DS Chapter 70 – Sanemi's Little Scheme, Ren Is Disturbed!
Shinobu took a sharp breath.
"Total Concentration... Insect Breathing, Butterfly Dance!"
Her haori fluttered as she moved with light, graceful steps.
In the blink of an eye, she had already put some distance between herself and Ren.
She quietly retreated to a corner and knelt there in a flustered state.
Ren smiled.
It seemed he had finally discovered Shinobu's weakness.
From now on, if that girl ever teased him again, all he had to do was lean close and whisper, "Shinobu-neesan~" into her ear.
Hahaha!
Ren was overjoyed.
As long as he had Shinobu's weakness in hand, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways through the Butterfly Mansion from now on?
Just thinking about it made him excited.
Ren quickly composed himself. The competition wasn't over yet, so he needed to stay focused.
The next moment, he turned to the other four patients and explained a few techniques for improving concentration.
Then he had them resume their meditation.
"No matter what distractions appear later, you absolutely must not lose your focus. If you do, then that's on you—I won't be able to help."
"I'll meditate alongside all of you. Clear your minds of distracting thoughts and don't let anything around you disturb your concentration."
The four nodded in unison.
However, one of them suddenly thought of something.
Raising his hand, he asked,
"Ren-san, if you're meditating too, then who's going to distract us?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough."
"I just hope that when the wind comes, you'll remember to remain calm."
"And when the heat comes later, you'll be able to regulate your body."
"Believe me. If you can endure half an hour under those conditions, then you're not far from becoming a Class A member."
The four nodded, only half understanding.
Although they didn't quite understand what Ren meant...
They knew that if they persevered for half an hour, both their bodies and minds would undergo a remarkable change.
Perhaps even a transformation.
So all they had to do...
Was persevere.
At that moment, the same person asked again,
"Then, Ren-san, when will these distractions you mentioned arrive?"
Ren fell silent for a moment before slowly closing his eyes.
The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Don't rush."
"Let the bullets fly for a while."
...
Meanwhile...
At Sanemi's training grounds.
Inosuke was already lying peacefully on the ground, fast asleep.
Sanemi rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"This won't do. He collapsed after only a hundred and one attacks? I seriously don't know how you passed the Demon Slayer Corps' selection."
"Come! Attack me one more time!"
he shouted sternly.
But Inosuke couldn't move an inch.
He lay sprawled on the ground with his backside sticking up, snoring loudly.
"What an eyesore."
Although he said that, Sanemi still dragged Inosuke back into his "pigsty."
In a way...
Inosuke had earned Sanemi's approval.
After all, very few members of the Demon Slayer Corps dared to challenge him.
Based on Sanemi's past experience, anyone who could attack him more than ten times usually had the potential to become a Class A member.
And anyone who could attack him a hundred times...
Had the potential to become a Hashira.
Inosuke had attacked him one hundred and one times.
That alone was enough to prove his stubbornness and indomitable spirit.
"Hm. This brat isn't bad."
A trace of admiration appeared in Sanemi's eyes.
Although the boar-headed boy's appearance wasn't to his taste, his determination and strength were more than enough to qualify him as a successor to the Wind Hashira.
Immediately afterward, Sanemi looked disdainfully at the three Tomioka brothers huddled in the corner.
The disappointment in his eyes was undisguised.
Those three didn't even have the courage to let him massage them.
At this rate...
They would probably never reach Class A in their lives.
"Ren-san's side is almost finished!"
Someone among the onlooking Demon Slayers suddenly cried out.
Sanemi immediately looked over.
Only then did he realize that Ren and his five patients had all entered a meditative state.
Their expressions were relaxed.
Their postures were natural.
They looked completely at ease.
Judging by their appearance...
They had already maintained that state for quite some time.
Not good...
Sanemi's heart sank.
He had gotten so caught up training Inosuke that he'd nearly forgotten why he'd come here in the first place.
If Ren really won...
Not only would he fail to learn the conditions for awakening the Demon Slayer Mark...
He might even lose his qualification to stay at the Hashira residence.
Now, every second he watched Ren and the others continue meditating...
It felt as though money was disappearing from his pocket...
And another piece of ohagi was slipping away before his eyes.
Absolutely not!
The next moment, a sly smile spread across Sanemi's face.
Sorry, Ren.
Who told you to boast about being able to interfere with your opponent?
Then don't blame me for using a little trick of my own.
After all...
It's perfectly reasonable for the Wind Hashira to accidentally stir up a few strong gusts on the training grounds, isn't it?
No sooner thought than done.
The Wind Hashira immediately assumed the opening stance of a sword form.
"Look! What's the Wind Hashira doing?"
"He's looking at Ren-san! Has the Wind Hashira finally lost his patience?!"
"That looks like a sword form, doesn't it?"
"But the Wind Hashira doesn't even have his Nichirin Blade. Can he really use it?"
The observing Demon Slayers began discussing Sanemi's movements.
Watching him perform a sword form without a Nichirin Blade completely shattered the lower-ranked members' understanding.
A Breathing Technique...
Without a Nichirin Blade?
Kanao, who was sitting by the doorway, watched the scene with equal confusion.
She knew that Flower Breathing could greatly enhance physical ability through Total Concentration Breathing.
But sword forms alone...
Shouldn't be usable without a blade.
Yet judging from Sanemi's posture...
It clearly wasn't his first time doing this.
A trace of worry appeared in Kanao's eyes.
A Hashira was still a Hashira.
Their strength was beyond question.
Although the rule allowing interference had been proposed by Ren himself...
She couldn't help feeling anxious.
After all...
His opponent was a Hashira.
What if Ren got hurt?
Kanao unconsciously tensed, ready to rush over and help him at a moment's notice.
At that instant...
Sanemi moved.
Even without a sword in his hand, he drew in a sharp breath.
"Total Concentration!"
The blood coursing through his body accelerated.
A powerful aura rapidly spread from around him.
Using his right hand like a blade while raising his left hand high, Sanemi suddenly lunged forward.
The oxygen in his lungs reacted violently.
"Wind Breathing: No-Sword Style — Claw Wind!"