"For an ordinary person, I suppose it is quite special," Shin Arashi said calmly.
"Keep up with me. Don't fall behind!" Urokodaki Sakonji ordered, choosing not to press Shin further.
The moment he finished speaking, Urokodaki took off—fast and completely silent.
Tanjiro didn't react in time.
"Go! Don't lose him!" Shin shouted at Tanjiro, snapping him into action.
Tanjiro quickly ran after Sakonji. Shin didn't waste another second—he rushed into the temple, hoisted the bamboo basket with Nezuko inside onto his back, and sprinted off.
Within seconds, Urokodaki Sakonji and Tanjiro had vanished into the forest.
Knowing he couldn't catch up by normal means—especially while carrying Nezuko—Shin activated his Water Breathing technique to boost his body's capabilities.
Ahead, Urokodaki glanced behind and saw Tanjiro roughly 100 meters back. But Shin was nowhere in sight.
Strange... Could he be slower than Tanjiro? Sakonji wondered, slightly puzzled.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro worried that Shin might fall behind. While running, he picked up branches and used them to mark the trail by scratching the ground.
He knew Shin had chosen to carry Nezuko himself. With the added weight and responsibility, it would be harder for him to keep up. But Tanjiro trusted Shin's strength—and left the trail for him anyway.
Sure enough, Shin quickly spotted the fresh scratches along the path.
Nice work, Tanjiro, he thought with a small smirk, and continued to follow the trail, guided by both the marks and the lingering breath of Urokodaki.
Thanks to his Water Breathing mastery, Shin's physical abilities were far beyond that of a normal person. Urokodaki, still pacing himself for Tanjiro's sake, wasn't going full speed—so it was only a matter of time before Shin caught up.
Eventually, Shin reached Tanjiro, who was panting heavily. Ahead, Urokodaki was still visible in the distance.
Tanjiro's face lit up when he saw Shin. He tried to say something, but Shin cut him off.
"Control your breathing. Now's not the time to talk," Shin said calmly.
Realizing how winded he was, Tanjiro nodded. He focused on his breathing, trying to stabilize it.
As he glanced at Shin again, Tanjiro was struck by how composed he looked. Despite carrying Nezuko, Shin was still light on his feet—his movements efficient, his steps steady.
Tanjiro couldn't help but admire him.
"If you want to get stronger," Shin said, "you'll need to pass old man Urokodaki's test. Only then can you truly begin."
Tanjiro nodded once more, this time with determination, and adjusted his rhythm.
They continued running, not closing the distance to Urokodaki too quickly, but also not lagging behind.
Up ahead, Urokodaki glanced over his shoulder.
He caught up. Wait… he's using Water Breathing?!
His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
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Hello everyone! Author here.
Sorry for the recent delay—I've been dealing with health issues and was even hospitalized due to overwork. But as a small compensation, I'm releasing Ten chapters today!
Please check out my newly translated fanfic: One Piece: Starting Invincible, Building a New Era.
Thanks so much for your continued support!