People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

Chapter 87 The Battle of Thunder Breathing

Enraged, Kaigaku laughed, gripping his Nichirin Blade tightly: "You're just a piece of trash who only knows the First Form, what gives you the right to yell at me!"

Zenitsu lowered his head and said, "Tanjiro, Inosuke, this is my battle, please don't interfere!"

Sensing Zenitsu's will, Tanjiro and Inosuke respected Zenitsu's choice and stepped back to watch the battle.

The battle of the inheritors of the Breath of Thunder is about to begin.

The firelight from the village ruins illuminated the profiles of Zenitsu and Kaigaku, who, despite being from the same school, were about to engage in battle.

However, Zenitsu still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that perhaps his senior brother was blinded by power, which was why he was so cold-blooded and ruthless. He believed that he could make Kaigaku wake up in the battle!

Kaigaku showed no mercy and launched the first attack on Zenitsu, unleashing "Thunder Breathing? Second Form? Inari Soul!"

Golden lightning flashed across the Nichirin Blade, which instantly unleashed a five-hit lightning combo at Zenitsu.

Zenitsu dodged left and right as the thunderous lightning slashes struck.

However, during the brief interval after Kaigaku finished using the second form of Thunder Breathing (Sword Form), Zenitsu could have countered, but he lowered his hand that was holding up his Nichirin Blade.

Kaigaku did not believe that Zenitsu did not want to fight him. On the contrary, he believed that the speed Zenitsu displayed with the First Form of Thunder Breathing, which was beyond his reach, had side effects.

"Heh, so what if you can slay the demon in one strike? You're struggling to even swing your sword now. What gives you the right to force me to apologize? Thunder Breathing? Third Form? Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder!"

Kaigaku spun rapidly around Zenitsu, and the wave-like lightning left by its trajectory blasted Zenitsu away.

Inosuke and Tanjiro, who were watching from the sidelines, were extremely anxious.

"What on earth is Zentaro doing? Why isn't he fighting back?!"

Inosuke was so anxious he was jumping up and down. They knew Zenitsu's strength better than anyone else. How could he possibly be unable to retaliate after using Thunderclap Flash once?

Tanjiro sensed a mixture of sadness, heaviness, and expectation in the air: "Perhaps... Zenitsu still holds onto hope for Inatama Kaigaku..."

Yosuke, who was still observing from the shadows, had no intention of making a move, because he saw that Zenitsu was transforming. The Zenitsu who was completely insecure, afraid, and ran away from fighting demons was disappearing.

If Zenitsu could unleash his full power while fully conscious, then his strength would reach a whole new level.

"Thunder Breathing? Fifth Form? Heat Realm Thunder!"

The intensely hot lightning struck Zenitsu without hesitation. Zenitsu still did not retaliate, but he was already covered in wounds. The yellow haori given to him by his master was now in pieces.

Zenitsu struggled to his feet after falling to the ground, looking at the fragments of his haori on the floor, feeling deeply saddened.

“I was abandoned by my parents at birth and lived alone in the city for fifteen years. My master took me in and accepted me as his disciple, teaching me with all his heart.”

"Although my master is very strict with me and puts me through hellish training every day, I have never hated him. He is my family, so I have always called him Grandpa."

“I was actually very scared because I didn’t have any talent and I was sure I would let my grandfather down. I didn’t want to see his disappointed expression, so I kept trying to escape during training, but my grandfather kept catching me.”

“I have always wanted to repay Grandpa. Grandpa wanted me to get along well with you, so even though you would insult me ​​every time, I would endure it because that was Grandpa’s expectation.”

"But Inatama Kaigaku! Have you forgotten what your grandfather taught you? Your grandfather took such good care of us, have you forgotten it all?!"

Zenitsu questioned Kaigaku with a heavy heart.

