well, my breathing technique shouldn't have raised my body temperature as high as 39 degrees, that's why I think it can be used as a screening test for now," Muichiro said.

Looking solemn, he added, "Will you die, or will you not? That's probably the difference between those who have the mark appear and those who do not."

"A heart rate over 200 BPM…" Amane considered Muichiro's words. "And a body temperature of around 39 degrees?"

"Yes." Muichiro said, "When Kocho-San was treating my wounds, I apparently had a fever. The temperature recorded on the thermometer was around 39 degrees. My guess is that I had the same body temperature when the mark appeared."

Shinobu nodded. Uzui then had an epiphany as he suddenly said, "Wait. Do you all think that it's such a coincidence that both of the Kamado siblings had the mark appear? Not only that, but they were the first ones to manifest them as well."

Realizing this fact, the other Hashiras fell into deep thought. Uzui then added, "Hiroto, back at the fight at the Red Light District, I saw both you and Tanjiro use a different breathing technique to that of the Breath of Flames."

Nodding his head, Hiroto said, "Yes. It's a breathing technique that our father used to perform each New Year for the whole day. Even though he was sickly and had a frail body, he was still able to last through the whole day and night in the freezing winter. It's called the 'Dance of the Fire God.' "

Uzui nodded and said, "It may be too presumptuous for me to say, but I believe that their breathing technique may have something to do with the mark. Although it has appeared on Tokito and Kanroji, it has first stemmed from the two Kamado brothers."

Amane then spoke up. "Oyakata-Sama had the same thoughts as you, Tengen-Sama. However, when Rengoku-Sama was training Kamado-Sama as his Tsuguko, he explained that it was practically impossible for him to learn of this breathing technique."

The other Hashira nodded their heads. Although the breathing technique could be related to the mark, it isn't that simple to try and learn a new technique, especially when one has already developed their own to such an extent. It would interrupt and could potentially slow down their progress.

Hiroto, however, is a bit different since the Breath of Water isn't his breathing technique, to begin with, and the Dance of the Fire God has been ingrained within him since he was still practically a toddler.

"Tch, so we just have to raise our heart rate and body temperature? It's pretty simple really." Sanemi said.

"I envy those simpletons who can say this is simple," Giyu said plainly.

"What?" Sanemi said, looking irritated towards Giyu.

"Nothing," Giyu said.

Shinobu spoke up, "So I guess getting this mark to appear will now be a high priority for the Hashiras."

"Agreed," Gyomei said. "Please inform Oyakata-Sama that we will do something about it, so he can be at ease."

"Thank you very much." Amane lowered her head slightly. "But I do have one thing to say regarding your mark training."

"What would that be?" Mitsuri asked, tilting her head.

"Those who have manifested the mark must participate." Amane declared. "No matter who it was appeared for, and there will be no exceptions." Amane slightly glanced towards Hiroto, Mitsuri, and Muichiro, who nodded their understanding.

Amane and her children then left the room, leaving the Hashira's to their own devices.

"Ahh, I see…" Gyomei said, "But if we're doing those, what will happen to me now… Namusan…"

Giyu got up from the ground and said, "Now that Amane-Dono is gone, I'll take my leave."

"Whoa hold it. Don't leave just yet, man." Sanemi said to Giyu. "We oughta make your future plans now, am I right?"

"Then you eight can talk about it. It's got nothing to do with me." Giyu said.

"What do you mean, 'nothing to do with you'?" Obanai said, the snake on his neck slithering around. "You don't understand your position as a Hashira here. Or what? You planning on getting a head start on training without us? You didn't say a thing during the meeting."

Giyu ignored them and started walking about.

"Hold it, dammit!" Sanemi yelled, getting up.

"Tomioka-San, please just tell us why. You're leaving out a lot of details." Shinobu said.

Hiroto then spoke up, "Giyu, wait, at least tell us why you won't stay."

Giyu paused, and then said, "... Hiroto… I'm not like you. Or the others."

"Wow, you're pissing me off… You said the same thing before, Tomioka. Are you making fun of us?" Sanemi said as he started to grow ever angrier.

"N-No fighting, you guys! Let's be…" Mitsuri tried to calm down Sanemi.

"Hold it, fuckwad!!" Sanemi shouted, running towards Giyu.

