At this very moment, Murata sat under a tree, hugging his knees with a vacant look in his eyes.
"So, if people like that exist in the world, what's the point of someone like me being around?"
Perhaps as an apology for his previous attitude, or maybe out of a certain degree of indignation, Giyu Tomioka thoroughly 'demonstrated' all ten forms of Water Breathing during their spar.
At least, that's how it looked from an observer's perspective. After all, Giyu Tomioka's blade never even clashed with Suzuki Makoto's makeshift hatchet. Wasn't that just a demonstration?
And then, Suzuki Makoto really did learn all ten forms of Water Breathing.
Although he couldn't yet use the Breathing Style to enhance the power of the forms like the Water Hashira, his every move already surpassed his own, a Demon Slayer Corps member who had studied Water Breathing for years.
"It seems I can't quite get the hang of the Breathing Style yet. Your breath control and sword techniques are well-coordinated, but something feels... dissonant."
Suzuki Makoto took a step back, signaling an end to the spar.
Giyu Tomioka stood his ground, frowning slightly, not quite understanding what Suzuki Makoto meant.
"What do you mean, dissonant? My breathing isn't chaotic."
"No, no, I'm not saying there's a problem with your Breathing Style. I don't know the specifics of it, after all. It's just a feeling I got while imitating and learning—after mastering these ten forms, even without knowing the Breathing Style, my own method of breath control is naturally starting to align with yours in order to maximize the power of the techniques."
Suzuki Makoto also wasn't quite sure how to describe it. It just felt... a bit strange.
"What I mean is, Water Breathing seems to be part of some larger, integrated breathing method. It's just used to complement these forms. In other words, it's as if the forms came first, and then the Breathing Style was created for them—but logically, it shouldn't be that way."
When he first started training under Ida Kojuro, Suzuki Makoto wasn't even allowed to touch a sword. He was first required to start long-distance running, and for a full six months, he trained by running to expand his cardiopulmonary function while honing his breath control. Only after Suzuki Makoto had established a consistent breathing pattern did Ida Kojuro begin to customize techniques for him.
This was actually a teaching method that swordsmen from other schools would find so outrageous they'd want to gouge their own eyes out. But because Suzuki Makoto had no other experience as an apprentice, he had no idea just how absurd it was.
This was also why he couldn't use Giyu's Breathing Style smoothly. While the breathing method could indeed enhance the Water Breathing forms, it could only enhance the Water Breathing forms. For Suzuki Makoto, who already had his own style of techniques, using this Breathing Style made his own combos feel sluggish and awkward—unless he abandoned all his other moves and used only Water Breathing.
Furthermore, in the process, Suzuki Makoto sharply perceived that this Breathing Style seemed incomplete, as if it had been standardized solely to complement these specific forms.
Giyu Tomioka couldn't comprehend what he was saying. After all, he had never noticed such a thing throughout his training, and even his master had never mentioned anything of the sort.
"If that's the case, perhaps you're just not suited for Water Breathing."
Murata listened with trepidation, thinking to himself, 'The Water Hashira doesn't seem very friendly... Is he trying to justify himself or provoke him?'
But what Giyu was thinking was...
"[What a shame. I thought he could become the Water Hashira, but now it seems I can only recommend he go to one of the other Hashira to learn a different Breathing Style.]"
Fortunately, Suzuki Makoto was already used to Giyu Tomioka's way of speaking and knew he was always direct and matter-of-fact, so he didn't take it to heart.
"However, regarding what you said about a form derived from the Breathing Style, I do have one such technique. It's not one of the original Water Breathing forms; it's one I created myself through the Breathing Style."
"I knew it! There had to be a technique like that. Everyone's breath is different, so even with the same Breathing Style, the feeling should be unique—do you mind if I experience it firsthand?"
Giyu Tomioka nodded. This was a form he had created only recently and wasn't yet proficient with, so he hadn't used or trained it in battle against Demons. Now, facing someone like Suzuki Makoto, with whom he could spar at full strength, he was eager to test it out.
"It's a defensive form. Could I trouble you to attack me?"
"No problem—are you ready?"
Suzuki Makoto was eager to begin.
Giyu took a deep breath, gripped his sword, and nodded.
"Here I come!"
"Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Lull."
Murata's jaw dropped. He knew from his own training that Water Breathing only had ten forms, yet Giyu Tomioka was calling this the Eleventh Form!?
On the battlefield, every single one of Suzuki Makoto's attacks was neutralized and blocked by Giyu Tomioka. Somewhat surprised, he intensified his assault, but it was still completely parried—though this seemed to be the limit, as openings were beginning to appear in his opponent's technique.
Suzuki Makoto backed away again. The wood-chopping hatchet in his hand could no longer hold up and crumbled into a pile of splinters, leaving only the handle intact.
Giyu Tomioka exhaled sharply, feeling both exhilarated and dejected.
He was exhilarated that his Eleventh Form was indeed complete, but dejected because its execution seemed imperfect; it had already started showing flaws even against Suzuki Makoto's attacks, which were still holding back.
"I see. It borrows the principle of the Tenth Form: Constant Flux, ensuring the technique's continuity and duration through a cyclical application of force while maintaining slash speed."
The young man's eye twitched. Without a word, he sheathed his sword, walked over to Murata, and sat down, hugging his knees.
Didn't he just learn everything again?!?!
Suzuki Makoto paid it no mind. He was more concerned about the strange aspects of the Breathing Styles, so for the moment, he didn't pay attention to the other two.
"Lord Water Hashira?"
"Don't call me that, Murata. Just call me Tomioka."
Murata waved his hands in a panic.
"How could I do that! You're a Hashira!"
"No, I'm not like the other Hashira."
What an imperious declaration!
Murata was in awe, but he had one small question for Giyu Tomioka.
"Lord Tomioka, how do you remember me?"
"We were in the same selection, weren't we?"
He even remembers that! As expected of the Water Hashira! From this day forward, I'm the Water Hashira's most loyal fan!
Overwhelmed with emotion, Murata didn't notice the somber look in Giyu's eyes or the way his hand unconsciously tightened on his haori when he mentioned the selection.
_____
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