The Multiverse Voyager

A/N: This is the last boring chapter of training and whatnot. The next chapter we're gonna do some demon slaying frfr.

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[Chapter Start]

The scent of freshly prepared food wafted through the air, making my stomach growl like a demon. I sat cross-legged in front of an enormous spread of dishes—steaming bowls of noodles, grilled fish, rice balls, and pickled vegetables—all carefully prepared by Urokodaki. My hands moved faster than my brain as I slurped noodle after noodle, barely pausing for air.

"Slow down, you'll choke!" Tanjiro's voice was tinged with concern, but his wide eyes betrayed his disbelief at the sheer speed of my eating.

I didn't bother responding. Another mouthful of noodles disappeared before I reached for the grilled fish, tearing into it with an enthusiasm that could rival a starving bear. The savory taste melted on my tongue, and I let out a satisfied hum before reaching for another bowl of noodles.

"How are you even fitting all that in your stomach?" Tanjiro muttered, half to himself.

I paused just long enough to shrug and grin. "I've been on the road for days. Do you know how hard it is to find good food when you're trekking through forests full of demons?"

'Though, I guess I had been eating premium food while I was there anyway''

Tanjiro chuckled nervously. "I guess I can't argue with that."

Nezuko's expression shifted to mild concern as she watched me stack empty bowls into a precarious tower. Her hand lightly tugged at Tanjiro's sleeve, pointing at the growing pile as if to say, Should we stop him?

"Don't worry," Urokodaki's calm voice cut through the room as he entered, carrying yet another tray of food. "A strong body requires plenty of fuel, and he'll need every bit of it for the challenges ahead."

"See?" I said through a mouthful of rice, pointing a chopstick at Urokodaki. "Sensei gets it."

Tanjiro sighed, shaking his head, though I could see the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. "Just don't overdo it, okay?"

I nodded, though my hands were already reaching for another bowl. As I devoured the food with reckless abandon, a thought crossed my mind. This peaceful moment wouldn't last forever. The final selection loomed ahead, and with it, a fight for survival. But for now, I could enjoy this—good food, good company, and a brief reprieve from the chaos.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

"I AM WATER"

"Ah fuck"

I stood at the edge of the cliff and rubbed my ears, watching as Tanjiro braced himself under the force of the waterfall. His posture wavered slightly, but he gritted his teeth and held firm, his determination evident in every strained muscle.

Beside me, Urokodaki-sensei stood with his arms folded, his calm and watchful gaze assessing Tanjiro's every move. It was the same gaze he had given me when I had stood in that exact spot.

'Reminds me of the time I was down there' I thought with a wry smile on my face. 'I still remember the shock I felt when Sensei told me to stand under a waterfall and expected me, someone who had never trained before and was suffering from malnutrition at that time to survive a force of nature'

'I get it now though'. I thought while looking at Tanjiro slipping and Urokodaki-Sensei quickly disappearing from my side to help him.'It wasn't just about building physical strength. It was about learning to endure, to adapt, and to flow like water itself.'

"This is making me nostalgic"

"Nostalgic?" Urokodaki-Sensei said with a small scoff, somehow appearing beside me with no sound and speed that I could not track. "You only stood under a waterfall three times, What are you talking about?"

I let out a soft laugh, leaning back against a tree and crossing my arms then falling as there was no tree behind me. "Three times is enough for a lifetime, sensei."

I leaned against a tree, arms crossed, and called out, "You're leaning too far forward, Tanjiro. Let your legs take the weight, not your back!"

Tanjiro turned his head slightly, the water splashing against his face as he tried to nod. "Got it!" he shouted back, his voice strained but unwavering.

"You're doing well," Urokodaki said, his tone even. "Focus on your breathing. Let it guide you, steady you."

Watching them, I couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride. Tanjiro had a quiet, unyielding strength about him, a kind of determination that reminded me of the times I'd fought through my training.

"He'll make it," I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else.