Kaigaku scoffed at Zenitsu's words: "What master, what grandfather? In the end, Kuwajima Jigoro and you are both the same kind of trash. Why should he let me and you, whom I despise, inherit the Breath of Thunder?! You are all garbage! Go to hell! The more miserable your death and Kuwajima Jigoro's death, the better!"

"Inatama Kaigaku, you don't deserve to be called human!" Zenitsu was utterly disappointed. The last bit of hope he had for Kaigaku had vanished, and he knew it was time to officially part ways with him.

"Are you enraged? You're already badly injured, it's time to finish you off. Don't worry, I won't kill you. After all, the Demon Slayer Corps can't hurt their comrades, right? I'll crush your limbs so you can never speak again. After I've dealt with you, it'll be your comrades' turn!"

"In this world, only I, Inatama Kaigaku, can inherit the Breath of Thunder! And you, a piece of trash who can only use the First Form, will become a cripple and eke out a miserable existence!" Kaigaku laughed wildly.

Zenitsu retorted sarcastically to Kaigaku, "If you're a 'useless person' who can only use the First Form, then you're a 'trash' who can't even learn the First Form!"

Upon hearing Zenitsu's insults, Kaigaku instantly lost his temper.

"Breathing of Thunder? Land Form? Lightning Boom!"

Kaigaku unleashed countless lightning-like slashes in all directions from his own center.

However, Zenitsu was no longer powerless as before, constantly dodging the lightning-like slashes, narrowly escaping each time.

"Senior brother, this is the last time I will address you like this. I have made up my mind and must settle things with you. I will inherit the will of Thunder Breathing!"

Zenitsu took a deep breath, his body crackling with lightning, and as he activated his breathing technique, his body arched slightly.

"Thunder Breathing? First Form? Thunderclap Flash? Divine Speed!"

The ultimate flash of lightning, the fastest flash.

If a normal lightning bolt can leave a visible trail, then a divine speed makes even that trail invisible.

Before Kaigaku could even see Zenitsu move, a tremendous force surged through his Nichirin Blade, and Zenitsu's figure appeared behind him.

The immense force of the strike caused Kaigaku's hands, which were gripping the sword, to go numb. His tiger's mouth was split open, the bones in his fingers were broken, and his ten fingers were twisted in a contorted position. The Nichirin Blade in his hands was completely broken.

Kaigaku stared at his hands in disbelief, the pain constantly assaulting his nerves, causing him to kneel on the ground and wail in agony.

"What kind of sword is this? Why have I never seen it before?! That old man must have been hiding it from me! He must have! Why? I am the rightful heir to the Breath of Thunder, why can't I learn it?!"

Zenitsu looked at Kaigaku with an indifferent expression: "Grandpa didn't hold anything back from you. This is still Thunderclap Flash, the weakest Thunderclap Flash in your eyes!"

Chapter 88 Tanjiro and Inosuke's Great Battle

Kaigaku did not believe Zenitsu's explanation.

"Impossible! You're lying to me! A lightning bolt couldn't possibly have that kind of speed and power!"

"I have no reason to lie to you. I lack the talent and only know the Thunder Flash. Therefore, I must improve the Thunder Flash to cope with future crises."

Kaigaku thought of Yosuke: "It must be Ubuyashiki Yosuke. How could you, a piece of trash, possibly have the ability to improve the sword form of Thunder Breathing on your own?!"

Faced with the utterly unreasonable Kaigaku, Tanjiro couldn't comprehend what was going on in Kaigaku's mind: "Why are you still so stubborn and refuse to acknowledge Zenitsu's efforts?"

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" Kaiyue roared like a madman.

Inosuke was almost laughing in exasperation at Kaigaku: "I've never seen anyone like you before. You're really something else, losing and still making excuses for yourself!"

Kaigaku glared resentfully at Zenitsu and the other two: "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, Ubuyashiki Yosuke would have guided my training, and I would have become stronger. It's all your fault!"

"It seems my initial assessment of you was entirely correct..." Yosuke's figure suddenly appeared behind Zenitsu.

"A selfish and egoistic person!"

