The oppressive silence broke as Urokodaki spoke. "Kid, you dare use reverse psychology on me? Think I'll fall for it?"
Tanjiro realized Horitake had been goading Urokodaki all along.
Horitake, unfazed, smirked. "Gotta prod you, Master Urokodaki, or you'd never budge."
"Hmph! If Jigoro tried that, I might let it slide. But you, a junior, disrespecting a senior like me?" Urokodaki drew his Nichirin Blade. "Let's see what you're made of—and teach you a lesson for Jigoro!"
Tanjiro panicked. A fight? Horitake, expressionless, held out his hand. "My blade."
"Eh?" Tanjiro hesitated, horrified. They're really fighting? Wanting to intervene but cowed by Horitake's resolve, he handed back the blade.
Horitake unsheathed it, facing Urokodaki. "No need to sugarcoat it, Master. You want to thrash me? Fine. I'm not strong enough to beat you, but I won't just take it. How about one move to settle it?"
Urokodaki raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Let's bet," Horitake said. "One move. If I'm down, I drop the issue and take the Kamados back to Peach Mountain. If I hold my own, reconsider Tanjiro. If I somehow best you, take him as your disciple and look after Nezuko."
This was Horitake's true gambit, and Urokodaki took the bait. A former Water Hashira couldn't back down from a trainee. "Fine. One move!" he declared.
In the temple courtyard, blades drawn, their auras clashed. Tanjiro, terrified, thought, How did it come to this?
Eyes locked, neither flinched. Horitake struck first, honoring his elder while seizing the initiative. "Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap One Hundred Eight Flashes!"
Purple lightning wreathed him, his presence peaking. He surged at Urokodaki with ferocious intent.
Urokodaki's masked face shifted—This kid's Hashira-level! I underestimated him! "Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool!"
His blade spun, conjuring a massive vortex, a deadly blade of water slicing everything, blending offense and defense. But Horitake's one hundred eight slashes, though individually modest, overwhelmed with sheer volume, a relentless storm of lightning.
Tanjiro gaped at the spectacle. Is this humanly possible?
Vortex clashed with thunder. The whirlpool eroded, the lightning faded. Yet one purple bolt broke through.
They froze, face-to-face. Silence hung. Then, crack! Urokodaki's tengu mask split cleanly in two, revealing a stern, handsome older face.
Horitake sheathed his blade. "My apologies, Master Urokodaki."
Urokodaki, sheathing his own, sighed. Tanjiro gawked—Horitake-senpai won!
"Didn't expect such strength from someone so young. Your Thunder Breathing is masterful," Urokodaki said.
"I've trained Thunder Breathing for a while," Horitake replied. "Only the First Form, but I've crafted many techniques from it, like the One Hundred Eight Flashes."
Urokodaki paused. Is he flexing? "Enough. I underestimated you."
Horitake beamed—Urokodaki was yielding! He yanked a stunned Tanjiro forward, pressing his head down in a bow. "Don't just stand there! Master Urokodaki's accepting you! Bow!"
Tanjiro, overjoyed, nearly kowtowed. Urokodaki stopped him. "Wait. Tanjiro, if your sister eats a human, what will you do?"
Tanjiro's heart clenched. "Nezuko would never!"
"Fool! How can you guarantee that? If it happens?"
Tanjiro glanced at Nezuko in the temple, pain twisting his face. Urokodaki slapped him, echoing the original story. "Idiot! You should say, 'If Nezuko eats someone, I'll kill her, then myself!'"
Tanjiro, awakened, shouted, "Yes! If Nezuko eats someone, I'll kill her, then myself!"
Urokodaki nodded, satisfied. Horitake, watching, added, "Tanjiro, you've endured so much, carry so much. This resolve is painful but necessary."
Tanjiro clenched his fists, silent.
Urokodaki turned to him. "To be my disciple, pass my test. Follow me—keep up!"
He dashed off. Tanjiro moved to fetch Nezuko, but Horitake was faster, tucking her into the basket, covering it tightly. "I've got Nezuko. Go pass his test!"
"Yes!" Tanjiro sprinted after Urokodaki, shouting, chasing his silhouette.
His mind raced: Horitake-senpai fought Urokodaki for my sake—another debt I can't repay. I must pass this test, for Nezuko and him!