Following his duel with Kazami, Natsunishi did not lose himself in the joy of victory.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward his junior fellow disciple who had been watching from the sidelines, Masachika Kumeno.
This dots-for-eyebrows junior brother was clearly still immersed in immense shock.
Master... lost?
Catching sight of his youngest disciple's expression, Kazami felt his dignity as a master waiver slightly.
He coughed twice, attempting to reclaim a bit of authority. "Masachika, your senior brother Kuguruma is currently no weaker than an ordinary Hashira."
"Surpassing me by half a step is only natural."
Even through Masachika's still-immature perspective, it was obvious that the exchange just now was absolutely not a mere gap of "half a step."
How could it be called slightly superior when one side had unleashed their absolute trump card while the other had used only a single sword form?
Masachika nodded repeatedly with a smile, tactfully choosing not to expose the old man.
"Cough. In any case, Masachika, your lessons have fallen behind a bit lately."
"Since your senior brother is back, let him guide you a bit before he accepts a new mission."
Kazami looked at Natsunishi, putting away his embarrassment.
He said, "I will write a letter to the Master stating that your Breathing Technique is complete."
"During this period, take good care of your junior brother."
Since Igarashi had looked after him the same way back then, Natsunishi naturally had no reason to refuse.
Furthermore, he had already planned to use this interval to grind various life skills to exchange for achievement points.
Guiding this kid in his spare time fit perfectly into his schedule.
Natsunishi turned to his junior brother and asked in a casual tone, "Kumeno, can you endure hardship?"
Junior brother: ?
Why did he suddenly have a rather ominous premonition?
Just as Masachika's vague sense of foreboding suggested, Natsunishi initiated what he called "special training" for him that very afternoon.
It was vastly different from Master Kazami's step-by-step teaching style that emphasized foundations.
This senior brother's guidance began right away with a simple and brutal practical combat exercise.
The rule was very simple.
The two of them would fight each other. As long as he could snatch the bell hanging from Natsunishi's waist, he would pass the first stage of training.
It sounded simple enough.
However, before Masachika could fully circulate his Breathing Technique or even completely focus his vision, Natsunishi made his move.
No starting stance, no warning signs of a Breathing Technique, just the simplest forward dash.
Masachika felt his vision blur before his abdomen took a heavy impact.
His entire body curled up uncontrollably as he flew backward, crashing into the fence of the training ground.
"Let me restate the rule."
Natsunishi stood in place, lightly tapping the bell at his waist with his finger.
"If you touch this, you pass."
"If I touch you, you lie down."
Eh?
He could still move?
Masachika stood up eagerly, circulating his still unpracticed Breathing Technique.
Even if he is my senior brother, he shouldn't underestimate me.
Subsequently—
A mere half-hour passed. Even though Natsunishi held back tremendously, Masachika failed to touch the bell even once.
On the contrary, he himself had been floored and pinned dozens of times in all sorts of postures.
"Compared to the Breathing Technique, you still need to build a proper foundation and forge your combat awareness."
Compared to students of previous generations.
Masachika, who had not yet completed his training and lacked the experience of life-and-death struggles, was missing far too much.
Not only was his mastery of the Breathing Technique very low.
His basic energy level was insufficient, and his practical combat experience was virtually non-existent.
His intent to leap for the bell was so glaringly obvious it might as well have been written on his face.
Natsunishi reached out to pull up the grimacing Masachika, his palm pressing casually against his abdomen and ribs a few times.
Miraculously, the suffocating nausea and sharp pain brought by the heavy blows quickly subsided by more than half.
"Come on, let's continue."
Masachika nodded heavily, took a deep breath, and assumed his stance once more.
He wanted to rely on the movement habits of Natsunishi that he had just observed as experience to snatch the bell again.
However, he discovered that Natsunishi's movement patterns were completely different from a moment ago.
It was as if he had changed into an entirely different person.
"Don't develop a dependency on fixed routines. Combat is not rigidly memorizing formulas. The habits and movements of every single demon are completely different."
Evading Masachika's lunging hand that sought to seize the bell.
Natsunishi smoothly executed a grapple, pinning him face-down onto the sand once more.
A voice drifted down from above Masachika.
"Right now, you are basically moving blindly based on brute force and momentum. Moving like this won't get you past my first stage of training."
"You need to learn to anticipate and think during combat."
After Natsunishi released his grip, the youth bit his lips and pushed his body up.
He had learned his lesson this time. The moment he rose, he rolled backward, barely evading a casual light punch from Natsunishi.
Natsunishi: "Mm, just like that."
Senior Brother Kuguruma... is truly strong.
It was entirely different from the feeling of observing from the sidelines. Only when one actually stood opposite him, facing him directly.
Would one personally experience the staggering pressure hidden beneath that casual demeanor.
"Senior Brother!"
Masachika wiped away the sweat and dust from his forehead, enduring the aching pain to ask, "To what extent must I perform to truly secure the bell from you?"
As he was now, even if he exerted his full strength according to Natsunishi's methods.
