93. Hashira Training Part 2

"I'm gonna kill ya!"

Within the training grounds a peculiar sight was unfolding. The wind Hashira Sanemi had a murderous look on his as he chased after Leo.

"Calm down Sanemi-san!"

Leo was trying his best to soothe him down. However it proved ineffective.

"Just stay still!"

Like hell I will!

Leo was dodging left after right. Suddenly Sanemi took a stance and swung his sword.

Holy shit!

A furious gale was kicked up by that slash. Leo couldn't dodge this one, he raised his sword and blocked it.

Bang!

The training ground was filled with cracks as their swords met. Sanemi's eyes practically spewed out fire.

"Yeah, stay still just like that. Just one arm is enough."

Leo nearly spurted blood from annoyance, "Would you calm down and listen!?"

Sanemi growled, "Shut the f*ck up!"

Leo made some distance between them and said hastily, "Listen, Genya will definitely continue to fight demons so isn't it better if he got stronger. That would atleast give him a better chance at survival."

Sanemi stopped for a moment and attacked him again.

Leo could only parry the incoming strike. He continued to defend. After a while Sanemi stopped, he glared at Leo and stomped away.

Leo heaved a sigh of relief and sat down exhausted.

Sabito came out of nowhere and handed him a pack of dried fruit, "I told you this would happen."

Leo grabbed the whole packet and stuffed a bunch into his mouth, "What choice did I have? It's better for that kid to get stronger so I helped him. So what? It's a crime to help him do breathing techniques?"

Sabito shrugged, "Who know what's on Sanemi's mind? Anyway, how did you help Genya?"

Leo ate while he explained, "Genya's constitution is special, he can gain a demons strength and regeneration as long as he consumes their flesh. He is basically a different breed of humans."

"I used my spiritual energy to carve out an energy path inside him. Now it's only a matter of time for energy to condense and fill that path. Once that is done he can do Breathing Techniques like any other human."

"The downside is that his peculiar constitution will dissolve and disappear as the energy path is completed. However he will be twice or thrice stronger than a normal human by then."

Sabito nodded thoughtfully, "That ain't bad."

Leo pushed aside his other questions and asked, "How goes the training?"

"You know, the usual. True Breath users are hard to come by."

"That's a given. Realm of mind must be high enough to sense the spirit otherwise It's impossible to control 'Breath'."

While Leo was having his troubles Tanjiro and the rest were also busy.

"Namo-Amita-Butsu."

Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu stared at Himejima who was pushing a rock weighing more than a ton through the ground like it was nothing.

Zenitsu pointed at him and swallowed, "We have to do that?"

Nobody replied.

Himejima stopped what he was doing and patted his palms, "Use your 'Breath' to reinforce your muscles."

Tanjiro and the rest stood infront of a large stone, this one wasn't even half the size of what Himejima was pushing around but it was enough for them.

"Focus your spirit and channel 'Breath' through your body."

Himejima instructed from the side. Tanjiro closed his eyes and focused. Training from a young age and losing his parents, Tanjiro went through a lot.

He was no longer immature. He understood what he was fighting for, every battle made him grow. As a result his mind had already reached the 'All seeing' realm and he was able to sense his spirit even without Leo's help.

Not just him, Inosuke and Zenitsu had also awakened as true Breath users without any outside help.

When he focused Tanjiro could feel a ball of energy residing inside him. It was blazing hot.

He focused, the energy started to rumble and it spun. Through the energy channels it spread throughout his body. Tanjiro remembered Himejima's words, the 'Breath' reaching every corner of his body dispersed and was absorbed by his muscles.

Tanjiro took a step forward, his arms trembled and veins popped up.

The rock moved.

He took another step, then another...

Himejima nodded. He was satisfied with these three, they were geniuses and stood out like cranes among a flock of crows.

Inosuke and Zenitsu weren't too far behind. They were all panting but they were far from being tired.

"Don't just consume 'Breath' for a moment of strength, gather more as you move."

All three of them found it hard to do muscle reinforcement and 'Breath' gathering at the same time.

After an hour...

"So tired...

Zenitsu was on the ground, his face was lifeless as he looked up to the sky.

"How can he easily do muscle reinforcement and 'Breath' gathering at the same time!?! He is a monster! Does he think we are also one?"

Zenitsu complained.

Inosuke heard him and said, "That guy is different. He is the strongest slayer, apart from that other monster."

Zenitsu nodded vigorously.

Tanjiro was preparing food while they were animatedly talking, "Himejima-san sure is strong. He is also kind."

Inosuke waved his hand, "Just cook food Monjiro."

Tanjiro gave up correcting him and focused on his work.

Just then Zenitsu's sparrow flew by. It handed him a letter.

Inosuke curiously asked, "Wacha got there?"

Zenitsu shook his head, "Don't know."

He sat beneath a tree and opened the letter, his face paled when he saw the content.

Tanjiro sensed something wrong and asked with concern, "What's wrong Zenitsu?"

Zenitsu snapped out, his face was still pale, however he still squeezed out a smile and said "Nothing, just... could you guys leave me alone for a while."

"Zenitsu...

"Let's go Monjiro."

Inosuke suddenly grabbed Tanjiro and walked away.

Zenitsu crumbled the letter, his face contorted as murderous intent unintentionally spilled out.

"Senior brother... I will kill you!"

The sparrow flew to his shoulder and rubbed it's head on his cheek.

Zenitsu nudged it's head and said slowly, "I am alright."