When Kaigaku saw Yosuke, his heart sank to the bottom, which means that Yosuke had been observing him from the very beginning.

In this situation, the test has completely failed, and the Demon Slayer Corps may even expel him.

Kaigaku angrily questioned Yosuke: "Were you never going to teach me in the first place, and were you just playing with me?!"

Yang Jie said indifferently, "Are you trying to amuse me by playing with you? To be honest, you overestimate yourself. You're not worthy. If you had passed the test, I would have guided your cultivation as promised, but you didn't."

Kaigaku glared venomously at Zenitsu, Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Yosuke, remaining silent. At this point, he had no strength left to fight back.

Inosuke glared at Kaigaku on the ground, clearly annoyed. "What should we do with this guy now?!"

Zenitsu said, as if he had used all his strength, "Let the Demon Slayer Corps handle it. Those who do wrong should be punished accordingly."

Tanjiro's crow returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to deliver the message. Soon after, members of the Demon Slayer Corps arrived at the scene and took Inatama Kaigaku back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters for trial.

——

For the next few days, Zenitsu was depressed, lost his appetite, and looked utterly dejected.

As Zenitsu's best friends, Tanjiro and Inosuke prepared a series of plans in hopes of making Zenitsu happy again.

Zenitsu lay on the floor in the entryway, his lonely figure basking in the sun.

Inosuke, full of enthusiasm, rushed up to Zenitsu: "Zentaro, let's fight!"

Zenitsu, still half-asleep, glanced at Inosuke and said weakly, "Oh, it's Inosuke. Want to fight? Sorry... I need to sleep. Can we do it another time?"

Faced with Zenitsu, who was weak and lacked any motivation, Inosuke was defeated.

"Zenitsu, today's lunch is your favorite eel sushi, I specially got you a lot." Tanjiro brought a plate to Zenitsu.

Zenitsu mechanically picked up the sushi and started eating, but the eel on the sushi was left behind.

"It's delicious... Thank you, Tanjiro."

Tanjiro looked at the eel on the plate and asked, "Zenitsu, why aren't you eating the eel on your sushi? Isn't this your favorite?"

"There's eel... I forgot. Never mind, I won't eat it... I'm already full." Zenitsu, lying on the floor, closed his eyes again.

Tanjiro, defeated.

Tanjiro and Inosuke looked at each other, then went to a corner to discuss how to cheer Zenitsu up.

"Santaro, what else can we do to help Zentaro get back on his feet?"

"It's Tanjiro! But we've tried everything we could these past few days, and Zenitsu still hasn't recovered. It seems this incident has had a huge impact on him."

"Santaro, I have another idea!"

After Inosuke mysteriously explained his thoughts to Tanjiro, he excitedly exhaled two puffs of white breath from his pig nostrils.

"Really? I feel a little embarrassed," Tanjiro said, blushing and looking somewhat embarrassed.

"We're comrades! It's okay! Come with me!"

Inosuke secretly led Tanjiro to the room of the Butterfly Sisters.

Just as Inosuke was about to open the door and go in, Tanjiro hesitated: "No, Inosuke, I still don't think it's a good idea. If we're discovered, we won't be able to face anyone anymore!"

"It's alright! They haven't been back to this room for a long time. As long as we don't say anything, no one will know!" Inosuke kicked open the door and dragged Tanjiro into the room.

Under Inosuke's semi-coercion, Tanjiro had no choice but to compromise, silently repeating to himself, "This is all for Zenitsu...it's all for Zenitsu..."

Inosuke began rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

"This size is too big...I can't wear it!"

"Hmm... how do I wear this? It's so complicated."

"Is this a shirt or pants?"

Inosuke searched and threw things away, and the area around him was already piled high with clothes.

Tanjiro couldn't help but complain, "Inosuke, don't rummage around like that! We need to fold them up and put them back later!"

"It's okay! I already said they haven't been back to their rooms in ages, so we can do whatever we want..."