Wisteria Garden.
Currently, outside the Ubuyashiki Manor, several figures surrounded the three people in the center, their expressions full of interest and anticipation.
Tanjiro, Sanemi, and Iguro stood facing each other to begin the battle. The latter two gripped their swords in aggressive stances, while Tanjiro remained relaxed, holding his unsheathed sword.
A few minutes earlier, the Hashira Meeting had finally concluded. Ubuyashiki had finished explaining most of the details about the Mark and other crucial information that had been partially lost to time, including Yoriichi and the history of breathing techniques.
Tanjiro had also spoken about his Hinokami Kagura, the Sun Breathing style passed down through his family for centuries.
A living legacy of Yoriichi.
The others were shocked when they heard it.
Tanjiro was actually that special?
Awakening the Mark could increase physical abilities to an unprecedented level?
They found it very hard to believe.
But since Tanjiro had awakened the Mark and demonstrated his ridiculous speed firsthand quite clearly, they had no choice but to accept it somehow.
Not to mention the side effects of awakening the Mark... It was too much.
However, some of them were still doubting his strength, so they challenged him immediately after the meeting ended.
To test the Mark's performance with their own eyes, they said.
What bullshit. They were clearly desperate to deny his superiority.
Tanjiro accepted the challenge with a smirk.
Those two idiots were obviously Iguro and Sanemi.
Although they no longer said anything about his mother's condition, they were still unwilling to accept him as a stronger swordsman than themselves.
The way he had easily scared them that morning had disturbed them and dented their egos.
....
"Tengen-sama, Tengen-sama! Who do you think will win? Isn't that Tanjiro boy acting too conceited? Why would he accept a 2v1 challenge and still not unsheathe his sword? He's just too much!" a short black-haired girl with sapphire eyes said loudly. She had a voluptuous body and wore a tight kunoichi uniform that revealed most of her shapely figure.
In response to her barrage of questions, a hand suddenly spanked her ass, making it jiggle, followed by a sharp voice. "Hah?! Can't you see his perfect composure and unwavering eyes? Does he look afraid? And you call yourself a kunoichi? Idiot, just wait and see if you're so eager. Don't pester Tengen-sama over every small thing...!"
Similar to the first girl, she wore the same outfit and had a shapely figure. Her hair was yellow and black, and her eyes were light brown.
A few crows perched on the trees cawed loudly. "Aho~! Aho~!"
"AHHH~ Hi—Hinatsuru~, Makio's hitting me! She hit me on the butt, uwah... Tengen-sama, she hit me...!"
"Shut up, Suma..." Makio pinched her butt again.
"AH~!"
A third girl exhaled heavily before speaking in a gentle voice. "You two... Suma, you can't shout here, you know... And Makio, please don't hit her... there. She's moaning all over the place..."
This gentle-looking girl with black hair and violet eyes was Hinatsuru. All three were the ninja wives of Uzui Tengen.
After she instructed them kindly, she turned to Shinobu and Kanao and gave an apologetic bow. "Sorry..."
Shinobu waved her hand with a wry smile, not minding them.
Kanao simply stared ahead, waiting for the battle to begin.
Next to Suma, Makio, and Hinatsuru stood Tengen, who wore an annoyed look but remained silent.
'I had a feeling those two were idiots, and now it's confirmed. Stupid. All they're asking for is to be embarrassed... Not that I care, hah!' he thought.
Some distance away stood Kagaya's quintuplets, who had also come to watch the Hashira-level battle, feeling excitement.
Two people were missing from the crowd.
Water Hashira Tomioka Giyu and Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito had left the manor without a word the moment the meeting ended, showing no interest in anything.
The one overseeing the battle between the three was Stone Hashira Himejima Gyomei. As the second-senior Hashira in the organization—since Shinjuro was absent—he had naturally taken on the role.
"Begin!" Gyomei said, and the moment his voice rang out, Sanemi and Iguro launched themselves toward Tanjiro.
Observing their slow movements without even opening Transparent World, Tanjiro pondered dejectedly. 'Hmm, how should I play... If I finish it too quickly, everyone will be bored. Children are also watching... Guess I'll entertain these two thoroughly...'
Exhaling, he lifted his hand and unsheathed his sword so fast that nobody could see it.
[Wind Breathing Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist]
[Serpent Breathing Third Form: Coil Choke]
Tanjiro's sword moved like an extension of his body and blocked all the strikes from every direction.
