Chapter 103: Tokito's Sneak Learning (Two in One)

...

Looking at the tired face of Tomioka Giyu, Urokodaki was silent, his closed eyes were slightly moist.

He slowly opened his eyes, just about to invite Giyu into the house for a detailed talk.

Step.

In a daze, he seemed to see illusory figures emerging from the fog around him.

Sabito turned his head and hugged Tomioka Giyu and Urokodaki together.

"Urokodaki-san."

"Sensei."

"Grandpa."

"It's not your fault."

"Thank you."

Ethereal voices echoed all around for a moment.

Upon seeing the familiar smiles of a few children.

Urokodaki was slightly stunned, the face behind the Tengu mask seemed somewhat dazed.

...

After a long time.

After paying respects to the disciples who had died in the final selection with Tomioka Giyu, the two returned to the wooden house, one after the other.

On the way back, neither the master nor the disciple spoke.

Inside the house.

Urokodaki sat at the candlelit table, picked up the brush, and wrote something under the flickering candlelight.

Behind him, Tomioka Giyu was lying asleep on the bed, sleeping as peacefully as he did six years ago.

His eyes were closed, and a slight smile of comfort appeared at the corner of his mouth.

That night.

Giyu slept very peacefully.

...

...

Meanwhile.

In the distance.

The forest surrounded a circle of open space, with weeds growing all around, and moonlight spilling through the gaps between the swaying leaves.

Creak—Bang!

A wooden door emitting a warm light suddenly appeared in mid-air, and with a harsh scraping sound, it was abruptly pulled open.

Then.

Plop! Plop plop!

Several eyeball-like creatures, with tentacles growing at the bottom, kept falling from the wooden door.

Until they piled up into a small black hill, slightly wriggling.

The eyeball-like creatures twisted their tentacles, barely propping up their bodies, and suddenly turned their heads.

In the middle of the scarlet eyeball, the character "Four" was clearly written.

After the wooden door in mid-air disappeared, the eyeballs seemed to be stunned for a moment.

Then, they quickly scattered in all directions, burrowing into the surrounding forests or bushes, and left here.

A faint voice echoed from where the wooden door disappeared in mid-air:

"...You did well, Nakime."

...

The next day.

Mount Sagiri.

At Urokodaki's house.

Sunlight leaked into the house through the open door, illuminating the eyelids of someone sleeping.

His eyebrows furrowed, and his eyelids trembled slightly.

Then.

Whoosh!

"...!"

A figure with messy hair suddenly opened his eyes, he sat up from the bed in an instant, his dazed eyes gradually regained consciousness.

Sitting on the bed, Tomioka Giyu with disheveled clothes stared straight ahead.

His eyes, which were usually as quiet as a deep pool, unusually brightened, he was now tensing his expression, showing seriousness.

Cold sweat slowly slid down his forehead.

Damn it.

Tomioka Giyu hung his head low, the sunlight on the quilt reminded him of the current time.

—He seemed to have forgotten something.

His stern face, his eyebrows couldn't help but frown tightly.

In his mind, the figure who would smile and poke his own wound emerged.

The cold sweat on his forehead became more intense.

In front of him.

The light leaking from the door was suddenly blocked, a figure stood outside the door, poking his head towards the door:

"Are you awake, Giyu?"

Urokodaki was carrying a bundle of firewood, half of the red Tengu mask was exposed

in the sunlight, the old voice was not as dull as before:

"Breakfast will be ready soon, get up."

Upon hearing this.

Tomioka Giyu raised his head and looked in the direction of the door.

His heart seemed to have gone through some struggle.

In the end, he sat up.

He didn't choose to return to the Butterfly Mansion, but went to prepare breakfast with his master.

...

Butterfly Mansion.

The transparent training had ended, and a few children returned to the Butterfly Mansion again.

The Kakushi member leaned against the wall, sweating profusely, looking at each other helplessly.

"...Good."

"Yeah, all the injured from the final selection have made it through in one breath."

"Other people have also been transferred to help rebuild the Swordsmith Village..."

"There are only four of us left in the huge Butterfly Mansion!"

The conversation ended.

The few people looked at each other again, all sighed heavily.

At this time.

"...Tanjiro, where is Tanjiro?"

A weak and pale figure staggered over, leaning against the wall, panting:

"I think, we need Tanjiro..."

The others looked at each other.

"Tanjiro..."

Suddenly.

A sharp-eyed figure spotted Kanzaki Aoi, who had just rested and was passing by.

He reached out and shouted:

"Please wait! This team member!"

