The wind whispered through the thick forest of trees as Hiruma stood, her striking figure small yet unwavering. Her fair skin glowed faintly in the dappled light filtering through the branches, while her shoulder-length indigo hair with its light purple tips framed the sides of her youthful face like delicate brushstrokes on a canvas, enhancing the fierce glint in her pink eyes.

Isamu Seta stood in front of Hiruma as he spoke, "Now before begin working on developing the forms of the breathing style you chose to create we begin with mastering your breathing."

"Master my breath?" Hiruma repeated, her voice tinged with curiosity and determination.

"Yes," Isamu affirmed. "Master your breathing first. This technique is known as Total Concentration Breathing. Without mastering this, no breathing style can reach its true potential. Today, I'll teach you how to channel this energy, and then we'll move on to learning the first form of Blue Lightning Breathing, Thunderclap Horizon. But your primary focus will be creating the forms for the Ink Breathing you've chosen."

Hiruma nodded.

"Start by taking a deep breath," Isamu instructed, pulling Hiruma back from her thoughts. "Ensure that the oxygen fills your lungs and travels through every cell of your body. This will stabilize your spirit and enhance your healing abilities. Once you are in control of your breath, you will be able to bring forth greater power."

Hiruma inhaled deeply, focusing on each breath. Her pink eyes fluttered shut as the air filled her lungs, expanding her chest and spreading warmth through her limbs. But before she could fully control the flow, a sharp blow to her stomach caught her off guard, and she stumbled back a step.

"No," Isamu's voice was cold but precise. "You failed to brace your core. You must keep your lower body stable."

Hiruma blinked away the sting in her stomach and straightened. The initial shock faded, leaving only the determination to improve. Resetting her posture, she braced her core tightly.

"Now do it again," Isamu demanded.

This time, Hiruma concentrated even harder. She inhaled, feeling the air deepen in her chest as her lower body locked into place, forming an immovable foundation. She held it for several seconds before slowly exhaling, keeping her focus intact.

"Good that is better, "Isamu said with a nod."Keep your breath controlled, deep, and steady. Concentration is the key. If you lose control, the energy becomes erratic."

The wind rustled gently through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and earth. Isamu stood nearby, his sharp gaze never leaving her. She continued, breathing in slow, steady cycles, feeling the energy grow stronger within her. Time seemed to stand still as Hiruma honed her control over her body and breath.

After some time, Isamu spoke again, his tone conveying approval."That's enough for now. Total Concentration is the foundation of every breathing style. You have to focus on the rhythm and flow of your breath as if it is one with you."

Hiruma opened her eyes, her chest heaving ever so slightly from the effort. Her hands shook with exertion, but her spirit burned brighter than before.

Isamu moved then, taking a step closer."Now, let's begin working on creating the forms of your ink-breathing." He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully."We'll start with creating a basic form. The first form will be called Ink Slash as if you are slashing Ink on paper. In this form, you will create a wide slash that creates an illusion of multiple figures to confuse the opponent. This will require precise control over your breath to create the illusion while delivering a strong, decisive blow. Visualize the ink spreading with each slash."

Hiruma nodded as she gripped the hilt of her sword, her pink eyes narrowing in determination. She inhaled deeply, centering herself. Stepping forward, she swung the blade in a broad arc, but the movement felt clumsy and uncoordinated. She stumbled slightly.

"Too rigid," Isamu remarked, stepping forward."You're forcing it. Ink flows naturally, doesn't it? Think of your blade as a brush and the air as your canvas, and more importantly your body moving as graceful as an artist. Try again."

Adjusting her grip, Hiruma imagined fluid strokes, the edge of her blade dripping with vibrant, black ink. She stepped into the swing again, channeling the motion through her breath. This time, the arc was smoother and more graceful. Though far from perfect, the movement began to capture the essence of the form.

Isamu's lip twitched a ghost of approval. "Better. Again."

They repeated the exercise endlessly, Hiruma refining each arc of her blade. The sun climbed higher, its light shimmering off her sweat-soaked kimono as her body grew weary. Despite the fatigue in her arms and legs, she pressed on.

Finally, as the day began to wane, Isamu raised a hand, signaling her to stop. "That's enough for today," he said, though his voice carried the weight of praise. "We'll continue with Ink Slash and develop the rest of the forms for Ink breathing another time. For now, we will switch to something else."

" Is it the Blue Lightning Breathing you mentioned?" Hiruma asked, her voice hoarse but eager.

"Yes," Isamu replied, moving to stand a few paces away. He adjusted his stance slightly. "The first form is Thunderclap Horizon. It's a high-speed, linear attack meant to overwhelm your enemy with both power and speed. It feels like lightning—a singular, devastating strike. Watch."

He exhaled, his body visibly shifting into Total Concentration Breathing. In an instant, he propelled himself forward, his wooden sword slicing the air in a blur of motion. A shockwave rippled outward from where he ended the strike, rustling the trees. He turned back to her.

"Did you see that?"

Hiruma nodded, awestruck. "Yes!"

Isamu gestured. "Then it's your turn."

Hiruma moved into position, gripping her practice blade. She braced herself and inhaled deeply, focusing on Total Concentration Breathing. She felt the energy build inside her like a coiled spring. Summoning all her strength, she lunged forward and swung the blade in a clean, linear arc.

The swing lacked the explosive power of Isamu's strike, but there was a spark—a glimpse of potential.

Isamu's stern eyes softened slightly. "Not bad for a first try. Your breathing needs to synchronize perfectly with your movement. Right now, your body is faster than your breath. They must move as one, or the form will never work."

Hiruma clenched her fists but nodded. "I'll try again."

The rest of the evening was spent drilling. Hiruma alternated between refining her Ink Slash form and mastering the basics of Thunderclap Horizon. She fell, stumbled, and faltered, but each failure was met with unwavering determination. Each attempt was stronger and more precise.

By the time the moon hung high in the sky, she collapsed onto the forest floor, utterly spent. Her hair clung to her face in damp strands, and her limbs trembled from exertion. Isamu approached her, kneeling slightly.

"You've made progress," he said. "But there's still much to do. Rest tonight. Tomorrow will bring new challenges."

Hiruma, though exhausted, smiled faintly. "I'll be ready."

Isamu rose, his silhouette tall and unyielding in the moonlight. "Good. Then I'll expect more from you as we continue your training."

As she lay on the forest floor, staring up at the star-strewn sky, Hiruma felt a flicker of pride. Each day was a step closer to her goal a step closer to becoming strong enough to protect others. No matter how harsh the training, her resolve would not waver.

Here is chapter four of The Ink Pillar and the beginning of the first arc of the story. In this chapter, Hiruma begins her journey to master Total Concentration Breathing and takes her first steps in developing her unique Ink Breathing forms, starting with Ink Slash. We also see her attempt the first form of Blue Lightning Breathing, Thunderclap Horizon, under Isamu's guidance. While she has shown promise, it's clear that there's still much room for growth. The next chapter will most likely be a time jump to the start of the final selection.

Thanks for reading!

Question of the chapter: Who is ready for the final selection to happen?

[Meiji period secrets]

-Hiruma came up with the rest of the forms for Ink Breathing on her own. Ismau only helped her come up with the first one to help her get an idea of how to create forms for her own style.

- Isamu had five students before Hiruma, but only two made it past the Final selection.

- Hiruma at one point was going to be shipped with Tanjiro Kamado, but that changed the more I grew to like Obanai Iguro as my favorite character from Demon Slayer.

Word count: 1192