Friend (Edited)

[Author: I'm planning for big things on「DanMachi: Storm」, so you all just wait.]

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• Ryū's POV •

Walking around and visiting nearby prefectures was a way to spend my time and to relieve my boredom. Seriously, when you just finished practicing, your only companion in the house is a lone wolf that doesn't talk too much, having no adults or other kids to talk to considering my mental age, makes me feel bored.

Right now, I'm in my home training in both Water Breathing and Hinokami Kagura, also known as disguised Sun Breathing. I'm trying to master all the forms before I go for mastering Total Concentration so I can fully bring out my full strength. Aside from using breath styles, I've also trained my body.

Apparently, my body is already strong and flexible along with my keen eyesight and keen sense of smell. It must be from Kanao and Tanjiro, my great-great-grandparents. That's 4 generations, and I am the 5th. Normally, it would only take 3 generations before me, but considering that they unlocked Demon Slayer Mark, their life are bound to pass on once they reach the age of 25.

Looking at a goza, the rope layer of tatami mats, wrapped around on a bamboo that acts as a bone while the former acts as a flesh after it was soaked in water for increase in density.

Standing 20 meters away from it, even though I could go even further since it is bigger and my parents can afford 9-storey building, I didn't want to go full power since I need control not brute strength. I dashed forward with katana in hand. As I was about 10 meters away, I kicked the ground to dash forward faster and crossed my arms, my left hand with katana being above the other. When I was about to cut the testing material, Yūgi came in the dojo.

I quickly landed my feet on the ground and quickly stopped by using the 9th form.

❲Water Breathing, Ninth Form: Water Flow Splash❳ (Literal translation)

Then I quickly jumped back a little, about 3 meters away from the target, tameshigiri.

"Your parents wants to talk to you." He told me as he hand over the phone.

Yūgi quickly left as he apparently have something to do today since he told me yesterday. He must have heard the phone when he was about to go out, then.

"Ryū's speaking. Hai, kā-san, what is it?"

"I see... Alright, I'll visit the Itadori family when I have time tomorrow."

I was about to hung up the phone when my mother spoke after I said goodbye.

"What... What? What?!"

"Take care, kā-san."

I then hung up the phone and put the phone back to where it should be.

I prepared more goza with bamboos, 12 in total of targets.

❲Total Concentration — Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance❳

In a quick and flowing succession, I quickly sliced a dozen of them in just about 3 seconds or maybe around 5 seconds. I honestly don't know how fast I am against targets that doesn't move nor does any have inhuman speed. I also never got to spar with Yūgi, he has things to take care of and he learned Water Breathing in order to not get kicked out of Urokodaki Kenji's house at the foot of a mountain here in Sendai.

The next day, I woke up early, took a morning bath, make breakfast for me and Yūgi, and trained in the dojo afterwards.

I trained from 6 in the morning until 10, repeating and trying to feel every emotions, opening all my senses by doing one action. Yes, I am training in Repetitive Action used by Himejima Gyomei. Whoever created this technique is an absolute genius.

After training, I took a bath and cooked something to eat. Since Yūgi is busy today and will only come back around afternoon, I only cooked a food enough for one person and a little bit more so there will be something left.

Then, I left wearing casual clothes with a paper in hand and an address on it. It was the address of the Itadori.

I asked around as I was never a person who likes to go out. I only do when it is important or something that should be done.

After about an hour, I have finally arrived. If I ran my way to here, it would only take less than 10 minutes with my maximum speed. I was about to ring the doorbell when I noticed that they don't have one since they are not that wealthy.

So, instead of ringing the doorbell, I just yelled to see if there are people.

Then, the door opened, and an 7-8 years old boy with pink hair appeared in front of me. Then, behind him an old man whose hair are about to turn white was following behind.

"Hello, my name is Kamado Ryūjin, you can call me Ryū. It's nice to meet you!" I bowed 90°.

"Uh. Ano... I'm Itadori Yūji. Nice to meet you!"

"I'm Itadori Wasuke. Nice to meet you, Ryū." Wasuke-san only bowed his head a little. "Come in! Your parents told me that I need to take care of you. They've also said that they will send some money. Half of it will be my salary. Who am I to reject money?"