"Of course, he will," Urokodaki replied, his voice carrying a rare note of certainty. "But he must first learn to master himself. Only then can he hope to master the blade."

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Breathe"

Tanjiro stood in front of me while gripping his sword as he let in a huge breath. Immediately I struck out with my hand, slamming it on his abdomen making him cry out in pain as he doubled over from the pain.

"Focus on the pain," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. I recalled when Urokodaki-sensei had done the same to me. "That pain? That's your body reacting naturally. Exhale the same way you just forced all that air out and when you inhale, think about how desperately you're trying to draw air back in right now. That's the rhythm. Breathe in deeply, and exhale just as powerfully."

"Y-yes" Tanjiro grunted as he stood up slowly. He then closed his eyes for a second, most likely concentrating on what he experienced a few moments before. He then inhaled a large amount of air yet again.

*Thwoof*

A strained gasp escaped from Tanjiro's mouth as he coughed lightly instead of falling over like last time.

"I didn't use much force this time," I told him. "I only hit you in a certain area. Focus on the way those muscles contracted and use that exact method to breathe in, or else your breathing technique will just turn into a yoga pose."

"Agh" Tanjiro grunted "I don't understand, we're just breathing in the air right? Why can't I just do it normally?"

"Breathing techniques work by breathing in a large amount of air which excites the flow of blood in one's body" I explained "That flow of blood lets one perform supernatural feats. If you miss even a single step, you'll just breathe in a lot of air and strain your lungs."

"And don't be so rigid" I explained to him remembering my own experiences "Water flows and adapts so don't just stand in one place and use just your arms to swing, use your whole body to generate momentum"

"Yes Senpai," Tanjiro said as he straightened his posture, his eyebrows furrowing as he concentrated on his aching muscles

'Senpai?' I thought 'Sounds weird to me'

"Wrong"

*Thwoop*

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm not suited for a blade"

"Hm?"

I stood in front of Urokodaki-Sensei while Tanjiro practiced off in the background, his abdomen now a mixture of purple and red.

"I met Kazuhiro Kyojuro in the forest"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," I continued, replaying the conversation in my mind. "He told me something interesting… He said my body will one day grow so powerful that no Nichirin Blade will be able to withstand my strikes without breaking."

For a moment, there was silence between us, the soft rustle of leaves and Tanjiro's grunts filling the space. Urokodaki's posture remained calm, but I could feel his gaze sharpen beneath the mask.

"He told me" I continued "That my body has extremely high potential and that Total Concentration Constant is having a tough time breaking my body down to rebuild it stronger and better. He said that Martial Arts do the same and if I combine them both, I'd grow at a fast rate"

"And what do you think of that?" he finally asked, his tone measured.

"I don't know," I admitted, shrugging slightly. "I don't have a problem with wielding swords. But I admit, there are times when I could have saved myself or handled a situation better if I just punched instead of swinging my sword"

Urokodaki nodded slowly, as though weighing my words. "Strength is a tool, but it must be wielded with precision. Martial Arts are fine, but what weapon do you intend to wield it with? A mace?"

"My fists," I said without hesitation, clenching them at my sides. "I'll turn my body into a weapon. No blade, just me. Kazuhiro said that martial arts could forge the body into something just as deadly as a sword—maybe even more so."

"Martial Arts…" Urokodaki-Sensei trailed off "It can do so yes, but it is risky. Not only will you have to spend even more time molding your body to become that deadly, but it will be even more dangerous when you're fighting a demon"

"A blade keeps you at a distance from the enemy, but your path will force you into the thick of the fight, closer to danger. Just one swipe from the demon and you will die"

(Thick of it?)

"I'm not afraid of that," I said firmly. "If anything, it feels more natural to me. It's like my body already knows it's meant to fight this way. I just have to figure out how to make it work."

