"Namu Amida Butsu... Uzui, your Score has become even stronger," Himejima Gyomei said, pressing his palms together in a prayerful gesture toward Tengen Uzui.
"Haha, Gyomei-senpai, you flatter me. Actually, this is thanks to Sun Breathing. Even though I couldn't master it like Kyojuro did, I still gained something from it. The founder swordsman who created this breathing technique must have comprehended an even deeper, more profound, and more dazzling realm beyond the Score, and integrated it into Sun Breathing. Through breathing and sword forms, he passed it down to us across time.
I really wish I could know what kind of genius he was," Uzui Tengen sighed.
At this moment, Hardy's heart stirred.
A realm beyond the Score?
Could it be the Transparent World?
The first-generation swordsmen who developed the breathing techniques must have tried to comprehend the Transparent World under Yoriichi Tsugikuni's guidance. However, aside from Kokushibo, it's unclear whether anyone else managed to achieve it.
Could the so-called Score be a simplified version left behind by swordsmen who had accessed the Transparent World in the past?
Hardy didn't know, but he was very interested in learning this Score.
"I too have gained some understanding. In the past, to adapt to my blindness, I worked hard to listen with my ears and sense everything around me with my heart. So even without sight, I can still roughly perceive my surroundings.
I always thought this was because I recited Buddhist scriptures for years and awakened the Heavenly Ear, one of the six transcendental powers in Buddhism. But now, I think it's a bit different," Himejima Gyomei said, pressing his palms together as he addressed the two.
"Would you both mind explaining this Score and the Heavenly Ear in more detail?" Hardy asked Tengen Uzui and Himejima Gyomei with curiosity.
He knew that, given their personalities, they certainly wouldn't keep it to themselves.
As expected, both Tengen Uzui and Himejima Gyomei gladly shared all the information they had with Hardy.
Just then, a Kasugai crow flew nearby, circling in the sky.
"Uesugi Hardy, Uesugi Hardy, please proceed immediately to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Please proceed immediately to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to hunt down a demon!"
Nezuko cawed as she landed on Hardy's shoulder.
Hardy immediately understood, took a cloth pouch from his pocket, and grabbed a handful of green beans for Nezuko to enjoy.
He had already learned almost all there was to know about the Score technique and Himejima's insights.
"Well then, I'll be off to slay the demon," Hardy said, standing up and bidding farewell to Tengen Uzui and Himejima Gyomei.
...
...
Meanwhile, in the Naruto World—
"Score? Transparent World?"
Hardy, who was sitting among the puppet corps testing the performance of various materials, suddenly received the memories of his incarnation in the Demon Slayer world and paused his actions.
Although the average combat power in the Demon Slayer world was lower than that of the Naruto world, techniques like the Transparent World would prove useful no matter where they were applied.
"Tengen Uzui underwent traditional ninja training from a young age. While there are similarities with the chakra-based ninja here, the lack of a chakra system meant they focused more on developing the body's capabilities," Hardy thought, holding a crystal in his palm and tapping his fingers on the desk.
According to Tengen Uzui, as a child from a ninja clan, he underwent extremely harsh training, including sensory deprivation exercises.
This training had three parts:
First, blind combat training; second, sound deprivation training; and finally, a combination of both—fighting with swords while blindfolded and wearing earplugs. Because of this, he developed extraordinary sensory abilities.
As for Himejima Gyomei, being blind forced him to hone his other senses to enhance his mobility, and in the process, he developed similar abilities.
But that's not all—to reach this level, one must also have exceptional control over their own body.
Himejima Gyomei was the strongest physique Kokushibo had seen in three hundred years, second only to Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
In the world of Demon Slayer, this person is the human who has achieved the highest level of physical prowess.
Among the Hashira, Tengen Uzui's physical abilities are among the best. He can even perform the incredible feat of controlling his heart to block the invasion of toxins, demonstrating an extremely high level of control over his body.
Only by reaching the limits of bodily control in all aspects can one better master perception and achieve the "Transparent World."
"Maybe I can exchange for some other sensory ninjutsu for reference. However, when it comes to taijutsu, it seems Sunagakure isn't particularly outstanding."
Hardy frowned slightly, considering going to the Kazekage building to investigate.
In the original timeline, until Gaara, under the influence of Lee and Neji, discovered the potential of taijutsu, Sunagakure never placed much emphasis on it, treating it merely as a way to shore up weaknesses, a basic supplement to ninjutsu and ninja body techniques.
Konoha was actually the same. Might Duy was ridiculed for twenty years, and Might Guy was also mocked as a child. Among the major ninja villages, only Kumogakure truly valued the development of physical strength.
Still, Sunagakure is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages and has a deep foundation. Even if taijutsu isn't as valued as ninjutsu, Hardy felt he should still be able to gain something.
At the very least, when it comes to sensory ninjutsu, Sunagakure's resources should provide some useful references.
Just as Hardy arrived at the Kazekage building, he happened to run into Ebizō.
"You've come at just the right time. I was about to send someone to look for you."
Seeing Hardy, Ebizō led him into the Kazekage building, holding a document in his hand.
Hardy also wanted to ask Ebizō about sensory and taijutsu techniques, so he followed him inside.
"The proposal you submitted has already been thoroughly discussed by me, your teacher Chiyo, and the Third Kazekage. It has great practical value. Come, the Third Kazekage wants to see you."
Ebizō said to Hardy, who was following behind him.
Hardy looked carefully at the document tucked under Ebizō's arm.
As expected, the proposal was indeed the one he had written.
The cover of the document read in bold characters:
"Preliminary Design Proposal for the Waterway System Connecting the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain."
Previously, the Third Kazekage had assigned a special task to the village's jonin and special jonin, requiring them to submit a report of no less than five thousand words on the soon-to-be excavated Grand Canal connecting the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.
Hardy had no idea what to write, so he simply had his DC world counterpart search online for relevant materials and pieced together a draft by partially copying and modifying them.
The final product was based on the Salt River Project in Arizona, USA.
...
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