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Seeing the bewildered expressions on everyone's faces, Kaito knew his words hadn't been fully understood.
"Don't get it?" he continued. "Natural energy is the all-encompassing energy of heaven and earth—it's light, water, earth, everything in the natural world. Fortunately, after the decline of mysticism in this world, natural energy has become inert. In eras when mysticism flourished, introducing active and volatile natural energy into the body without the proper method was extremely dangerous in itself."
"What would be the consequences?" Sanemi asked.
Kaito turned to him with a smile. "You'd be assimilated by the natural energy and become part of nature itself—for example, your body turning completely to stone."
"So, Uchiha-san, does that mean the emergence of marks is related to the erosion of natural energy on a swordsman's body?" Kagaya inquired.
"Exactly." Kaito nodded, his hand seals shifting.
The incantations on Tanjuro's body were now crawling so quickly they blurred to the naked eye.
At the same time, the faint scar on his forehead began to deepen in color, gradually transforming into the shape of a red flame.
"Marks are the imprints formed once natural energy's erosion surpasses a certain threshold. Mr. Kamado's innate half-activated marks mean his constitution has an unparalleled affinity for natural energy."
"I understand."
While most people were still struggling to piece together Kaito's explanation, Kagaya had fully grasped it.
Seeing Kaito focused intently on the incantations on Tanjuros body, he turned to the somewhat dazed Hashira and explained on his behalf.
"According to Uchiha-san, natural energy is a double-edged sword. It can enhance everyone's strength but also cause irreparable damage to the body. It's manageable if you're just using breathing techniques in battle, but activating marks means the swordsman's body can harness more natural energy—while accelerating bodily decay in the process."
"Th-then..." Tanjiro suddenly raised his hand, his voice trembling as he asked, "Sir, if Father's condition couldn't be treated, would he... would he turn to stone too?"
"No."
Kaito shifted back into rapid hand-seal mode, his hands blurring into afterimages as he carefully observed the changes in Tanjuro's body while answering the boy's question.
"As I said, the natural energy in the world today has become inert—it can't be harnessed on a large scale by humans anymore, so it can't turn people to stone either."
"In that case, why do swordsmen who activate marks never live past twenty-five? And what's the principle behind Mr. Kamado's weakening body?" Kanae asked curiously.
Kaito replied, "Natural energy cannot be directly utilized by humans. Even I, to employ it in spells or formations, must neutralize it with my own spiritual energy or other internal energies."
His hand seals paused, and the incantations on Tanjuro's body began to contract slowly.
"As swordsmen, your spiritual energy is faint and unawakenable. The consequence of forcibly using natural energy is that it consumes your very life force."
"So, in other words," Uzui said, "does that mean as long as we don't use sword techniques after activating marks, we'll be fine?"
Kaito shook his head directly. "Once marks are activated, they cannot be fully deactivated by the individual. Even without active engagement, the body remains in a semi-open state to natural energy. What I'm doing to Mr. Kamado right now is installing a controllable switch for his marks."
"I get it!" Shinobu suddenly exclaimed happily.
"Before, I diagnosed that Mr. Kamado's condition was untreatable because his life force was constantly draining away, making any nourishment futile—it would just slip away too. But now, with Uchiha-san making the marks controllable, we can use medicine for conditioning and supplement his nutrition afterward, and Mr. Kamado should fully recover his health!"
"Shinobu's right." Kanae smiled at her fellow Hashira. "It seems that if we can fully deactivate marks after combat, we can recuperate a portion of the damage afterward and avoid permanent severe harm."
"That's a relief."
"I can't wait to try it!"
"Even if using marks means not living past twenty-five, for the sake of slaying those vile demons, such a price is totally worth it!"
"But of course, it's better not to sacrifice if we don't have to—I want to live a happy life in a world free of demons!"
"Namu Amida Butsu. Thank you, Uchiha-san."
After hearing the Kocho sisters' explanation, the Hashira chimed in one after another, and the atmosphere in the sickroom lightened considerably.
"Indeed, we should thank you, Uchiha-san," Kagaya said to Kaito. "Thanks to you, my dear swordsmen can all look forward to a future."
Kaito merely nodded with a smile, his hands still forming seals as he watched the incantations on Tanjuro's body gradually contract.
"Be careful, Mr. Kamado—the next part might hurt a bit." He warned.
"It's fine. Please continue." Tanjuro replied warmly.
"Alright."
Kaito moved behind him once more, raising his right hand with spiritual light glowing in his palm. He then struck down firmly on the nape of Tanjuro's neck.
"Hold on!"
With a soft shout, the incantations crawling across Tanjuro's skin began to emit a faint red glow, rapidly contracting toward the spot beneath Kaito's palm.
Tanjuro's body shuddered, and he clenched his teeth tightly, sweat beading nonstop on his forehead.
"Husband..."
Kie stood anxiously nearby, wanting to wipe his sweat with the towel in her hand but fearing she'd disrupt Kaito's ritual. She could only hesitate in place.
Tanjiro and Nezuko, standing in the corner of the sickroom, also watched their father's frail back with worry.
Afraid of interrupting the "treatment," they too bit their lips, pulling their teary-eyed younger siblings into their arms.
As time passed, the incantations on Tanjuro's skin contracted smaller and faster, centering on the nape beneath Kaito's palm.
His body trembled even more violently, drenched in sweat like rain, and muffled grunts of pain escaped his lips despite his efforts.
"It's almost done!" Kaito reminded him again, and suddenly, a brilliant light flared beneath his palm.
"There."
As the glow faded, he withdrew his hand.
Tanjuro's body swayed, and Kie rushed forward to steady him.
At this moment, the incantations that had once covered his upper body had completely vanished, and the mark on his forehead had closed as well. Only a pentagram pattern remained etched on his nape.