The one who was called, Kanzaki Aoi with a dazed expression, was slightly stunned. She turned her head and looked at the few figures running towards her.

...

In the courtyard.

Several small figures stood there.

Among them, the small figure dancing suddenly felt a bit weak.

He lowered his head and looked at the wooden stick in his hand.

He was silent for a while.

"Father." Takeo raised his head, he looked at Tanjuro standing next to him, adjusting his posture hand in hand, with a puzzled tone:

"Why are we always training the Hinokami Kagura dance?"

Saying that, he pointed to the other side of the courtyard, where the Tokito brothers were practicing their swordsmanship all day long:

"They are practicing that kind of open and close swordsmanship all day!"

So cool!

Takeo clenched his fists, his eyes were bright, and he pursed his mouth:

"If this continues, they will dominate the entire courtyard sooner or later!"

Saying that, he turned his head and looked at his father with expectant eyes.

I also want to learn that kind of swordsmanship!

Takeo's inner voice echoed with desire.

Tanjuro smiled helplessly, he naturally could see Takeo's thoughts.

Takeo's aggressive appearance did not attract the attention of the Tokito brothers he pointed at, but it made Tanjiro laugh.

"Takeo." Tanjuro put down the wooden stick he was waving when he was dancing the Hinokami Kagura dance, he walked over, bent over and gently touched the other's head.

With a firm gaze, Tanjuro smiled:

"The Hinokami Kagura dance passed down from generation to generation is the most suitable thing for us to practice."

He knew that his father had once told him that the "transparent world" that taught Hashira in the first seven days was actually discovered by his father when he danced the Kagura dance all night at the beginning of each year.

Thinking about it, Tanjuro raised his head and smiled at his father with a still immature face.

Shh...

A broad palm gently covered Tanjiro's head: "After practicing for a long time, you will feel it."

"Takeo." Tanjuro stood up, looked at Takeo who was in a daze, and explained:

"Remember the movements and feelings when the Hinokami Kagura dance is dancing."

"And." He smiled softly, his gaze moved to the Tokito brothers training not far away, his tone was calm:

"Hinokami Kagura."

"It's not just a simple dance."

"In fact..."

Tanjuro turned his gaze and looked at Takeo who was in a daze:

"...It is a sword technique woven into a dance."

Upon hearing this.

Takeo, who was a little depressed just now, slowly lit up with excitement in his eyes, he raised his hands and shouted:

"Really?!"

"Our family's Hinokami Kagura dance is a sword technique?!"

Seeing Tanjuro nodding, Takeo excitedly hugged Tanjiro, his brother, and then shook him:

"Oh oh——!!"

"So cool!"

Shigeru, who had just left the Butterfly Mansion and was rubbing his sleepy eyes, heard Takeo's shout and immediately ran over with a curious expression on his face:

"What, what." Shigeru ran over curiously: "What are you talking about?"

Seeing this, Tanjuro raised his head, glanced sideways, and looked at the Tokito brothers swinging their wooden swords not far away.

...

Across from the Kamado family.

Whoosh!

Yuichiro, with a determined expression, tightly gripped the hilt of the wooden sword with his hands that were full of friction marks.

And he didn't stop, he swung it forcefully.

Beside him.

Muichiro also held a wooden sword, he swung it in a pretentious manner, but in fact, his eyes were squinted, always looking in the direction of Tanjuro.

"Ah... Ah... I see..."

After observing carefully for a while, making sure that he remembered the movements that Tanjuro had just taught.

He sneakily, replaced the Moon Breathing sword technique he was practicing with the "Hinokami Kagura" he remembered in his mind.

Gripping the wooden sword.

Whoosh!

Just as he was about to start.

Smack!

"Ouch!"

The wooden sword that Yuichiro was swinging suddenly turned and hit him on the head first.

Muichiro was caught off guard and was hit hard, he shrank his head and turned around with a grievance:

"...What are you doing, brother."

"You..." Yuichiro looked at his brother with a helpless face, then shook his head and sighed:

"If you want to learn so much, just go ask that uncle directly."

"It's not good to be found out if you sneak around."

Upon hearing this.

"Ah!"

"I know... but." Muichiro turned his head, he covered his head with his hand, his expression seemed a bit embarrassed:

"I always feel... it's a bit too rude to ask directly."

After hearing his brother's words.

A # appeared on Yuichiro's forehead, he clenched his fist, slightly lowered his head, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

—?

"You sneaking around to learn is the rudest thing!"

Yuichiro's expression gradually collapsed as he shouted.

