(Extra chapter)
Oh, my dear readers, I didn't expect this from you! We've already reached 500 energy stones, and this is an extra chapter, so we'll start again with 600 energy stones, a new extra chapter. I'm counting on you!
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「Swordsmanship LV3→LV4」
「Compared to your initial immaturity, there has been a significant improvement」
「Reward: Rasengan」
「A Ninjutsu that a Transmigrator simply must learn; it's highly versatile and can be used from start to finish」
Rasengan!
It really is a good Ninjutsu, a great gift—don't give it again next time.
Kiyokawa Izumi almost lost control of his emotions.
Is it sick?
Can't it see I'm busy right now?
He was busy recalling the Profound Truth of Flame Breathing!
The idiotic System chose this moment to dump all the knowledge about the Rasengan into his mind.
It's simply toxic!
Can he even use this damn Ninjutsu?
He took a deep breath to avoid being led astray by the idiotic System.
'Flame Breathing is truly excellent; it's fierce and blazing, with no lack of explosive moves or high-speed dashes, and even its destructive range is noteworthy.'
'It is a very outstanding Breathing Technique, definitely not a clumsy imitation of Sun Breathing!'
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't intentionally complimenting Rengoku Kyojuro; he truly felt that this Breathing Technique was excellent.
Perhaps influenced by the Breathing Technique, or perhaps because Big Brother's own fighting style was just like that—fierce and swift, focusing on frontal confrontation.
He was suppressed to the point where he almost had no way to fight back.
The two moves he used were unable to rewrite the outcome.
His Breathing Technique was indeed not suitable for fighting during the day, but even at night, in the most favorable environment, he had no chance of defeating the Flame Hashira.
Although he respected him greatly, Kiyokawa Izumi had to admit that Big Brother's strength wouldn't even rank in the top three among the Nine Hashira.
Those like the Stone Hashira and Wind Hashira would only be stronger!
"There's no need to feel discouraged. You've done very well. Walk the path you believe is right, and do what you believe is right!"
Rengoku Kyojuro patted Kiyokawa Izumi's shoulder, laughing heartily, not forgetting to encourage the young man before him.
This was just his personality.
Kiyokawa Izumi could only smile bitterly.
In their eyes, he was just an underage young swordsman.
But in reality, his true age was only slightly younger than the Stone Hashira's.
Being patted on the shoulder and encouraged by someone younger than himself felt quite strange.
Just then, Kyoujurou's Kasugai Crow suddenly flew over, seemingly to deliver a mission.
As a Hashira, Kyoujurou naturally didn't hesitate much, nor did he intend to invite Kiyokawa Izumi along.
The reason was simple: Kiyokawa Izumi's nichirin blade was severely worn and needed to be reforged... "Does Insect Breathing have a final Profound Truth?"
After the Flame Hashira left, Kiyokawa Izumi turned to look at Kochou Shinobu and couldn't help but ask.
"?"
Kochou Shinobu felt that his gaze was full of offense.
It was as if he was saying, "I feel like you're a bit weak."
Of course, this was just an illusion.
Kochou Shinobu's strength really wasn't that high; for instance, on Natagumo Mountain, she was caught with one hand by a certain Water Hashira who wished to remain anonymous, unable to break free no matter how hard she tried.
Perhaps it was the thought of such a scene that caused a bold idea to suddenly pop into Kiyokawa Izumi's mind: could he capture Kochou Shinobu with one hand?
It felt like it might be difficult.
Setting aside whether he could catch her, could he really restrain her tightly with just one hand?
Once the offensive thought appeared, it immediately occupied his entire brain.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, is it very funny? What is making you smile so happily?"
"I was thinking if I could, with one hand..."
"With one hand, what?"
"Uh, a one-handed handstand!"
Kiyokawa Izumi laughed it off and nonchalantly changed the subject, "These clouds are really white!"
"Is that so?"
Kochou Shinobu's slender eyebrows arched slightly, and an unusual emotion couldn't help but rise—he was looking at her and smiling, smiling with such schadenfreude, and his gaze was so offensive.
The more she thought about it, the harder it was to control her emotions.
She missed the feeling of beating him up yesterday!
"Losing control of one's emotions isn't how an adult should behave. A mature adult like the Insect Hashira wouldn't make such a mistake, right?"
Passing by her, Kiyokawa Izumi suppressed a smile and continued, "Actually, I was just thinking... what to eat for lunch!"
Faced with the obvious lie, Kochou Shinobu suddenly turned around only to find that someone had already run far away.
He used his actions to tell her: I was lying to you!
For some reason, it was always very easy to get angry when facing this guy.
Was it because her hatred for Demons was being taken out on him?
No.
It wasn't that kind of deep-seated hatred.
Kiyokawa Izumi seemed to understand people's hearts, able to see the real emotions beneath her smile (a misunderstanding; Kiyokawa Izumi only knew she was faking her smile and had a decent understanding of her personality).
Did she feel comforted?
Not at all; instead, she felt a bit annoyed.
No one likes having their true emotions seen through, and she was no exception.
"It's not good to start high-intensity training right after recovering; you should start with rehabilitation training."
The smile remained on Kochou Shinobu's face as she spoke softly.
"Stretching exercises are especially important, Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi."
Kiyokawa Izumi, who wasn't particularly outstanding in any area, was the same when it came to flexibility.
Who would win or lose today was yet to be seen.