Mitsuri stood in between them and shouted "Kyaah! No no no!"

As Hiroto was about to move, he was interrupted.

*CLAP* A loud and resounding clap resonated through the room, as Gyomei held his palms together with tears streaming down his face.

This caused everyone to shudder from the sheer sound and pressure that Gyomei was currently exerted, as he spoke with a sharp tone. "Take a seat… Let's talk a bit more… I have a proposition…"

Giyu and Sanemi looked at each other and went back to their place.

"Phew, does this happen a lot?" Hiroto whispered to Shinobu.

"Well… not really. Sometimes it does. But, ever since you came to the last Hashira meeting… let's just say things are the same anymore." Shinobu said, smiling wearily.

"Now, I have a proposition. We can conduct a special training session. It shall be called the 'Hashira Training'." Gyomei said.

"What does this training consist of?" Hiroto asked.

"Those who ranked lower than Hashira's will train with them one by one," Gyomei announced, causing the other Hashira's eyebrows to be raised.

"What? Are you crazy? Do you know how many members there are? There's only eigh- I mean nine of us, now that we have Kamado here." Obanai said. "If you put all of us Hashira's into training the lower ranks what would happen if an Upper Moon appears again?"

Uzui then said, "You might not know this yet since it is merely speculation, but… From my information network, so far no Demons have appeared ever since Nezuko has conquered the Sun. All Demons just suddenly stopped appearing, surely you all have noticed this."

The Hashira's thought, and then all realized from their reports that so far no Demons have been spotted, killed, and has just suddenly all disappeared.

"That is correct," Gyomei said. "The Hashira's can just focus on night patrol and day training instead."

Hiroto looked solemn and said, "I can't help but feel uneasy about this. Although I just took on the title of the Flame Hashira, I'm not really confident that I can train someone."

"You underestimate yourself too much, Hiroto," Uzui said, crossing his arms. "Although you might not have the experience, you certainly do possess the abilities to be counted as a Hashira. With that alone, you should be able to suffice."

"That's right!" Mitsuri shouted. "You were so strong and cool back at the swordsmith village!"

Shinobu smiled and said, "You might not know, but you're actually quite well known throughout the lower ranks."

"Huh? How can that be?" Hiroto said as his face looked blank.

"Well, you might not know since you were always too busy, but Oyakata-Sama had the idea to send out messages that 2 Upper Moons were defeated, and by a person who wasn't a Hashira only at the age of 17. This was used to boost morale and push their determination." Shinobu said with a smile.

"Tsk." Sanemi looked irritated and said, "Although I don't like you that much, I can at least see that your strength isn't something to laugh at. Being able to survive an Upper Moon attack is already an achievement, but being able to kill them is an even bigger honor."

Gyomei then said, "You will do fine, young Hiroto. The way we can improve the lower ranks is by getting them to partner up with people who are stronger than them. By exposing them to people stronger than themselves, it shall allow them to better utilize their breaths and make them even stronger."

Muichiro nodded and said, "I can agree to this proposition, however, how should we handle the actual training itself?"

Everyone fell into deep, but Giyu got up and still left the room.

"Wait! Where do you think you're going?!" Sanemi shouted.

"You guys can handle the training yourself. I won't be needed." Giyu said, then left the estate.

"Dammit! What the hell is he thinking?!" Sanemi said as he grinded his teeth.

Hiroto looked worried and thought, 'I'll find him later and talk to him.'

"I have an idea," Obanai said. "We can let each one of us handle a certain aspect of the training. If we divide them up, it will give us time to do our own mark training, and allow the lower ranks to be exposed to the different breathing techniques as well."

"I can agree with that," Uzui said.

"Yea! That sounds great!" Mitsuri shouted.

Everyone else nodded.

And so, for the next hour, they began to discuss which aspect of the training they would be in charge of.

First, would be Uzui who would do the initial hazing via basic stamina training.

Second would be Mitsuri who handles the hellish flexibility training.

Third would be Mucihiro would then deal with quick movement training.

Fourth, Hiroto would be responsible for training their reflexes. Mainly, the hellish obstacle course that he used to train in as well.

Fifth, Obanai focuses on sword skill revision.

Sixth, Sanemi handles the infinite pounding training.

Seventh, Gyomei trains them under muscle reinforcement.

And with this, the training regime has been decided!