Mizuki bought tools from a village near Mount Sagiri and started banging wildly on the wood for several days, *ping-ponging* until she quickly erected a small house next to the main one.
Although Urokodaki Sakonji was slightly confused, he didn't say much, assuming it was just a girl's habit of living alone.
Urokodaki Sakonji's training was mostly held in the mornings. Initially, Mizuki followed along and watched for two days; it was mostly standard Breathing Technique training and combat practice.
After observing for a few days, Mizuki stopped going up the mountain in the mornings and instead stayed at the base guarding Nezuko, allowing the master and disciple to train in peace.
Tanjirou's afternoon practice involved various mechanical obstacles and climbing steep cliffs.
After Tanjirou gradually became proficient, Urokodaki Sakonji stopped secretly monitoring him. Instead, Mizuki was there every day, taking over from Urokodaki Sakonji in the afternoon to watch Tanjirou on the mountain.
Her attitude was like that of an overly doting mother, terrified that the slightest setback might ruin her child.
Urokodaki Sakonji was extremely perplexed. After this continued for several months, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Why must someone like you guard Tanjirou so closely?"
His subtext was: Are you that idle?
With such immense strength, why are you wasting time here for nothing?
Urokodaki Sakonji had never seen Mizuki take action, but she never triggered any of the mechanisms he set up on the mountain, walking through the terrain as if it were flat ground.
Mizuki understood the meaning behind his words and, instead of answering, countered with a question: "Master Urokodaki, what do you think of Tanjirou?"
After a brief silence, Urokodaki Sakonji replied, "The boy has talent, but he is too soft."
Actually, that wasn't true. Tanjirou wasn't the type to ruin important matters out of sympathy.
Mizuki then asked, "What do you think of his compatibility with Water Breathing?"
Urokodaki Sakonji replied without hesitation, "Very good."
That was to be expected.
Because Tanjirou's personality is very gentle.
The compatibility of a Breathing Technique is somewhat related to the user's personality.
People with gentle and calm personalities have great affinity for Water Breathing.
Naturally passionate people are more suited for Flame Breathing.
Sword Forms and Breathing Techniques provide high feedback; for example, the aggressively fiery Sword Forms of Flame Breathing are suitable for extroverted personalities.
Tanjirou certainly has good affinity for Water Breathing, but... Mizuki calmly stated, "Compared to Water Breathing, there is a Breathing Technique that is even more suitable for Tanjirou."
It wasn't that Tanjirou wasn't suited for Water Breathing, but compared to Sun Breathing, the feedback Water Breathing gave him was slightly inferior.
"...A more suitable Breathing Technique?" The sudden change in topic nearly left Urokodaki Sakonji behind.
He looked at Mizuki in surprise: "Are you perhaps taking that boy as a Tsuguko?"
Mizuki smiled: "I'm not a Hashira. At most, I'm half a Trainer."
A Tsuguko refers to a swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps personally taught a Breathing Technique by a Hashira.
Urokodaki Sakonji was puzzled, and his brow furrowed beneath his mask: "If that's the case, why don't you teach Tanjirou directly?"
He was not someone difficult to communicate with. As long as Mizuki could provide a suitable reason, he had no reason to stop Tanjirou from learning a more suitable Breathing Technique.
More suitable means stronger, which means an increased chance of survival when fighting demons.
Mizuki shook her head: "That Breathing Technique has very high requirements for physical compatibility. Without a solid foundation, it cannot be used."
Urokodaki Sakonji was surprised: "Could it be..."
Mizuki nodded: "That's right, it is the one hailed as the start of..."
"Snow Breathing."
"..." She couldn't imagine Tanjirou using Snow Breathing.
Urokodaki Sakonji sighed with emotion: "That absurd Breathing Technique, I only saw it once on the current Flower Hashira, that young girl."
"And as far as I know, the Snow Breathing she mastered was incomplete. I didn't expect anyone else to be able to master it."
Mizuki's mouth twitched imperceptibly twice. If she had known the later generations' evaluation was so low, she should have burned the documents back then.
Taking a deep breath, Mizuki looked down at Tanjirou, who was training in the Water Breathing Sword Forms, and asked, "Tanjirou has now initially mastered the Breathing Technique and Sword Forms. Master Urokodaki, the next step should be teaching him Total Concentration Breathing, right?"
"..." Urokodaki Sakonji fell into a brief silence. After a long time, he spoke, "I actually don't want that boy to participate in the Final Selection."
"Many of the children I trained... died in the Final Selection."
Mizuki was naturally aware of this; she had kept track of this matter for hundreds of years.
Even... the souls beside that rock, she could see them clearly.
Mizuki glanced sideways: "Then what do you plan to do, Master Urokodaki?"
Urokodaki Sakonji didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood up and walked toward Tanjirou.
"I have nothing left to teach you."
"Huh?"
"From now on, it depends on your performance, whether you can improve yourself based on what I have taught."
Urokodaki Sakonji led Tanjirou all the way to a massive rock.
"If you can split this rock, I will allow you to participate in the Final Selection."
This sudden statement stunned Tanjirou. Could such a massive rock really be split by a sword?
After leaving this sentence, Urokodaki Sakonji left without looking back, leaving Tanjirou alone staring at the rock... Turning back to Urokodaki Sakonji, Mizuki smiled, "Is Total Concentration Breathing the condition?"
Urokodaki Sakonji looked at Tanjirou, who was starting to attempt the task below: "Without mastering Total Concentration Breathing, that boy won't have a chance of survival."
Mizuki remained silent.
Even among the Official Members, not everyone has mastered Total Concentration Breathing.
Urokodaki set this condition for Tanjirou because his disciples had been dying in recent years.
The requirements for using Sun Breathing are even stricter; one must at least be at the level of Total Concentration Breathing - Constant Concentration to use it freely... Since then, Urokodaki Sakonji never instructed Tanjirou again.
Tanjirou practiced the Breathing Technique and Sword Forms day after day. Although Urokodaki was unwilling to instruct him, the boy was no idiot; he knew how to adapt and would consult Mizuki whenever he had a question.
During Tanjirou's practice, the boy Sabito and the girl Makomo still appeared, bringing Tanjirou valuable practical combat experience.
Because Mizuki guarded Tanjirou daily, Urokodaki Sakonji would occasionally come up the mountain.
When he came beside Mizuki and looked at Tanjirou, he froze on the spot.
Mizuki, noticing his abnormality, turned to look. "Master Urokodaki, your style seems a bit off."
Urokodaki Sakonji's voice trembled as he said, "Did I push that boy too hard?"
Mizuki: "..."
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