Chapter 10: Facing the Former Water Hashira — Urokodaki Sakonji!
Nanaha's brain stopped working.
There was no doubt that the person before him was the former Water Hashira, Urokodaki Sakonji.
But why did he know his name?
And why had he added Kocho in front of it?
That was seriously bizarre, okay?!
Just as Nanaha was thinking, Kanae's voice sounded in his head.
"Hehe, sorry about that, Nanaha-kun, but there was no other choice. Just now, I secretly told a tiny little lie."
"Huh?"
Kanae covered her mouth, and a playful, girlish expression appeared on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
"Well, just now—"
After hearing Kanae's explanation, Nanaha was completely thrown into chaos!
So after he had been knocked unconscious by the Head Hashira, his consciousness had briefly fallen into darkness, and during that time, the other soul inside his body, Kocho Kanae, had taken over.
In other words, Kanae had been the one in control of his body just now, and the one who had spoken with Urokodaki Sakonji had been Kanae!
Kanae continued explaining in his mind,
"There was no helping it. Mr. Urokodaki originally had no intention of taking in any more disciples, so I could only use the excuse that you were the younger brother of the former Flower Hashira."
Nanaha's mouth twitched.
So his name was now Kocho Nanaha?
It sounded a little... feminine, maybe, but it actually did not sound bad.
And since he had come to this world, having a new name was not such a bad thing either.
Nanaha took a deep breath and climbed out of bed.
"I'm ready now, Mr. Urokodaki!"
"Eh? Really? Are you sure you're not still dizzy? Shouldn't you rest a little longer?"
Tanjiro could not help asking worriedly.
After all, he was the one who had knocked Nanaha unconscious. If something happened during Master Urokodaki's test, he would feel terrible!
"Don't worry, I'm already much better now!"
Nanaha had a very favorable impression of Tanjiro, this warm and kind-hearted boy.
Among the trio, Tanjiro was always the one who looked after everyone around him with the greatest care.
Nanaha could not help reaching out and patting his head.
"If I become Mr. Urokodaki's disciple, I'll probably have to call you senior brother!"
"Please do your best, Mr. Nanaha!" Tanjiro said with a smile, encouraging him.
Nanaha nodded and quickly threw his outer robe over his shoulders.
After more than half a month of travel, plus fighting demons, his clothes were already badly worn.
After following Urokodaki Sakonji outside, Tanjiro also gently whispered into Nezuko's ear,
"Nezuko-chan, be good, okay? Big brother's just going outside to take a look!"
After saying that, Tanjiro tucked the blanket around Nezuko, then immediately walked out of the cabin.
It was already close to evening, and the sky was gradually darkening, making visibility rather poor.
Tanjiro had been here with Master Urokodaki for nearly a year now.
Throughout that year, his younger sister Nezuko had remained asleep, and Master Urokodaki only ever chatted with him during breaks and mealtimes.
To be honest, Tanjiro had been rather lonely.
So he very much hoped that Nanaha would pass Master Urokodaki's test!
Nanaha and Urokodaki stood in an open space.
"Catch!"
Urokodaki casually tossed a sword over.
Nanaha caught it steadily. It was a wooden sword.
"You said that you have already mastered Flower Breathing?"
Faced with Urokodaki Sakonji's question, Nanaha did not avoid it. He nodded.
"Yes."
Urokodaki Sakonji said nothing. He simply crooked a finger.
"Then come."
"You're not using a sword?"
"Don't worry. I won't need one against you."
It might have sounded a little arrogant.
But for a former Hashira facing someone who was not yet even a true swordsman, he did have the right to say it.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Nanaha spun the wooden sword once around his wrist, finishing with a neat flourish before gripping it firmly.
The tip of the blade pointed straight at Urokodaki.
Nanaha was not trying to show off. That smooth, flowing motion helped his wrist get into the proper state.
Then he took a deep breath. The cold air rushed into his lungs, and his blood began to circulate faster.
The snow beneath Nanaha's feet exploded as he shot forward like an arrow released from the bow, crossing the distance to Urokodaki in the blink of an eye.
"So fast! I can't even follow him with my eyes!" Tanjiro cried out in shock, his mouth wide open.
The wooden sword in Nanaha's hand cut through the air, sweeping upward from below at a tricky angle.
Urokodaki had clearly not expected the boy before him to be this fast.
What drew even more of his attention, however, was that sword flourish Nanaha had made at the start.
It was exactly the same as the former Flower Hashira who had already fallen...
"Flower Breathing, First Form: Hanging Sakura!"
Slash—
The wooden sword swept across Urokodaki Sakonji's chest.
Even though Urokodaki had dodged with extreme speed, the strike had still cut through his clothing!
Despite being only a wooden sword, the force of the sword energy behind it was this strong!
Truly worthy of a former Hashira!
Nanaha could not help admiring him inwardly.
He did not dare let down his guard. The moment he turned, he reversed his grip on the wooden sword.
"Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!"
Nanaha spun continuously, turning the attack into a curving arc.
He was confident that even Urokodaki would not be able to dodge this strike.
"Master Urokodaki!"
Tanjiro instinctively threw the piece of wood he was holding over. In an instant, Urokodaki reached out and caught it like a sword.
"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"
The moment Urokodaki Sakonji took hold of the wooden blade, he unleashed one of Water Breathing's powerful techniques.
The two wooden swords collided, and Nanaha and Urokodaki were both forced back at nearly the same time.
After watching him for a moment, Urokodaki Sakonji relaxed his stance and put the wood away.
"As expected, you did not lie to me. You are an inheritor of Flower Breathing."
Nanaha raised a hand.
"I appreciate the acknowledgment."
"But although you passed the test, I cannot take you as my disciple."
"Huh?" Tanjiro immediately grew anxious. "Master Urokodaki, Nanaha is obviously very strong!"
Urokodaki Sakonji explained,
"I am not refusing to take you as my disciple because you are unqualified. It is because I no longer have anything left to teach you. You already know all the forms of Flower Breathing, do you not?"
Nanaha did not pretend to be overly modest. He nodded.
"Yes. There may still be some issues with the finer points of how I apply force."
Urokodaki Sakonji said,
"Before, when you said you were the younger brother of the Flower Hashira, I did not believe you. Now I do..."
Urokodaki lifted his head and looked at the stars in the sky.
"That girl... your movements are practically identical to hers. Kocho Nanaha, if you wish to join the Demon Slayer Corps and participate in the Final Selection, I can recommend you. But taking you as a disciple is unnecessary..."
Urokodaki waved a hand.
"Inherit Flower Breathing properly, and do not disgrace the Flower Hashira's name."
Nanaha did not insist any further. As long as he could participate in the Final Selection, that was enough.
"Alright. Thank you very much, Mr. Urokodaki!"
"Mm. This year's Final Selection has already ended. Next spring, in April, will be the next Selection. Make your preparations early."
Nanaha answered at once,
"Understood!"
Urokodaki Sakonji let Nanaha stay. After learning that he had no fixed place to live, Urokodaki allowed him to remain there directly until the day of next year's Selection.
The happiest person by far was Tanjiro.
He had finally gained a companion he could talk and chat with.
And what made him even happier was—
Nezuko had finally stopped sleeping!
It even seemed to have something to do with Nanaha.
Only...
when Nezuko occasionally looked at Nanaha, she would unconsciously start drooling...