After buying tools from a village near Mount Sagiri, Yuko went at the lumber with relentless hammering—bang, bang, crash—day after day. Within just a few days, a small cabin rose beside the original one.
Although Urokodaki Sakonji was somewhat puzzled, he didn't say much, merely assuming that young girls were used to living alone.
Most of Urokodaki's training took place in the mornings. At first, Yuko followed along for a few days to observe—it was mostly standard breathing technique training and combat practice.
After watching for several days, Yuko stopped going up the mountain in the mornings and instead stayed at the foot of the mountain to watch over Nezuko, allowing master and disciple to train without worry.
Tanjiro's afternoon training consisted of various traps, obstacles, and cliff climbing.
Once Tanjiro gradually became proficient, Urokodaki Sakonji stopped secretly watching him. Instead, it was Yuko who never missed a day—every afternoon she would switch shifts with Urokodaki and go up the mountain to keep an eye on Tanjiro.
Her attitude was like that of a doting mother watching over her child, afraid that even the slightest setback might ruin him.
Urokodaki Sakonji found this utterly baffling. After several months of this, he finally couldn't help but ask,
"Someone like you—why do you stay by Tanjiro's side without ever leaving him?"
The unspoken meaning was: Are you really that idle?
With such overwhelming strength, why waste time here for no reason?
Urokodaki had never seen Yuko fight, but none of the traps he had set up in the mountains had ever been triggered by her. She moved through the forest as if walking on flat ground.
Yuko understood what he was implying and instead of answering directly, she asked,
"Master Urokodaki, what do you think of Tanjiro?"
After a brief silence, Urokodaki said,
"That child has talent—but he's too soft."
In truth, that wasn't entirely accurate. Tanjiro was not the kind of person who would let sympathy ruin important matters.
Yuko asked again,
"How well do you think he's suited to Water Breathing?"
Without hesitation, Urokodaki replied,
"Very well."
That much was obvious.
Because Tanjiro's personality was very gentle.
Compatibility with breathing styles had a lot to do with one's nature.
Those who were calm and gentle by temperament had great affinity with Water Breathing.
Those born with fiery passion were better suited to Flame Breathing.
Sword forms and breathing styles gave strong feedback to their users—just as the aggressive, blazing sword forms of Flame Breathing suited outgoing personalities.
Tanjiro truly did have excellent affinity with Water Breathing—but…
Yuko said calmly,
"Compared to Water Breathing, there is another breathing style that suits Tanjiro even better."
It wasn't that Tanjiro was unsuited to Water Breathing—it was simply that compared to Sun Breathing, the feedback he received from Water was inferior.
"…A breathing style that suits him even better?" The sudden shift in topic nearly made Urokodaki lose the thread.
He looked at Yuko in surprise.
"Have you taken that child as your successor?"
Yuko smiled.
"I'm not a Hashira. At most, I count as half a mentor."
A successor referred to a swordsman personally trained in breathing techniques by a Hashira.
Urokodaki was confused, his brow furrowing beneath the mask.
"If that's the case, then why don't you teach Tanjiro directly?"
He wasn't someone who refused reason. As long as Yuko could give a proper explanation, he had no reason to stop Tanjiro from learning a more suitable breathing style.
More suitable meant stronger—meant a greater chance of survival in battle against demons.
Yuko shook her head.
"That breathing style has extremely high requirements for bodily compatibility. Without a solid foundation, it simply can't be used."
Urokodaki exclaimed in surprise,
"Could it be…?"
Yuko nodded.
"That's right. The one known as the origin—"
"Snow Breathing."
"…"
She couldn't even imagine what it would look like for Tanjiro to use Snow Breathing.
Urokodaki sighed with emotion.
"That kind of reckless breathing style—I've only ever seen it once, used by the current Flower Hashira. That young girl."
"And from what I know, the Snow Breathing she wields is incomplete. I never expected anyone else to have truly mastered it."
The corner of Yuko's mouth twitched imperceptibly. Had she known future generations would judge it so poorly, she would have burned the records to ashes back then.
Taking a deep breath, Yuko looked down at Tanjiro below, who was practicing the sword forms of the Water Breathing, and asked,
"Tanjiro has already grasped the basics of breathing and sword forms. Next, Master Urokodaki—you plan to teach him Total Concentration Breathing, don't you?"
"…"
Urokodaki fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Actually, I don't want that child to participate in the Final Selection."
"Many of the children I trained… died in the Final Selection."
Of course Yuko knew this. She had kept it written in her little notebook for hundreds of years.
And even more than that…
She could clearly see the souls by that giant rock.
Yuko glanced sideways.
"Then what do you plan to do, Master Urokodaki?"
Urokodaki didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood up and walked toward Tanjiro.
"I have nothing left to teach you."
"Eh?"
"What happens next depends on you—whether you can improve yourself based on what I've taught."
Urokodaki led Tanjiro to a massive boulder.
"If you can split this rock in half, I'll allow you to take part in the Final Selection."
The sudden declaration left Tanjiro dumbfounded. A rock that huge—was it really something a sword could cut through?
After leaving those words behind, Urokodaki turned and walked away without looking back, leaving Tanjiro standing alone, staring blankly at the boulder.
…
Turning back to Urokodaki, Yuko smiled.
"So Total Concentration Breathing—that's the condition?"
Watching Tanjiro begin his attempts below, Urokodaki said,
"If he doesn't master Total Concentration Breathing, that child will have no chance of survival."
Yuko said nothing.
Even among official members, not everyone had mastered Total Concentration Breathing.
It was only because Urokodaki's disciples had died over and over in recent years that he had set such a condition for Tanjiro.
The conditions for using the Breath of the Sun were even more severe—at minimum, one had to reach the level of constant Total Concentration Breathing to use it freely.
…
From that day on, Urokodaki Sakonji stopped guiding Tanjiro altogether.
Day after day, Tanjiro trained his breathing and sword forms. Even though Urokodaki was unwilling to instruct him, Tanjiro wasn't foolish—he knew how to adapt. Whenever he had questions, he would go to Yuko for guidance.
During Tanjiro's training, the boy and girl named Sabito and Makomo still appeared, bringing him invaluable real combat experience.
And because Yuko watched over Tanjiro every single day, Urokodaki would occasionally return to the mountain.
But when he arrived at Yuko's side and looked at Tanjiro, his entire body froze in place.
Sensing something was wrong, Yuko turned to look at him.
Your expression is a little off, Master Urokodaki.
With a trembling voice, Urokodaki said,
"Could it be… that I pushed that child too hard?"
Yuko: "…"
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Currently at chapter 348 for advance chapters
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