Tanjiro watched as Tanjuro performed the Hinokami Kagura. Despite his power, Tanjuro continued this family tradition with dedication.
It was mesmerizing to see his father move fluidly and gracefully with his unique seven-branched sword, the shichishitō. Tanjuro resembled an Iwami Kagura dancer, wearing a long-sleeved dark brown dress with golden and crimson red accents, and a large blindfold covering his entire face with the kanji for "flames" inscribed on it.
Tanjuro executed the 1st form, Dance, a quick and powerful vertical slash, followed by the 2nd form, Clear Blue Sky, a circular slash.
He continued through the forms until reaching the final one, the 12th form, Flame Dance, a two-part attack with a horizontal slash followed by a vertical one.
After performing the final form, Tanjuro took a deep breath, exhaling white smoke.
Tanjiro walked over, gazing at his father with admiration. Witnessing the Hinokami Kagura in real life was far more enchanting than seeing it in the manga.
"Father, can I get a wooden sword? I want to train my swordsmanship," Tanjiro said, revealing his plan for the next two years until he turned five.
Or perhaps he could advance even sooner, given his ability to upgrade his swordsmanship with just a single click, potentially becoming a master swordsman in an instant.
Tanjuro looked at Tanjiro and sighed, removing his blindfold. He looked into Tanjiro's eyes and said, "I knew this day would come. Come with me."
He walked toward a small storage room behind their house, with Tanjiro following, both confused and anticipating what was to come.
Tanjuro began clearing out the storage room, placing items to the side until he revealed a hidden trap door. Opening it, he retrieved an intricately designed wooden box and placed it in front of Tanjiro.
" Open it "
Tanjiro nodded and opened the box, revealing a beautifully crafted katana. Despite the katana being two inches longer than him, Tanjiro easily lifted it thanks to his immense strength.
Swinging it around, Tanjiro felt a surge of happiness at holding a real sword, especially a katana, which he had only dreamed of wielding.
In modern times, he couldn't even hold a gun, let alone a sword. But now, in this era where he would usher the Demon Slayers into a golden age, this katana would mark the beginning of his journey to becoming the strongest swordsman.
" Thank you, Father "
Tanjiro thanked Tanjuro, who smiled lightly and ruffled his hair before going to play with Nezuko and take care of Kei and Takeo.
Feeling fortunate to be born into the Kamado family, Tanjiro smiled. He then began swinging his sword, recalling the techniques of various swordsmen he had seen in anime.
He thought of the swordsmanship of Kirito from SAO, the Hashiras, Zoro from One Piece, and more.
He knew they all started with the basics of handling a sword. However, since he was using a katana, it was quite different from other swords, such as short swords, one-handed swords, and two-handed swords.
The only swordsman Tanjiro could think of who used a katana was Zoro. However, Zoro's swordsmanship was advanced, and even with his Hyper Cognitive Mastery, Tanjiro couldn't easily replicate it. Moreover, mimicking Zoro's techniques didn't guarantee he could wield a sword with the same prowess.
Yoriichi's swordsmanship, on the other hand, was what he truly aspired to replicate—and perhaps even surpass—thanks to his various advantages. For Tanjiro, mastering Yoriichi's techniques would be as natural as breathing.
Recalling Yoriichi's handling of the sword, Tanjiro placed his left hand on the bottom of the katana and his right hand near the hilt, without touching it directly.
Even with the Sun Breathing Style, Tanjiro only possessed the theoretical knowledge of each movement. He needed to implement and practice it to become familiar with the techniques.
As he swung the katana downward, Tanjiro immediately recognized the difficulty of using such a weapon.
For an average person, handling and slashing with a katana could result in self-injury. However, with his Hyper Cognitive Mastery, he began to grasp the nuances of the katana. As time went on, his slashes became precise and flawless.
[ You have reached the threshold of basic swordsmanship.
You have acquired Basic Swordmanship skill level 1. ]
Without hesitation, Tanjiro upgraded Basic Swordsmanship to max level, spending 9 SP. As the knowledge of all basic swordsmanship techniques flooded into his mind, he experienced a profound sense of euphoria. The information was deeply ingrained, so much so that even if he tried to forget it, it remained firmly in place.
[ You have upgraded basic swordsmanship to max level, upgrading basic swordsmanship to skilled swordsmanship. ]
"Skills can be upgraded to the next stage? Does that mean Swordsmanship can reach Expert, Master, or even Godlike levels?" Tanjiro muttered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
He immediately poured his SP into Swordsmanship to reach the max level. As expected, Skilled Swordsmanship upgraded to Master Swordsmanship. Tanjiro then upgraded Master Swordsmanship to Transcendent Swordsmanship at max level.
