Did he master it so quickly?
The cypress tree was pierced with a hole as big as a bowl; even if you put your head in it, it wouldn't get stuck. Sabito and Makomo were somewhat dazed...
Even having prepared in advance, they knew that as soon as Eiichiro Oda started learning the "Breathing Technique," with his talent, he would progress rapidly.
But... learning "techniques" in just half a day seemed too exaggerated.
"He's truly a natural talent for practicing with a sword." Sabito could only comfort himself with this thought,
"Not only that~ Didn't you notice, Eiichiro's breathing has stabilized..."
Makomo pointed to Roy's chest; the boy's breathing and exhalation silently resonated with the cascading waterfall, rhythmically in sync, as if he had realized something...
"It's the Water Rhythm." Urokodaki Sakonji knew very well after meeting with Sabito, Makomo, and the other disciples. They were right by his side; his profound eyes looked at Roy with relief, sighing, "It's still too late to start teaching him."
Half a day to grasp the form, a day to understand the essence...
The old man put his hands behind his back, vaguely having an intuition, maybe it wouldn't be long before he could teach Eiichiro the method of "Full Concentration·Constant." His whole heart was now focused on the young boy.
Tomioka Giyu often wrote letters, saying he wasn't a qualified Water Hashira. If Sabito hadn't saved him back then, he would've died on Mount Fujikasane, unable to pass the test, and thus couldn't inherit the name of "Water Hashira."
Over the years, although he said nothing about it, Urokodaki Sakonji knew deep down that the child always hoped he would find another disciple to train well...
And now,
"I wonder what thoughts might cross his mind if he comes back and sees Eiichiro?" Urokodaki Sakonji couldn't help but think... Perhaps there was a tacit understanding between master and apprentice or maybe their yearning would bring them together...
"Caw— Lord's letter has arrived!" The Kasugai Crow, having delivered the letter, flapped its wings and arrived at Sagiri yama a step ahead of Tomioka Giyu, bringing with it a handwritten letter from Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Urokodaki Sakonji was stunned, opened it to take a look, and was taken aback!
Makomo peeked with her little head, saying, "Oh... Giyu-senpai is coming back!"
Beside them, Sabito had a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, and when they heard the crow, Shinsuke, Fukuda, Shimizu, and others were excited and elated!
"Really? Let me see..." The letter was swept up by a breeze, unrolled, and circulated among the demons... It was then known that Tomioka Giyu was coming with the task of testing Eiichiro!
Shinsuke laughed heartily with his mouth wide open: "Good times... good times... Master was just worried about how to arrange the final test for Eiichiro, wasn't he just here?"
Though rare, Fukuda agreed with Shinsuke this time, circling the letter and patting his thigh, saying: "Having a Hashira as a touchstone for Eiichiro couldn't be more fitting... This guy usually hides too deep and jumps out to surprise everyone from time to time. This time, we must probe his limits, make him suffer a setback, and curb his arrogance so he won't ignore demons and suffer greatly in the future."
"Whoa~" The letter swayed in the wind, slowly falling again into Urokodaki Sakonji's hand.
The old man folded it carefully, tucked it into his sleeve, and then watched the boy under the waterfall... He was lost in the world of swordsmanship, ignoring everything outside, focusing solely on practicing his sword, performing a smooth "Tide of Blows," gradually reaching a higher realm....
[Reminder: Swordsmanship +50]
[Swordsmanship: Level 3 (160/10000)]
[Water Breathing: Entry Level (78/100)]
By evening, the sunlight on the waterfall shimmered brightly...
Roy swung the last sword... "Water Breathing·Form Ten·Constant Flow," forming a water dragon from the waterfall that roared towards the pool.....
"Boom!" The pool exploded, spraying "water arrows" everywhere... "Doh... doh... doh...." piercing through tree after tree on the shore, leaving behind a series of small holes!
At that moment, looking at the boy again, he stood under the waterfall, leaning on his Staff Blade, on a large, flat stone smoothed by the continuous rush of water, eyes closed in thought, seemingly unsatisfied....
"What is he thinking?" Makomo accompanied Urokodaki Sakonji back to the house to cook, while Shinsuke flew to Sabito's side, looking at Roy suspiciously... In his mind, this guy Eiichiro seemed to be somewhat unfulfilled?
He learned all the techniques in one day; what more could be asked?
Shinsuke didn't understand.
So...
"This is the place where we mediocre people can never compare to geniuses." Sabito didn't understand, but it didn't stop him from knowing: "Eiichiro must have noticed something...."
It was deficiency... "Water Breathing" is far beyond these ten forms; it should have an eleventh, a twelfth, or even more....'
Roy remembered Tomioka Giyu's "Niji," centering himself to create a simple "Water Domain," turning tangible water into intangible, blocking the Lower Moon Five: Rui's Blood Demon Art "Thread Rotation," aligning with his calm and few words nature, revealing a realization...
Whether it be "Nen," "Sword Techniques," or even "Blood Demon Art," they all ultimately reflect the user.
"What" is my nature, "what" do I want, just as Father Silva said, "ask the heart" and then "train," to develop the most suitable "Nenryoku" for oneself... Then the question arises, how does "Sun" relate to "Water"?
Roy wasn't oblivious to Urokodaki Sakonji's mention of "Water Rhythm." He always knew that his talent in learning "Water Breathing" wasn't that outstanding, everything relied on the Mastery level of "Sun Breathing" supporting him.
Because "Sun" gave birth to the five basic Breathing styles: "Wind," "Thunder," "Water," "Fire (Flame)," "Stone," and followed by more niche ones like "Serpent," "Beast," "Love," "Mist"... This was also why Roy could quickly grasp the "First Ten Forms of Water Breathing."
But he could only stop there; wanting to develop his own "Eleventh Form" like Tomioka Giyu requires opportunity and time...
"The Sun and Water...." Roy murmured, then opened his eyes to see the sky covered in sunset hues, taking a deep breath, he sheathed his sword.
"Eiichiro... Eiichiro...." His senior brothers and sisters, including Sabito, waved at him as Roy showed a gentle smile, leaping from the water, landing ashore, and heading home.
At night, Roy had a meal with Urokodaki Sakonji, consisting of sashimi with rice wrapped with some wild vegetables to make sushi, and with a belly full of contemplation, lay down on his bed, soon falling into deep sleep...
Training makes time fly by, more than just a saying...
After a day of exhaustion, feeling the familiar sensation of falling, as Roy awakes again...
Leaving the Demon Slayer world, returning to the Hunter world, he saw the blue vast ocean covered by dark clouds...
"Rumble Rumble~"
The sound of thunder faintly detonates!
Shaking his eardrums painfully!
"What time is it now?"
"Replying to the young master, it's six in the morning."
"Six?" If Wutong hadn't said, Roy would have thought it was six in the evening.
This darkness wasn't like anything usual.
"It's a storm!" Kurajing looked heavily at the dark clouds, taking a breath and said, "The storm is coming!"