He feared he would not be able to touch the bell even once.
But as training, his senior brother surely had a baseline standard.
Natsunishi pondered slightly, offering an answer that left Masachika somewhat bewildered. "Probably as serene as the sky, as swift as a flash of lightning?"
Masachika: ?
This metaphor... sounded a bit profound.
He didn't understand it.
Yet out of trust for his senior brother and respect for a powerful senior, he still nodded earnestly and said, "I understand. I will work hard to achieve it!"
And then.
Mustering his courage once more, he rushed forward headlong.
"Too slow—"
"Don't hesitate, you're thinking too much—"
"Your intent is too obvious—"
Falling down time after time, standing up time after time.
The boy's talent was slightly lesser than Natsunishi had anticipated, but he was also more resilient than Natsunishi had expected.
This kid was not without his merits.
By the time Masachika crawled out of the sand for the forty-seventh time, nosebleed had trickled down to his chin, and his left eye was swollen to a narrow slit.
There was hardly a single uninjured spot across his entire body.
Even Natsunishi couldn't help but wonder if he was being a bit too harsh on the kid.
Under the veranda, Kazami crossed his arms, staring expressionlessly into the courtyard.
It was just that his heart didn't seem as calm as his appearance indicated.
The cuffs of his plain-colored garment had been unconsciously crumpled into large folds by his own grip.
Natsunishi said, "Want to rest for a bit?"
Masachika's body trembled with exhaustion, but he still forced his Breathing Technique to function and shook his head.
"I seem to have... captured a bit of the feeling senior brother mentioned."
Keep the mind free of distractions.
Let there be no hesitation in your movements.
This was the truth Senior Brother Kuguruma wanted him to comprehend through his body!
Masachika wiped his face with his sleeve, smearing blood and dirt all over his countenance.
He grinned and said, "Next time... within five attempts at most, I will definitely touch the bell!"
Natsunishi stared at him for two seconds.
Not bad, that is precisely the truth realized through my staggering wisdom!
Then came five swift takedowns.
But this time, Natsunishi's movements were exceptionally gentle.
He used no striking techniques and controlled his force perfectly, only delivering just enough to bring Masachika down without letting him rise.
After pinning the dots-for-eyebrows youth to the ground.
Natsunishi said, "That's enough."
Masachika still wished to struggle.
The next second, a cold metallic touch lightly tapped the center of his brow.
It was Natsunishi's bell.
"I never said the first stage had to be completed within today."
"Consider today's training a pass."
Natsunishi smiled at the youth.
A person who could display such an honest smile and yearn for your recognition would never be disliked, no matter the place.
It was the same for Natsunishi.
Masachika: "Eh?"
Natsunishi exerted force with his right hand, easily pulling him up.
He then systematically brought over various medicinal salves and bandages with practiced ease.
"Rest well today and recover your physical strength."
"After tomorrow, we begin systematic foundational physical training."
"Though there was some progress in those final exchanges, it's still not enough."
Natsunishi said while applying the medicine, "Starting from tomorrow, five hundred foundational sword swings daily, two hours of horse stance, and then follow me to chop wood, carry water, and fish."
"Fish?"
Natsunishi's finger pressed firmly onto a bruise, making Masachika gasp from the pain.
"Just do whatever I tell you to do."
"Your foundation is still quite lacking compared to kids from other lineages, so your physical stamina, Breathing Technique, and combat awareness all need a proper lift."
The youth replied obediently, "Yes, Senior Brother."
Several days passed.
In the evening, the two sat on the hillside behind the dojo.
As the sun dipped into the west, curls of cooking smoke rose from the distant village. The swelling on Masachika's face had subsided a bit, but the bruises remained, making him look somewhat comical.
He watched Natsunishi, who had gathered a large quantity of herbs from the back mountain and was carefully sorting and grinding them.
He asked with some confusion, "Senior Brother, what are you doing?"
Natsunishi did not answer immediately, focusing intently on pounding the herbs within the stone mortar.
Just as Masachika thought he was too invested to hear and prepared to speak again, Natsunishi raised his head.
He glanced at the subtitles above Masachika's head. "Grinding skill proficiency. Be quiet."
The potions prepared by Persimmon and Shinobu had all been used up.
As it happened, this was the perfect opportunity to grind the proficiency for Gathering and Medicine Making, to see if he could accumulate some achievement points over these two days.
Though the dots-for-eyebrows youth was somewhat puzzled, he still gave a soft acknowledgment.
Just as Natsunishi intended to resume his grinding endeavor.
"Senior Brother," Masachika spoke up once more, carrying a hint of hesitation. "Back then... why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Natsunishi cast a glance at his junior brother.
This kid couldn't have become depressed from being beaten by him today and required psychological counseling, right?
He closed the interface panel and countered with a question, "What about you? For what reason?"
Masachika fell into a long silence.
So long that Natsunishi thought he wouldn't answer, before the youth finally spoke, his voice very light.
"Because of my younger brother."