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Tanjiro learned from Uchiha Nagi for half a day, understanding the basics, but when he tried to cultivate, he couldn't even produce a shadow of Chakra.
However, considering the systems of two different worlds, Uchiha Nagi never expected him to master Chakra extraction in one go, as even in the Ninja Academy, very few talented children could extract Chakra in a single day.
"Don't worry, failing the first time is normal. It took me a month to extract my first trace of Chakra," Uchiha Nagi comforted him.
"Oh, really? Then I'll keep working hard! Oh, right, Nagi-aniki (Nagi, older brother), let me demonstrate the Breathing Technique for you first." Tanjiro rubbed his head, recalling how Uchiha Nagi had learned the Breathing Technique in one go last night...
"Alright, thank you," Uchiha Nagi nodded.
"First Form: Water Surface Slash!" Tanjiro shouted, beginning to use the Breathing Technique sword skill.
"Second Form: Water Wheel."
"Third Form: Flowing Dance."
"Fourth Form: Striking Tide."
"Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After Drought."
"Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool."
"Seventh Form: Dropping Ripple Thrust."
"Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin."
"Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow."
"Tenth Form: Constant Flux."
By the time he had demonstrated the entire set of Breathing Techniques, Tanjiro was covered in sweat.
"These are the complete basic Ten Forms of Breathing Technique, but each Breathing Technique can be combined with others in different situations, so its variations are endless," Tanjiro said, wiping his sweat.
For example, he himself once used "Second Form: Water Wheel" combined with other moves to perform "Second Form: Modified Water Wheel."
Also, "Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool" combined with other moves to perform "Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool Flow."
And "Seventh Form: Dropping Ripple Thrust" transformed into "Seventh Form: Dropping Ripple Thrust, Curve."
The two look similar, but the actual difference is significant. The former Seventh Form is the fastest thrusting technique among the Water Breathing forms, but it's not suitable for decapitating demons. The latter, with its curved trajectory, is an applied technique for diagonal thrusts, used for intercepting flying targets.
In other words, the Breathing Technique isn't just the ten forms on the surface, but ten multiplied by a power of ten, and as long as you are exceptionally gifted and can fuse and re-fuse the ten forms, it's almost limitless.
The ten forms are just the basic Breathing Technique. Whether one can combine other moves depends on individual talent, as each time a more powerful move is used, the greater the demand on one's cultivation, and composite moves require even more.
The strong are those who apply them flexibly; different combat scenarios suit different moves, and a modified version isn't always appropriate. Uchiha Nagi knew that the current Water Breathing Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, seemed to be an extremely talented individual who developed the Eleventh Form, "Dead Calm," based on the original Water Breathing.
Isn't this what he had always dreamed of? Konoha White Fang, though a Ninja, was skilled in swordsmanship, using a short sword to strike fear into many Ninja, leading to the saying that encountering White Fang allowed one to abandon a mission without penalty.
The Mangekyo is a good thing, but Uchiha Nagi is an orphan, so he cannot possess the Eternal Mangekyo. Without an Eternal Mangekyo, it's impossible to awaken the Rinnegan. Rather than that, it's better to specialize in the Breathing Technique to strengthen himself.
Watching Uchiha Nagi fall into contemplation after hearing his explanation, Tanjiro cautiously asked, "Nagi-aniki (Nagi, older brother), did you understand everything? My explanation might not be very detailed. If Sakonji Urokodaki-sensei were here, he could definitely explain it more meticulously."
"Yes, I generally understood it. I'll demonstrate," Uchiha Nagi nodded, took out his short sword, and walked to the center of the open space.
Following Tanjiro's method, he took a deep breath and began to demonstrate the Water Breathing he had just copied. From one to ten, there were no errors, but this was merely going through the motions. To truly make it his own, he would need continuous practice and refinement later.
"S-s-s-su-goi... Nagi-aniki (Nagi, older brother), you're amazing! You learned it just by watching once! That's... that's too strong!" Tanjiro exclaimed excitedly.
"This is just going through the motions; it's still far from your level," Uchiha Nagi shook his head.
"Oh, but I also felt something was missing. Oh, right, is it because it needs to be practiced underwater? When I first learned Water Breathing, I often practiced by the water."
"That should be it," Uchiha Nagi nodded and stopped. After all, he only had one hand at the moment, which was inconvenient. Once his White Zetsu arm fully recovered in a couple of days, he could start training.
Uchiha Nagi moved the white arm. The finger joints were already very flexible. It was hard to imagine that it wasn't his arm just half a day ago.
The bones inside felt completely healed, but Uchiha Nagi knew that was just on the surface; it would still take a few days to perfectly control it as if it were his own arm.
Unexpectedly, the fusion of the Mangekyo and white zetsu cells was perfect, blending seamlessly. In fact, in this short time, the fatigue from consuming pupil power in his right eye last night had largely recovered. No wonder Obito could use it without restraint.
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The next morning, before dawn, Tanjiro, carrying a bamboo basket with Nezuko curled up inside, was bidding farewell to Tamayo and her companions, accompanied by Uchiha Nagi.
He was going to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to meet their leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and then officially join the Demon Slayer Corps. He wondered if, with his strength, he would still need to participate in any selection.
As they were going in the same direction as Tanjiro, they set off together.
"Take care, both of you," Tamayo said with a faint smile.
"Take care, we'll meet again," Uchiha Nagi said.
"Hey, hey, guy with the scar on your head, don't you dare die!" Yushiro said from the side.
"Yes, both of you please take care as well. I will diligently collect the blood of all the demons I encounter!" Tanjiro waved to them, then he and Uchiha Nagi set off.
Uchiha Nagi was also full of anticipation for this journey. In this world's cultivation system, he had already learned one type of Breathing Technique, Water Breathing.
Regarding the original Breathing Technique, Sun Breathing, which combines all Breathing Techniques, and then activating the Demon Slayer Mark, Uchiha Nagi felt that, ultimately, it might be a different kind of Sage Mode.
The so-called Demon Slayer Mark is similar to the marks that appeared on the faces of the First Hokage and Naruto after they entered Sage Mode. Because the complete Sage Mode demanded too much from the human body, various Breathing Techniques with different attributes gradually evolved later.
It's like how Orochimaru created the Cursed Seal for Sage Jutsu, simplifying Sage Mode so that even those with insufficient physiques could use it.
In Uchiha Nagi's view, the people who created the simplified Breathing Techniques in this world were truly geniuses; they allowed ordinary people to cultivate.
In the Naruto World, no one ever tried to improve Sage Mode, resulting in very few, almost no, people who could use it. In the end, Orochimaru invented the Cursed Seal... While the cultivation methods are different, both involve the use of energy.
Moreover, Breathing Technique clearly tempers the human body, and over the years, it can make some people's physiques extremely powerful, which is similar to the body tempering secret arts of the Raikage's faction.