Uchiha Hikari spent a bit more time tracking down and sealing the third chubby demon in the house.
Witnessing this firsthand, Agatsuma Zenitsu finally believed what Tanjiro had said about their "senpai." The way he looked at her shifted, carrying a subtle hint of awe.
Next, Uchiha Hikari returned to the car to report the test results to Bulma.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro and Zenitsu began rescuing the hostages who had been captured, tending to the wounded by bandaging their injuries and escorting them back to nearby villages.
Once everything settled down…
Hashibira Inosuke, wearing his boar mask and not the sharpest tool in the shed, showed up late. Mistaking Bulma's car for a demon, he sparked a small skirmish with Hikari's group.
Hikari effortlessly subdued Inosuke, giving the trio a taste of *Naruto*-style taijutsu shock. Then, she proposed observing their respective "Breathing Techniques."
…
In the *Demon Slayer* world, "Breathing Techniques" originated from Tsugikuni Yoriichi's "Sun Breathing."
These were techniques honed over centuries by demon hunters to fight demons with human bodies. By using specialized breathing methods, they could drastically enhance their heart and lung functions, boosting physical abilities to rival those of demons.
After Yoriichi's death, "Sun Breathing" was lost. What remained were five derivative styles—Water, Flame, Wind, Thunder, and Stone—along with their offshoot branches.
Tanjiro practiced Water Breathing, Zenitsu used Thunder Breathing, and Inosuke had created his own Beast Breathing, which was closest to the Wind style among the five core types.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
"Second Form: Water Wheel!"
"…Tenth Form: Life Flowing!"
In a clearing near the demon's house…
Bulma and a shadow clone were spreading out a tablecloth, prepping for a picnic.
Hikari's real body stood under a large tree, arms crossed, her Sharingan's three tomoe clearly visible in her eyes. She watched Tanjiro perform all ten forms of Water Breathing in sequence.
When he finished the final move, "Life Flowing," Tanjiro paused to catch his breath and turned back to say, "Hikari-san, that's everything I've learned in two years. I'm still not great at it. If it were Urokodaki-sensei, he'd definitely do it better."
"Hm…"
Hikari nodded.
After a brief moment of recollection, she drew a short blade from behind her, stepped forward, and swung it decisively.
"First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
"Second Form…"
"Tenth Form…"
In just a few minutes…
Hikari perfectly replicated all ten forms of Water Breathing. It wasn't just similar—it was identical. Her slender, agile frame gave the forms an ethereal, flowing quality, like a water fairy dancing on waves.
As she landed from midair, delicate water threads scattered around her, soaking the ground as if a light rain had fallen.
"?!"
Tanjiro and the others' jaws dropped.
"Hikari-san, was that really your first time seeing Water Breathing? You learned it just by watching once?"
"I trained under Kuwajima-sensei for years! How can someone be *this* gifted? Even the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps couldn't pull that off!"
"…Tch, genius? It's just a shortcut."
Unlike Tanjiro's shock, Hikari seemed a bit dissatisfied.
"The breathing rhythm felt slightly off. The fusion of Water Breathing and the sword forms isn't perfect yet… Is it because I copied Tanjiro?"
Fair point.
At this stage, Tanjiro had only recently passed the Demon Slayer entrance exam. Though he was progressing quickly, he was still far from veterans like Urokodaki or Tomioka Giyu. For instance, he didn't even know about "Total Concentration: Constant" yet. Hikari would have to experiment on her own or wait a few days to meet the current Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu, and copy him instead.
After a brief moment of thought, Hikari lifted her chin. "Your turn, Zenitsu. Show me your Thunder Breathing."
"…"
Next, Hikari copied Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing and Inosuke's Beast Breathing.
However, for Thunder Breathing, she only learned "First Form: Thunderclap and Flash."
Because that's the only move Zenitsu knew.
Hikari had also wanted to see Tanjiro's "Hinokami Kagura"—a youthful version of Sun Breathing—but Tanjiro hadn't yet awakened the ancestral memories etched in his DNA. His attempt was visibly shaky, so they dropped it.
"Fine."
"I'll copy the other Breathing Techniques when I meet the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"I wonder if the 'Yatayume' ability can help Tanjiro recall the full Hinokami Kagura… Nah, I'm not skilled enough yet. I'll practice on those demons first and perfect it before trying."
As thanks for letting her copy their Breathing Techniques, Hikari broke a Senzu Bean in half and gave one piece each to Zenitsu and Inosuke.
"These are incredibly rare. They can heal your injuries and restore your stamina in seconds, even if you're missing an arm or leg. Ask Tanjiro about their effects. Save them for a critical moment."
"…Thank you."
After Tanjiro vividly described the miraculous effects of the Senzu Bean, both Zenitsu and Inosuke carefully stored their halves.
On the other side, Bulma waved. "Come on, everyone, time to eat!"
"Woohoo!"
…
After resting for a day, Hikari's group set off again.
They passed through some scenic spots along the way, and Bulma stopped to snap a few photos.
The camera, even rarer than the car, amazed Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Nezuko. Bulma generously lent it out, teaching them how to use it. Zenitsu, the quickest to learn, dragged Tanjiro and Nezuko into a selfie session.
Inosuke, however, refused to join, claiming the machine would "suck out his soul."
…Talk about old-school.
They traveled like they were on a field trip until the evening of the next day, when they arrived at their next mission: Natagumo Mountain, home to Rui, the Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki.
The towering mountains loomed before them, covered in lush greenery from the base up. Looking from the foot of the mountain, the path was visible for only a few dozen meters before dense forest shadows swallowed it, giving off an eerie, mysterious vibe.
Driving was no longer an option here.
Plus, it was nighttime—when demons were most active. Bulma stored the RV in a Capsule, handed Hikari the protective suit and laser sword, and put on her mini-bracelet, ready to transform at a moment's notice.
(Chapter End)