He said it with a smile. He must've love money, but not to the point he is obsessed. Well, that's good.

Anyway, Yūji and I did a handshake and entered the house.

My mother told me that I will have a temporary guardian.

"Ryū-san, your hair looks like a burning charcoal!" Yūji chimed which pulled me away from my deep though of how did my parents know the Itadori family.

I only chuckled at that and said, "My family, or you can say clan, has been wood burners and charcoal sellers until my great-grandmother decided to bake breads instead. Because of my family lineage being coal burners, my hair is like a charcoal and turns reddish when hit by light."

It's true. Though, Sumihiko's hair was a little bit brighter than mine, my hair is not that red but more on darker color of red.

I left their house and came back for my things as well as traditional items and the bokken that I asked my father to buy because I want to learn kenjutsu.

When I arrived back home, I informed Yūgi that I will live in another place in the meantime which will probably take about 5 years.

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A few days have passed, Yūji and I became friends very easily. This boy likes to eat, and I think that's the reason why he have the guts to eat Sukuna's finger in the future.

Also, during these days I have spent with them, I have found that there are curses around this part. I am now also going in the same school as Yūji since he was 8 and I am 10.

I have gained a friend that will become a vessel. Well, as a weeb before I reincarnated, I am happy at meeting the guy. Although, he's still not old enough, his strength is still immense even if he's young right now.

After a few more months spending time with them, I did a lot of things. One of them is exorcising cursed spirits. Well, of course I trained before doing so. I've only started a week ago, but since these cursed spirits are not that strong nor smart, I can easily kill them with my Nagamaki and imbue it with cursed energy.

Although, I wasn't that strong against these curses at what I think are Grade 3, I can still exorcise them using Water Breathing's way of technique. Fluid motion, adapt to changes and environment, and become the container itself.

Bruce Lee once said:

「Empty your mind.」

「Be formless, shapeless, like water.」

「You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.」

「You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle」

「You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.」

「Now, water can flow or it can crash.」

「Be water, my friend.」

[A/N: Thanks, WoofWoof!]

I think, when it comes to skills, I am little bit in Grade 3 since these curses are kinda stupid and curses in cities like Tokyo are either stronger or smarter as well as cunning.

I don't exactly know how strong they are, but I'm still training. Oh, I forgot to say that I was using Repetitive Action. But since I have yet to master them, I couldn't exactly use the full power of my attacks. I think, it also increases the power output of my cursed energy as well, but only a small change since I just started.

I think it's because Repetitive Action brings out the full power of a person using emotions to open all 5 senses and enhance them as well. It also increases heart rate which is a way for me to fully activate my Demon Slayer Mark. However, I don't want it to be permanently activated. I need to find a way to revert or at least stop the mark from sapping my lifespan.

Despite being gifted to be strong, I can only live up to the age of 25 until I can find a way how to live longer like Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

...

I felt a hand on my shoulder and quickly turned around then jumped back. A person who could sneak up on me is a serious matter, and they can't just hide their scent using perfumes because I will also smell them.

"Ah, you have good reflexes."

"Agatsuma Denki-jī-chan?!"

"YES! I AM!" He said as he points at himself.

"What are you doing here, jiji?" I asked him because his reason are acceptable... Unlike Yoshiteru's.

"Kid, I saw you train and train. I was also told by Kenji that only Yūgi and you have learned Water Breathing. As I am old now, I want to pass my knowledge about Thunder Breathing. But my sons, not even my daughters, wants to learn it because of how I described it. Being able to move at the speed of sound with a thunderclap and quickly beheading or slicing a target. They didn't believe me. However, when I saw you, I knew Thunder Breathing would still live on."

... I needed to learn that style!

"Please, train me sensei!" I bowed 90° or even lower as my respect for the strength and speed of Thunder Breathing is enough to land a strong hit at Muzan without Zen'itsu obtaining the Demon Slayer Mark. The only downside is that, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Forms are created by Kaigaku using his Kekkijutsu, Blood Demon Art, not by pure skill.

Still, the 1st form itself is mostly enough for one target or multiple, depending on the battle.

And so, my Hell Training started.