Urokodaki sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Kazuhiro Kyojuro is a man who fought demons before breathing styles were invented, a part of the strongest generation of Hashira to ever exist. To be honest, I still have no idea how the Hashira of that generation became as powerful as that. Even if he is weak and starved, he could easily defeat a Hashira of this generation"

"He is a man of great strength and insight, if this path you walk was once followed by the old generation to become powerful, then I will trust his judgment. But understand this—your path will not be easy, and it will demand far more of you than swordsmanship ever could."

"I understand," I said, meeting his gaze with resolve.

"Then we will train," Urokodaki said, his voice firm. "But know this—your strength must be tempered with discipline, or it will destroy you before it destroys your enemies."

He then turned around "Prepare for the final selections, I'll inquire about any Dojo that can teach you those martial arts"

Urokodaki-Sensei then started walking off, before he abruptly stopped

"Wait, what do you mean by Total Concentration Constant"

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I fastened my Haori, blue in colour with wave patterns on it granted to me by Urokodaki-Sensei as I sheath my Nichrin Blade into the scabbard. I took the fox mask hanging on my waist as I put it over my face.

"I still can't believe it," Urokodaki-Sensei muttered, his voice laced with disbelief as he gently tucked Nezuko into bed. "I sent you to the mountain to teach you basic survival, and somehow you return having mastered a technique that even the Hashira struggle to wield."

"It wasn't basic survival," I replied, combing my hair back as I prepared for what lay ahead. "That demon living in the forest had devoured everything on the mountain—every animal, every plant. Even other demons. It's fused with the mountain itself. Kyojuro-sama said it was stronger than some of the Lower Moons."

"I see," Urokodaki-Sensei said "Perhaps I should patrol the area myself occasionally, the normal patrolmen clearly aren't doing their job properly"

"He's also really angry with the Hashira of this generation" I continued, "says they're too weak and undisciplined to be deserving of such a title"

Urokodaki sighed deeply, his mask tilting downward slightly. "He's not entirely wrong. Many techniques have been lost over the years, and even our craftsmanship has degraded. Nichirin Blades today are pale imitations of what they once were."

I adjusted my blade at my side, a surge of determination swelling within me. "Kyojuro-sama said the same. He called modern swords 'fragile tools.' But he also believes that with enough discipline and innovation, we can revive the strength of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Urokodaki nodded, his gaze turning sharper. "He is wise, as always. But remember—Kyojuro-sama is from a time before Breathing Techniques were created, a generation of warriors who fought with raw skill and instinct. They thrived in chaos. The path you've chosen is not only unconventional but dangerous."

"Don't worry, I got this" I flashed him a thumbs up.

"I don't think you understood what Kyojuro-Sama implied when he told you that the strength of the Slayer Corps can be revived" Urokodaki-Sensei said as he shook his head.

As I nodded in agreement, a thought crossed my mind. "By the way, Sensei, we shouldn't teach Tanjiro Water Breathing."

His head tilted slightly in surprise. "Hm? And why is that?"

"He already has a breathing technique that runs in his family," I explained. "You should train him in that instead. Forcing him into a style that doesn't align with his natural rhythm might limit his potential."

Urokodaki's masked face turned toward Tanjiro in the distance, who was diligently practicing his forms, his movements fluid but lacking the sharpness that came with true mastery. "Interesting," Urokodaki said after a moment of contemplation. "If his family has a breathing technique, it may indeed suit him better. Do you know anything about it?"

"Um, no" I lied "We'll just have to see, besides, who better to train him than you?"

Urokodaki let out a quiet huff of amusement. "Flattery won't get you out of training."

"Worth a shot," I muttered under my breath, but the faint chuckle that escaped him as he turned away felt like a small victory. I bowed to him, as I got up and left for the final selections on Mt. Fujikasane.

Urokodaki-Sensei watched as I left the small hut, closing the door behind me.

'Revive the strength of the Slayer Corps… For someone like him to place that hope on you, I wonder how far you will go my disciple whose name I do not know'