After bidding a fond farewell to Jigoro, Zenitsu, and Yae, Horitake departed from Mt. Momoyama and began his journey toward Mt. Sagiri.
The distance between the two peaks was considerable, and with the Final Selection fast approaching, Horitake knew he couldn't afford to linger. He pushed his pace, his silhouette a blur against the changing landscape.
After days of relentless travel, the familiar, mist-shrouded peaks of Mt. Sagiri finally greeted him on a crisp morning. The mountain remained unchanged, veiled in its perpetual, ethereal fog. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up at the sprawling landscape, Horitake felt a wave of complex emotions wash over him.
It had been quite some time since he had seen his "little brother," Tanjiro.
It had also been a while since he had checked in on his "fiancée," Nezuko.
The prospect of reuniting with them filled him with a quiet, fluttering sense of anticipation. With that warmth in his chest, Horitake began his ascent.
According to the timeline of the original events, Tanjiro should be in the thick of his grueling training. If his memory served him right, the boy would be at the training grounds located halfway up the mountain.
Orienting himself, Horitake headed straight for the mountainside.
At his current speed, it took only moments to reach the mid-point of Mt. Sagiri. As he approached, the sharp, rhythmic clack-clack-clack of wood and steel echoed through the mist.
Horitake recognized the sound instantly. It was the unmistakable symphony of blades clashing in a fierce, high-speed exchange. However, as he listened closer, the intent behind the strikes became clear: this wasn't a life-or-death struggle, but a focused, intense sparring session.
Well, what do you know, Horitake mused. When I arrived at Mt. Momoyama, I walked in on Zenitsu and Yae training. Now I arrive at Mt. Sagiri, and it's the same thing.
But then, a realization struck him. At Mt. Momoyama, it made sense for Zenitsu and Yae to spar—they were fellow disciples. But here on Mt. Sagiri, Urokodaki-sashou only had one student: Tanjiro.
Who could he possibly be fighting? Was Urokodaki himself personally providing hands-on instruction?
Curious, Horitake moved like a ghost, leaping silently onto a thick branch of a towering tree. He peered down at the clearing below.
As he watched, his Spirit Vision triggered instinctively.
The scene revealed to his eyes brought a look of sudden understanding to his face. "So, that's how it is..."
In the center of the training ground, two figures were locked in combat.
On one side was Tanjiro. He gripped his katana with white-knuckled intensity, his strikes flowing like a continuous stream. His eyes were burning with a fierce, unwavering resolve. Though he looked battered and exhausted, his spirit remained unbroken, radiating a stubborn resilience.
On the other side stood Sabito—or rather, the spirit of Sabito.
Sabito's skill was clearly on a different level. Even while trading blows, it was obvious that his movements were designed to guide Tanjiro, turning the duel into a masterclass of technique and instinct.
Horitake watched from his perch, realizing he had arrived at a pivotal moment. In the original story, Tanjiro's training had hit a wall. Just as he was beginning to succumb to frustration, the spirits of Sabito and Makomo appeared to push him past his limits and bolster his resolve.
This was that moment.
However...
A nagging question gnawed at Horitake's mind, one he couldn't quite resolve.
Even with his specialized abilities, Horitake had to manually activate his Spirit Vision just to see Sabito and Makomo. As for touching them? That was impossible. They were ethereal, mere imprints of the past.
So, how was Tanjiro seeing them? More importantly, how was he touching them? How do you spar with a ghost if your sword just passes through them?
This is completely unscientific! It's not even magical! Horitake thought, a hint of exasperation mingling with his awe. Is this just the 'Protagonist Perk'? Is he getting special treatment from the universe itself?!
Amidst his confusion, a small, petty spark of envy flickered in his heart.
As the battle raged below, Horitake remained motionless on the branch, a silent spectator. Then, without a sound, the spirit of Makomo appeared right beside him.
Horitake turned to her, offering a soft, knowing smile. "Makomo. It's been a long time."
Makomo smiled back, her expression gentle and serene. "It has, Horitake. It's good to see you again. Have you come to see Tanjiro and Nezuko?"
"That's part of it," Horitake admitted. "But more importantly, the Final Selection is drawing near. I wanted to see if Tanjiro was truly ready to take the plunge."
"Tanjiro has already made up his mind," Makomo said, her gaze drifting toward the boy below. "For Nezuko's sake, he won't let this chance slip away. But... his strength hasn't quite reached the level Urokodaki-sashou demands. In truth, Urokodaki-sashou doesn't want him to go. He's set a nearly impossible task for him..."
She gestured toward a massive boulder at the edge of the clearing—a spherical, hulking mass of stone taller than a man.
"Urokodaki-sashou told Tanjiro that he would only be allowed to enter the Final Selection if he could slice that boulder in half with a single stroke. Otherwise, he remains here."
Horitake nodded. Even without her explanation, he understood the weight of that trial. He sat back on the branch, letting out a heavy sigh.
"I understand Urokodaki-sashou's fear. After so many Final Selections... after seeing you, Sabito, and so many other children never come home... his heart has been shattered over and over again. He can't bear the thought of losing another."
Horitake's voice grew solemn. "He cherishes Tanjiro. He doesn't want the boy to follow in your footsteps. Honestly, if something were to happen to Tanjiro at the Final Selection, I don't think Urokodaki-sashou would ever recover."
Makomo's eyes clouded with worry. "Horitake... do you also wish for him not to go?"
"No, no..." Horitake shook his head firmly. "I want him to go. Joining the Demon Slayer Corps is Tanjiro's destiny. It's the path he must walk. If he doesn't join, he'll never find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human."
He pointed down at the two figures dancing with blades. "It looks like Sabito is doing a fine job guiding him. At this rate, Tanjiro will be able to cut that boulder soon enough. But... Makomo, I have a question for you."
Makomo tilted her head, her smile returning. "What is it? Ask away."
"This has been bothering me," Horitake said, looking genuinely perplexed. "You and Sabito are both spirits, right? I can see you because of my Spirit Vision—my eyes are specially tuned to see things normal people can't. But what about Tanjiro? How is he seeing you?"
He leaned in closer. "And not just seeing you—he's actually touching you. He's clashing swords with Sabito. How is that possible? Even I can't do that."
To prove his point, Horitake reached out and tried to poke Makomo's arm.
As expected, his finger passed right through her translucent form as if she were made of nothing but mist. He couldn't feel a thing.
Horitake slumped back, looking at his hand in disbelief. "See? I can't touch you at all. So why can he?"
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