And sitting in the corridor, talking with his wife, Tadaichiro, was looking in the direction of his two sons, chatting and laughing with his wife without a care in the world.

...

A long time passed.

"...Is this really okay?"

"Shut up! Go!"

Smack!

After being pushed hard.

Tokito Muichiro, with a big bump on his head, his face flushed, moved towards this side carefully, his movements were a bit awkward.

His eyes occasionally glanced at his brother, Yuichiro, behind him.

Seeing his brother standing in place, with his arms around him, and pointing at him with believing eyes.

"…Yes!" Muichiro suddenly closed his eyes and nodded hard.

Then, with his eyes closed, he ran to the Kamado family in a few steps.

The children who were still noisy just now suddenly quieted down, curiously looking at Muichiro who ran over.

"That, that!" Muichiro raised his hand, his eyes were evasive, he pondered his words, and tried to look up at Tanjuro in front of him:

"I... you guys..."

His fingers were at a loss, Muichiro finally plucked up the courage, he recalled the ultimate sword light he saw in the forest that night:

"I'm sorry! I know it's rude!"

"Can... can I also learn that Hinokami Kagura dance with you?"

"Please!" Saying that, he tightly closed his eyes.

Seeing this.

Takeo and Shigeru looked at each other.

Both of them showed a surprised look in their eyes.

They thought, was Muichiro deliberately coming over to mock them?

In the end...

What is this?

Then.

"Haha." Takeo showed a standard 'Kamado-style' smile, he squinted his eyes, reached out a somewhat dirty hand to Muichiro, and a childish voice sounded:

"Of course, you can."

Muichiro was stunned.

He opened his eyes, looked up at Takeo incredulously.

He agreed?

Just when Muichiro didn't react, hesitated and didn't know what to say.

Smack!

Takeo took the first step, grabbed his hand, and raised his fist, smiling and replied:

"Let's work hard together!"

Under the sunlight, the green swaying behind him set off the boy's smile, which suddenly seemed incredibly bright.

Shining brightly.

"Yes!" Muichiro's pupils dilated slightly, Takeo's smiling face reflected in his eyes, his face showed a hopeful and longing expression, he nodded vigorously, fearing that the other party would regret it.

——Such a kind child!

Muichiro was deeply moved in his heart, he had never felt such generosity from other peers.

——Compared to his brother, there's no doubt.

He looked at Takeo, Shigeru, and Tanjiro, who all had almost the same gentle smiles.

——These are angels!

...

Behind Muichiro.

Seeing Muichiro being surrounded by the Kamado family, looking like he was being accepted.

Yuichiro raised his eyebrows, he nodded satisfactorily.

——This is not bad, Muichiro.

Suddenly.

"Ah——chuuu!" His nose itched, he took a sharp breath, and sneezed.

Scratching his nose, Yuichiro looked around suspiciously, then withdrew his gaze.

At a glance, he accidentally saw the corner of the courtyard.

In the corner.

Swish!

Swish!

A certain blond, his hair swaying with his movements, like a yellow dandelion, was vigorously swinging the wooden sword in his hand.

Agatsuma Zenitsu's expression was determined, there were friction marks on his face——that was the scar from failing to use the first form, causing him to brake directly with his face.

"One thousand one hundred and thirty."

"One thousand one hundred and thirty-one."

He was counting in his mouth, looking forward with a determined gaze, but his tired arms didn't mean to stop.

That was the first time Zenitsu saw such a sad expression on his grandfather's face.

Swish!

Zenitsu gripped the hilt tightly, and once again swung down forcefully, the tip of the wooden sword quickly broke through the air.

He didn't want to see it for the second time.

...

...

In the courtyard.

Tokito Muichiro quickly got along with the Kamado family.

Seeing the child picking up interest again, Tanjuro smiled and looked at the distant sky.

Gohachiro was circling above the Butterfly Mansion, calling out from time to time.

Accompanied by his family, Tanjuro felt the tranquility in his heart.

Some time has passed since the incident in the blacksmith village.

He also tried to practice the Lightning of Tomoe a few times.

But it seems that because of the weather, he couldn't summon the thunder.

Before the Nichirin Sword was well forged, Tanjuro was not in a hurry to find the whereabouts of other Upper Ranks.

The resurrection power in his body is abundant.

The battle memory has not been completely digested.

And.

The location of an Upper Rank has been directly explained in the original manga.

［Upper Rank Six·Daki］

No.

Tanjuro slowly withdrew his gaze.

Now, Gyokko and Hantengu are dead, Kokushibo has defected, Daki's rank is probably...

［Upper Rank Three］

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