'…He's crying?' Kagerou thought, eyes narrowing slightly.
He didn't know who the man was, but the quiet weight around him, calm yet overwhelming, told him enough.
That was Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, said to be the strongest among them.
A flamboyant Sound Hashira and a crying Stone Hashira. Kagerou glanced at Shinjuro. Though his father had his own quirks, at this point, he might actually be the most normal person in the room.
'…And his eyes, he doesn't have irises?' Kagerou mused as Gyomei turned his head toward them, unseeing yet perfectly aware.
"Namu Amida Butsu… Shinjuro," Gyomei greeted, his voice deep but gentle. "It's good to see you joining us for this meeting"
Shinjuro nodded and sat across from him. Beside Gyomei sat Tengen, who clicked his tongue, expression half-bored, half-annoyed.
"…And who is this boy?" Gyomei asked, his blind gaze drifting toward Kagerou.
"This is my son," Shinjuro said, his tone steady. "Kagerou Rengoku"
"…Kagerou…" Gyomei repeated softly. His lips trembled, and his tears fell harder. "For a boy to have such a gaze... You've been through much… Kagerou-kun"
"Y-Yes? No, I mean, nice to meet you, sir," Kagerou said quickly, nodding slightly toward Gyomei.
"Happy to meet you as well, Kagerou-kun," Gyomei replied gently, then turned his sightless eyes toward Shinjuro. "It was Oyakata-sama's request, Shinjuro?"
"Yes," Shinjuro said, his voice steady. "I told him about Kagerou a while ago, and now he wishes to meet him. That's why I brought him here"
"Tch." Tengen clicked his tongue. "What's so interesting about this boy that Oyakata-sama would call for him?" His tone carried a faint edge of mockery.
Gyomei shook his head, beads rattling softly as he murmured, "Namu Amida Butsu… Uzui, you shouldn't say such things. What if you hurt the boy's feelings?"
Tengen said nothing, only looked away toward the open shoji, the morning light spilling across the floor. His face showed boredom, but behind that, a quiet irritation.
He had left the shinobi world with his wives at fifteen, survived the Final Selection, and became a Hashira not long after. Two years of endless missions followed, one after another, without rest. Ever since Shinjuro began rejecting certain assignments, the weight had shifted to him and Gyomei.
He understood Shinjuro's reasons, he even respected him, but deep down, the imbalance still grated.
Tengen respected both Gyomei and Shinjuro as his seniors, yet his pride could not help but bristle. He had his life too, his duty, his wives, his own battles to fight.
"Forgive him, Kagerou-kun," Gyomei said softly. "He doesn't usually act like this… And I see that you also use a Breathing Technique"
Kagerou blinked, slightly caught off guard.
"Your breathing is steady," Gyomei continued, voice calm. "Controlled and rhythmic… Only those who've mastered a Breathing Style breathe like that. Flame Breathing? No… It's different"
"Hmm~ You noticed it, Gyomei?" Shinjuro said, his voice carrying a hint of pride.
"Actually, Kage has forged his own style, Smoke Breathing. He's created six forms so far. Not complete yet, but… isn't that something?"
"He is?" Tengen asked, now a little intrigued. "There's a limit to how much you can stretch a lie, Rengoku-san. How old is he? Eight? Ten? And you're saying he's already forged his own Breathing Style? That's too good to be true"
"Tengen-"
"I did create my own Breathing Style," Kagerou interrupted calmly, gray eyes steady. "I did it, and that's a fact. What do you want to do with that?"
"Hooo~" Tengen cooed, smirking as he turned his full attention to the boy. "Now that's some attitude. What's going through that little head of yours?"
"Fig-"
"Wow~ It's so hot in here," a new voice said, soft and warm, yet instantly commanding the room.
All four turned toward the entrance.
Standing there, framed by the morning light, was Kagaya Ubuyashiki. His expression was serene as ever, his pale skin almost luminous, his smile gentle enough to quiet any storm.
Kagaya's gaze lingered briefly on Kagerou before he walked forward and seated himself across from Gyomei.
"Oyakata-sama," Shinjuro, Gyomei, and Tengen said in unison, bowing their heads deeply before the boy who led even the strongest Hashira with grace alone.
"Thank you all for attending despite your busy schedules," Kagaya said softly. His voice carried no force, yet it reached every corner of the room. "But before we begin, let's settle what you were discussing just now, so that no heat remains in the air."
He turned his gaze once more to Kagerou, his faint smile never fading.
"Kagerou, was it?"
"Yes, Oyakata-sama," Kagerou said, raising his head to meet Kagaya's gaze. "It's me, Kagerou Rengoku"
For a brief moment, Kagaya was silent. The boy before him, no older than seven, just two years younger than him, carried himself with an unshakable calm, a gravity that belied his age. His gray eyes were sharp yet composed, and even the way he sat spoke of discipline and awareness.
Now Kagaya understood. 'So this is the boy Shinjuro spoke of with such pride'
"…Interesting," Kagaya murmured at last. "Kagerou-kun, is it true that you've forged your own Breathing Style? Smoke Breathing, was it?"
"It's true, Oyakata-sama," Kagerou replied without hesitation, his voice steady.
"I see." Kagaya's faint smile deepened, curious. "Then, if I may, could I see it for myself?"
Kagerou glanced toward his father, then back to Kagaya. "If it's to show that my father didn't lie, then gladly. I'll show you, Oyakata-sama"
The quiet confidence in his tone made even Tengen raise an eyebrow.
"Ahaha~ I see, I see," Kagaya said softly, clearly delighted. Then, turning his gaze toward the Sound Hashira, he added, "Tengen. If you're willing, could you assist Kagerou-kun in demonstrating his Breathing Style?"
Tengen smirked, resting one hand on his chin. "You know I don't hold back, Oyakata-sama. Are you sure about that?"
Kagerou rose to his feet, sliding his kiseru into his belt. "It's fine," he said firmly, meeting Tengen's sharp gaze. "I'm fine, Oyakata-sama"
Kagaya's smile lingered as he nodded once. "You heard him, didn't you, Tengen?"