Mount Sagiri.
The March wind, gentle as a mother's hand, brushed across the peach groves covering the mountain. Peach blossoms drifted through the air like butterflies dancing gracefully.
A pink petal landed on the nose of a young boy lying beneath a peach tree.
His hands were clasped behind his head, his breathing steady, drool slipping from the corner of his mouth as he mumbled in his sleep.
"Wife Shinobu, snuggles, hehe!"
"Idiot Muzan, take this combo: a whip dipped in wisteria, a Crimson Red Blade spinning attack, and a scorching sunbath!"
Another beautiful day. Another day of Yukito daydreaming.
He had short dark-red hair, fair skin, and an innocent appearance that made him look completely harmless.
"You little rascal, slacking off again! Are you trying to anger your Master to death?!"
A thunderous roar exploded through the grove. A wooden sword shot out from the peach branches in the distance, scattering blossoms as it flew.
Just as the sword was about to smash into Yukito's head, he tilted slightly to the side.
The wooden blade embedded itself into the tree trunk. His brilliant golden eyes slowly opened as he stretched lazily.
"Old Man, it's the same few moves over and over. What am I supposed to practice?"
"I can do that whole set in my sleep."
"And are you even my real Master? You're trying to kill me!"
He pointed helplessly at the wooden sword buried deep beside his head. If that had hit him directly, it would not have ended well.
"If I'm not your Master, then who is? Did I pick you up just to feed you for free?"
"You brat, you have talent, but if you don't work hard, you'll waste it!"
"Go practice your sword!"
The speaker was a short elderly man, barely taller than Yukito's twelve-year-old self.
He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a long drooping mustache. His hair and beard were white. His right leg was a prosthetic, and he leaned on a crutch.
His name was Kuwajima Jigoro, the former Thunder Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. After losing his right leg, he retired to Mount Sagiri and began training disciples.
Twelve years ago, he found an abandoned infant at the foot of the mountain. That infant was Yukito.
What Kuwajima Jigoro did not know was that a soul not belonging to this world resided within that small body.
"Old Man, let's practice later," Yukito pleaded with a pitiful grin.
Perhaps because of his transmigration, his aptitude for swordsmanship was extraordinary.
His perception was sharp, and his instincts were terrifyingly good. It would not be an exaggeration to say he was born for the sword.
"No. If you don't swing your sword a thousand times today, you don't eat."
"Sword swings are the foundation. If the foundation isn't solid, the blade won't be steady."
Sensing that the Old Man was about to begin lecturing again, Yukito decisively slipped away.
"Old Man, I already finished swinging this morning. It's break time. Bye-bye!"
Kuwajima Jigoro's mouth twitched. He remembered the scarecrow at the hilltop dressed in clothes and holding a wooden sword. If he had not personally checked, he might have believed it.
His disciple was excellent in every way, except he was lazy and far too casual.
"Trying to trick this old man with a moving wooden dummy!"
"I don't know how you figured out how to make those little moving figures, but if you don't use your abilities properly, I'll beat you!"
Yukito's face darkened. Oh no. He found out. Run.
Before he could get far, a flash of Thunder Breathing streaked through the grove.
"Old Man, that's unfair! Why are you using techniques? That's cheating!"
Yukito protested as he dashed away.
"Even with one leg, catching you is simple!"
Kuwajima Jigoro appeared behind him, pressing a hand onto his shoulder while holding the wooden sword in the other. His tone was stern, yet carried the pride of a hero not yet old.
Yukito immediately activated his ultimate technique: leg-hugging.
"Master, I've depended on you since I was little. If you beat me to death, who will take care of you in your old age and give you a proper burial?"
"Master, my kind, strong, loving, and handsome good Master!"
He cried dramatically, snot and tears everywhere.
Kuwajima Jigoro frowned. Why was the brat already talking about burial?
"You little brat, are you wishing me ill?"
"Today I'll show you what a strict Master produces a brilliant disciple means. Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
"Ah! Ow! It hurts!"
Screams echoed through the peach grove.
"Master! Master!"
"It hurts, it hurts!"
"If you keep this up, I'm exposing you for drinking tea with Granny Yamamoto in the town below!"
Since he was getting beaten anyway, Yukito decided to dig up dirt.
"I was helping her, and she was thanking me! What kind of tone is that? It sounds like I did something improper!"
Kuwajima Jigoro retorted immediately, though his strikes were still controlled.
If he were serious, Yukito would not be bouncing around under a former Hashira's pursuit.
"It's fine. I wouldn't mind having another Master's wife. Granny is very nice. She makes delicious food!"
"Thunder Breathing, Second Form…"
The wooden sword moved even faster.
"Ah! Murder! Arson! Robbery!"
No one could hear him. Only the two of them lived on the vast Mount Sagiri.
Though the Old Man's attacks grew sharper, every strike was deliberate. He was training Yukito's reaction speed.
And Yukito's perception was monstrous.
After decades of training disciples, Kuwajima Jigoro had never seen aptitude like this. It was almost terrifying.
"Old Man, that's too much! I'm going to—"
"What are you going to do, rebellious disciple?"
"I'll just dodge. You won't hit me much anyway!"
Yukito stuck out his tongue in mockery.
"Oh? You dare mock me now? You've grown bold!"
As the sun began to set, the peach blossoms were tinted red by the evening light.
On the hilltop, the young ran while the old chased with a sword.
Another peaceful day of master and disciple on Mount Sagiri.
Eventually, Yukito stopped running. Mostly because he was starving.
He plopped onto the ground and said softly, smiling innocently, "Grandpa, I was wrong."
The wooden sword froze mid-air.
Kuwajima Jigoro turned away, cheeks slightly red, and snorted, "Hmph. I'll beat you tomorrow. Let's go eat."
He walked toward the wooden house halfway up the mountain, secretly pleased.
He had raised the boy from infancy. He had waited a long time to hear that word.
Yukito chuckled to himself. The Old Man was always like this, strict on the surface but soft-hearted underneath.
That single word never failed.
Tsundere Old Man.
As he followed behind, Yukito silently made plans.
That bastard Kaigaku would never become the Old Man's disciple.
He only needed one junior brother.
Zenitsu.
...
Author's Note
Hello, readers! Welcome to my second Webnovel account.
My first Webnovel account is Shadow_demon_007, where I uploaded 20 fanfics. Due to Webnovel's upload limits and rules, I created this second account so I can continue uploading more fanfics for you all.
Please also check out my first account, where many of those 20 fanfics are available. Some of them are already fully completed, and I have uploaded those completed fanfics on my Patreon
👉 patreon.comShadow_demon_007
On Patreon, you can find
Fully completed fanfics
Three free fanfic available for readers
Another free fanfic coming on next month
I sincerely hope you enjoy my works, and I truly appreciate all your support.
Thank you for reading and supporting me!
— Shadow_demon_007