[ You have used 27 SP, remaining SP: 57.
You have reached Transcendent Swordsmanship (Max).
You can now create your own sword techniques with ease or upgrade any existing technique to a higher level.
Additionally, you have acquired a sword domain with a radius of 50 meters. Within this domain, no one can block or evade your sword attacks. ]
As the name suggests, Tanjiro felt his swordsmanship transcend to an entirely higher level. Previously, killing Muzan would have been a formidable challenge, but now, with his Transcendent Swordsmanship, it would be effortless—even using a leaf as a weapon would be sufficient.
The upgrade didn't merely add to his skills; it amplified his strength exponentially, at least fivefold or more. The only way to truly gauge this enhancement would be by comparing himself in combat with his former self.
Now, even if Muzan were 50 meters away from his house, Tanjiro could instantly slash off his neck without Muzan even realizing it.
While he couldn't kill Muzan due to his monstrous regeneration, Tanjiro could at least drive him away from his home. It was disappointing to think that it took him three whole years to surpass Muzan, a feat that seemed underwhelming for a reincarnator with such an overpowered cheat.
He could have easily overpowered Muzan at just one year old if he had chosen to massacre an entire mountain of animals, but he wasn't the type to kill indiscriminately.
If Tanjiro had trained his swordsmanship at just one year old, he could have achieved his current level of skill much earlier.
Although he understood that some demons had tragic backstories, it didn't excuse their man-eating tendencies. They killed hundreds of people annually, likely allowing humans to reproduce to maintain a steady supply, treating them like cattle—breeding and killing, a mindset deeply ingrained in them.
With his current power, Tanjiro could reach Mount Sagiri in one day. If he distributed his 192 AP, he could make the round trip in just twelve hours. However, he lacked knowledge of Mount Sagiri's direction, so he would need several days to ask for directions before arriving.
The biggest challenge would be dealing with his parents, especially Kei, who could not bear to see her children get hurt—a typical maternal instinct. It would also be suspicious for a three-year-old boy to be running at supersonic speeds or wandering alone without any parents.
Tanjiro decided he would tell his parents at night that he wanted to travel around the world, and it might take him a year or two to return.
Considering that the original Tanjiro took at least three years to become a demon slayer, it would likely take him at least a year to attain the Hashira title.
Due to various factors, he might be seen as a monstrous prodigy comparable to Yoriichi, a demon disguised as a child, a suspicious kid out to explore, or even a spy for demons. The only way to prove his true intentions would be to demonstrate his absolute strength. However, this would also come with significant responsibilities.
Despite being a good person, Tanjiro did not relish responsibilities. He was free-spirited and preferred to do as he pleased. Training someone was a hassle and a major responsibility he was not interested in. By nature, he was lazy and prone to procrastination, which is why he took his time with things.
Ideally, he would help his family and let them handle being demon slayers while he stayed home and relaxed.
The primary reason Tanjiro decided to set his plan in motion was to determine if Muzan was truly as formidable as depicted in the manga. He wanted to test his strength against Muzan and see how he would fare in battle.
Additionally, Tanjiro was eager to meet several key characters from "Demon Slayer," including:
- Tomioka Giyu, the Water Hashira
- Inosuke Hashibira, the boar-headed demon slayer
- Zenitsu Agatsuma, known as the "Yellow Flash" for his lightning speed
- Kanao Tsuyuri, the main character's love interest
- Shinobu Kocho, the Butterfly Hashira
- Kyojuro Rengoku, the High-Spirited Hashira
- Tengen Uzui, the stylish "Drip" Hashira
- Mitsuri Kanjori, known for her "Ogre Strength"
- Muichiro Tokito, the youngest Hashira
- Gyomei Himejima, the Gentle Giant
- Sanemi Shinazugawa, the overprotective brother and foul mouthed
- Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira
And with a special mention:
- Genya Shinazugawa, who uniquely uses an American Breathing Style and incorporates a gun into sword fighting.
Tanjiro also wanted to acquire a Nichirin sword, but he was unsure whether participants in the Final Selection were provided with one.
Even if they weren't, Tanjiro could easily decapitate any demons he encountered and tie them up until sunrise.
Thus, he had no problem taking a leisurely stroll through Mount Fujikasane.