Zenitsu felt that after employing Thunder Breathing, his speed should have been blinding, and his strength overwhelming.
Take this move, Thunderclap and Flash, for example. It was an explosive burst of his full power—a strike so intense that he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to.
And yet, just like that, his blade had been clamped shut by Big Brother with the utmost ease!
Caught by just two fingers, no less!
What the hell! Just how fast was Big Brother!? Just how insane were his reflexes!?
Looking at Horitake, who held the blade firmly between two fingers, Zenitsu felt his spirit crumbling just a little bit.
He let out a sigh and tried to retract his sword.
But no matter how hard he pulled, no matter how much strength he exerted, the blade wouldn't budge an inch.
This was ridiculous. Big Brother was only using two fingers to hold the blade; was the strength of his entire body really inferior to just two of Big Brother's fingers!?
Zenitsu's mental state crumbled even further.
Seeing Zenitsu's face turn red from the exertion, Horitake smiled and released his grip.
Because Zenitsu had been pulling back with all his might, he didn't react in time when Horitake let go. Caught off guard by his own momentum, he went flying backward and landed hard on his backside.
Sitting on the ground, Zenitsu sank into a state of utter, life-draining despair.
He felt so incredibly pathetic.
Horitake, however, nodded with a serious air, offering his critique of Zenitsu's performance:
"The wind-up before the strike is too long. You take too much time to prepare. Once you flash forward, you can't control your speed or power effectively; you can barely manage the direction. Your reaction time is also lacking...
Hmm, there are quite a lot of flaws.
I can tell you haven't been learning Thunder Breathing for very long. Thunderclap and Flash is the First Form of Thunder Breathing, and I assume you've only just mastered it.
However, all things considered, having that kind of power and speed in your current state is... actually not bad."
Sitting on the ground, Zenitsu couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Caught by two fingers, unable to advance, unable to retreat... and you call that 'not bad'?
Big Brother, are you mocking me?
Horitake chuckled and walked over, patting Zenitsu's head as if he were thumping a watermelon.
"Alright, that's enough. You're a man, aren't you? What's with that resentful look? Get up. I have a rough idea of your current strength. Now, the hellish training begins!"
Zenitsu resigned himself to his fate, climbed to his feet, and began training with Horitake.
And what a hellish training session it was.
It confirmed every bad premonition Zenitsu had. He started the training standing vertically and ended it lying horizontally.
By the time noon arrived and the session was temporarily called to a halt, poor Zenitsu couldn't even stand up. He lay prone on the ground, gasping for air, looking as if he were hovering between life and death.
Horitake stood beside him, nonchalantly making snide remarks:
"Stop playing dead. The intensity of your training has been carefully calculated by me. It's designed to squeeze out your potential without causing irreversible damage to your body.
So, who are you putting on this show for? Get up, now!"
Zenitsu gritted his teeth and scrambled up. Swaying unsteadily, he collapsed against a nearby peach tree, doing his best not to fall over again.
"Alright, looking at you, there's no way you can cook lunch today. I'll handle the meal.
Zenitsu, rest for a bit. Once you've caught your breath, come back immediately. Lunch will be ready soon!"
With that, Horitake turned and left to prepare the food.
Zenitsu felt as though he had been completely drained. It took him quite a while to recover enough energy to drag his heavy steps, one by one, back toward the house.
By the time Zenitsu returned, lunch was just about ready.
As Horitake had predicted, the old man, Jigoro, had woken up late. Since he had missed breakfast, they simply combined it with lunch.
The only thing that brought Zenitsu any joy that afternoon was Horitake's cooking.
Horitake's culinary skills were exceptional, giving Zenitsu a rare feast for the senses.
At the dinner table, Jigoro and Horitake began discussing other matters.
"Horitake," Jigoro began, "defeating and capturing Upper Rank Four alive is no small feat. However, Hantengu can't be kept in that box forever. When do you plan to return to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters?"
Horitake took a bite of his food and shrugged indifferently.
"No rush, no rush. I'm still waiting for two people to arrive at Momoyama. Once they get here, and once I've settled matters here, I'll take Hantengu back to Headquarters."
"Waiting for two people? Who?"
Horitake smiled mysteriously.
"People that Zenitsu will be very happy to see. Anyway, they should be arriving in a day or two. I'll have to trouble you to look after things then, you stubborn old man."
Horitake's explanation was vague, leaving both Jigoro and Zenitsu confused.
However, since Horitake clearly didn't want to explain further, they let it drop. Neither Jigoro nor Zenitsu was the type to pry relentlessly.
But then, during the rest period after the meal, Horitake made a suggestion.
A suggestion that immediately made Zenitsu's hair stand on end.
"Old man, I can see that Zenitsu has grasped the basics of Thunder Breathing. His Thunderclap and Flash has reached a decent standard. Has the kid ever fought a demon?"
Jigoro sipped his tea and shook his head.
"With a heart as timid as his? Where would he have fought a real demon? Encountering Hantengu last night was his first time seeing one. He's never faced one before."
Horitake shook his head, clearly disapproving.
"That won't do. A dignified Demon Hunter, a prospective swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he hasn't even dealt with a real demon? That's pathetic!
Alright, Old Man, you don't need to worry about it. Leave the rest to me!"
"Leave what to you?"
"Naturally, it's time to let the kid go out and see some blood!
The way I see it, it's high time he killed a demon with his own hands to prove himself."
The moment Horitake said this, Zenitsu, who had just filled his stomach, nearly had a mental breakdown. Terrified, he started shouting and screaming, vehemently refusing:
"What!? Out to see blood!? Kill a demon with my own hands!?
No, no, no, no, no! Absolutely not!
I can't do it! It's too dangerous! People die doing that!
Please, Big Brother! I only just learned the First Form of Thunder Breathing! I don't have any other techniques! How can I kill a demon? I can't do it!"
Beside him, Jigoro also felt a pang of reluctance.
It is said that as people age, if they have a young child in the home, they tend to dote on them more easily. Jigoro was currently in that frame of mind.
He couldn't help but speak up for Zenitsu.
"It is true, Horitake, it is a bit dangerous. Perhaps we should wait until Zenitsu learns the other forms before sending him out to kill demons?"
Horitake couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Old man, if only you knew. Zenitsu will likely only ever learn the First Form. Even if he worked himself to death, he only creates the Seventh Form at the very end. In the original story, he uses that Seventh Form, Flaming Thunder God, to... uh.
For some reason, Horitake suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.
And for reasons equally unknown, he felt a sudden surge of irritation born from embarrassment.
He involuntarily took this anger out on Zenitsu.
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