Powerful gusts of wind and dust clouds immediately erupted with him at the center.
"Decent moves... But it's nowhere near enough to defeat me." Tanjiro shook his head slowly, disappointment clear on his face. "Try a bit harder."
"..."
Sanemi and Iguro's eyes flickered with great surprise.
Their hands were shaking from the impact... as if their swords had struck not another blade, but a mountain.
'Such ridiculous physical strength...!' Their pupils twitched wildly.
Afterward, they gritted their teeth and launched their next combined attacks again, refusing to be disheartened.
The others also noticed the difference and marveled at the huge gap between them.
Kagaya's quintuplets couldn't observe the exchange like the adults, but they instantly understood one thing: Tanjiro was far stronger than Sanemi and Iguro combined!
Unlike his excited sisters, Kiriya remained composed and watched patiently.
Shinobu let out an obvious sigh with a wry smile, while Kanao watched Tanjiro with glittering eyes.
In the air, Kanae enjoyed the battle from her high vantage point.
Tengen watched the one-sided fight with a funny grin and laughed inwardly. 'This is what happens when you're not smart, haha... Learn something from Tengen-sama for once!'
His wives were obviously taken aback, their faces full of admiration.
Suma shouted. "Too strong! Is he a demon or what!?"
Makio heard her and lashed out. "Just how stupid can you be!?"
Near Tanjiro and his two opponents, Gyomei couldn't help but think. 'Too unbelievable... His physique holds strength even greater than mine... And his remarkable sword skills and combat perception... What talent...! This is way too shocking... Namu Amida Butsu...'
A few minutes passed as Tanjiro repeatedly blocked or parried Sanemi and Iguro's well-timed attacks like they were nothing.
He had thought that at some point they would stop attacking and realize his strength, but sadly it never happened.
Even though their hands were shaking and fingers bleeding, both idiots continued to attack relentlessly with eyes staring at him crazily.
[Serpent Breathing Fifth Form: Slithering Serpent]
[Wind Breathing Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash]
'Fuck... Now they're repeating moves too. They really think they can tire me out by doing this, huh...'
Once again, Tanjiro jerked his sword around casually and intercepted their combo from every direction.
Sanemi was thrown some distance away like a rag, barely adjusting his body in mid-air.
Iguro groaned in pain and backed off like a snake retreating.
Seeing that their Total Concentration Breathing was now out of control, Tanjiro tilted his head and spoke for the second time during the battle. "I think I've given you plenty of chances to play around, haven't I..."
He grinned and shifted into his attacking stance before adding. "It should be my turn to attack now, heh. Prepare yourselves. Here I come..."
As soon as he said that, everyone in the Wisteria Garden held their breath.
They had been waiting for Tanjiro to attack, and now that the moment had come, they felt goosebumps spread across their bodies.
Sanemi and Iguro controlled their breathing and readied themselves for anything. They knew how outrageously fast he was, which made the tension even worse.
Yet, despite Tanjiro's warning, nobody could see how he disappeared from his position.
'Shit...!'
Sanemi and Iguro's pupils narrowed dangerously.
However, before they could move or even perceive anything, a powerful force struck their backs at the same time, sending them flying a certain distance.
"Ahh! Shit! My ass!!" Sanemi shouted in pain.
Iguro, writhing on the ground, closed his eyes and groaned mutely. Kaburamaru could only hiss cutely to ease his pain.
Tanjiro chuckled, swinging his sheath jokingly. "You liked that, didn't you? That's what you get for acting out, haha..."
Everybody: "...."
Gyomei and Tengen immediately covered their mouths and stopped themselves just in time before they could burst out laughing and embarrass the two in clear pain even more. Still, their faces turned comically twisted.
Suma shielded her butt with a terrified look on her face. "Cruel! Too cruel!! My butt hurts just by watching their pained expressions, ahh..."
In response, Makio, Hinatsuru, Shinobu, and Kanao clenched their butts instinctively, feeling strange and insecure.
Some distance away, Kiriya sighed awkwardly to himself. His innocent sisters giggled at the scene, finding it funny.
As for Kanae, she came before Tanjiro and gave him a thumbs up. "Fufu, they deserved no less punishment. Great work, Tanjiro... Hehe."
Amused, he showed a faint smile. 'Is she being affected by my influence, heh...'
....
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