Oh yeah! It's time for Izuku to learn total concentration! I was really happy to Introduce Rengoku is the last chapter. It's finally time to begin the demon slayer training! We're here bois! Man I'm excited to add on to the story here onward. I mean I'm enjoying writing this fanfiction overall but the part I'm sure all of you have been waiting for is here! Anyway enjoy the story. please read and review.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MHA OR DEMON SLAYER! THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATORS!

Chapter 11: Total Concentration

Izuku and Iroh sat by the bed waiting for Kyojuro to wake up. Iroh patted Izuku on the shoulder because he felt bad about knocking the man out. As they waited Iroh decided to tell the boy a story.

"Do you remember the stories of the fire bending master I told you about?"

Izuku nods his head. He honestly tried doing research on the subject but there isn't much information on the masters. He looks at Iroh with a thoughtful face.

"The masters are dragons from the spirit world. They taught the first fire users the dance so they could use fire as an extension of their bodies."

Iroh nods with a proud smile. He takes out a scroll from his robes. The scroll looks old, almost ancient. The paper has faded to a yellowish brown while the handles are black and look worn. He opens the scroll and place it on the ground for Izuku to see. There are sketches of a person performing some kind of martial art with fire coming from the hands and feet.

"My family has stories of venturing into the spirit world and learning from the masters. They were also taught the dragon fire dance. It has been passed down from generation to generation with each member adding their own style to it. The true dance has been lost to time."

Izuku listned whole heartedly to the story. It fascinated him how much Iroh know about the spirits and their own world. What struck him is that he himself felt the dance was off in some way. Now knowing that the dance wasn't it's purest form made him wonder if thats why it felt off.

"If the true form of the dance is lost to time then the style you taught me is like your family's own version. Does that mean there are other versions of the dance that aren't related to how you learned it?"

Iroh stroked his beard in thought. He honestly hadn't considered that. If his family was able to travel to the spirit world it stands to reason that maybe others have as well.

"It's possible that other forms do exist but I have not encountered them. The world back then was much different from our own. In some cases, I question if what history my family has told me about lines up with what your father mentioned in his letter to you."

Izuku nods slowly. He too questions if what his father's letter said is true or not. It doesn't make sense that in a way, most people have some kind of demon DNA in them. What changed to make everyone normal but still possess something close to a demon blood art? Before they could discuss things more, Kyojuro sat straight up while shouting;

"I'm starving!"

The loud statement made both Izuku and Iroh jump and look at the man. He rubbed his head before letting out a small sigh. Taking a moment go collect himself, he looked at Izuku with a wide grin. His eyes showed no anger nor resentment from the hit he received earlier. They showed genuine happiness.

"You did a mighty fine job in our spar lad. You even exceeded mu expectations. Iroh has definitely taught you well. Izuku looked at Iroh, who in turn shrugged at the boy but gave a thumbs up. The headbutt was not something that the old man taught him. In the moment that his hands and arms were restrained, it was like a flight or fight action.

Kyojuro got into a sitting position with his feet now on the ground. He leans forward so Izuku will listen. It's then that Izuku noticed something strange. To be fair, he noticed it when he first saw Kyojuro but didn't think much of it as all the other events happened. His breathing is completely different from his own or even Iroh's. Kyojuro sees the look in Izuku's eye and grins more.

"So you finally noticed it, huh? During our spar I showed you the basics of what total concentration breathing can do. It's no quirk that allowed me to move like that.".

The boy is yet again surprised. He almost couldn't believe that just by changing the way you breathe, one could have speed and reaction time to that of a person with the right quirk.

'If this is the power of total concentration, how come only the demon slayers know it? Why not teach it to others who would also be people who help their fellow man?'

Kyojuro can see the confusion on Izuku's face. To him, he loved demonstrating the technique rather than explaining it. But alas, it seems that Izuku is a text book and visual learner. He takes a breath and lets it out slowly before talking again.

"The total concentration breathing technique like you already know, allows normal people or even quirkes people to use their strength, speed, and thought process to the utmost limits. The process of the breathing allows a person to intake way more oxygen than normal and use it to speed up the blood flow and heart rate. This in turn will raise your inner body temperature but also cause more excitement in the bones and muscles."

Izuku pays close attention to every word. The sound of Kyojuro's breathing in a way proved to him that it makes one stronger. He can feel the power that the flame Hashira is emitting even in his semi relaxed state.

"If total concentration breathing is that good, how come not many other people know about it? If people were able to learn this technique then we would have more heroes wouldn't we?"

Kyojuro have a sad smile. He ruffles Izuku's hair playfully.

"Ah, the joys of the innocent mind. If other people knew about total concentration breathing I have not doubt there would be more heroes, but imagine the amount of criminals that would come out. There are already so many bad people after the awakening of quirks."

Izuku tried to think about a counter argument but after a moment he lowered his head. Kyojuro pats the boy's head again.

"That's why we have to train the individuals we deem worthy. Only the ones with the drive to do good can learn this technique. People like you lad."

Izuku's face loosens up after hearing that. He nods while looking up to his mentors. One he knew most of his life, the other that knew his father. The feeling of responsibility was great, but he has no idea where it's coming from. It's not just the feeling of being a hero anymore. Kyojuro stands up and stretches.

"It was nice meeting you but I must head out. If you want to learn total concentration then meet me at Takoba beach. There we can further your training. See you later Iroh, thank you again for the tea."

Izuku smiles a bit at the man. He bows to the Hashira with respect. Iroh looks at the two with teary eyes. In a small flash, the older man sees Zuko bowing to Kyojuro when he was not too much younger than Izuku. He quickly wipes his eyes and waves at Kyojuro.

"It was a pleasure to see you again Kyojuro. You are always welcome back here."

Izuku waves as the man leaves. The determination filling his heart made him feel restless. He looks at Iroh with a proud smile and picks up the training sword. Iroh watches as Izuku goes out to the training area. The older man looks at the wall where a photo of Iroh and Zuko stood close together. A small sigh leaves his mouth and he starts to put away the tea dishes.

Izuku went to the center of the training area gripping the sword. Each swing got easier and easier as he got used to the weight of the sword. Iroh came out of the cafe holding his own swords after some time of more swinging. He stood in front of Izuku holding one of the blades while sheathing the other.

"Alright Izuku, I think it's time I showed you the sword style I was taught.

-The Next Day-

Izuku woke up with a dull ache in his arms. He took a breath like how Iroh showed him and sat up. The sun is barely lighting up the sky which gave him little time to get ready to meet Kyojuro at the beach. He hops out of bed and changes into work out clothes that consist of black sweat pants, an All Might tank top, and a short sleeved blue hoodie. Before leaving the apartment, he leaves a note for his mother about his whereabouts. Luckily the beach isn't too far from where he lives so jogging there is no problem.

As he went down the sidewalks of the street he listens to the morning activities of others. Shop owners getting ready, people doing morning chores, the sound of nature itslef. The jog was nothing compared to the training that Iroh and Mr. Lee put him through so he made it to the beach with out losing any breath. He hasn't been to the beach in a long time so it surprised him to see that there is lots of garbage littering the sand. He saw Kyojuro sitting on top of a fridge in a meditating position. He made his way over to the man and could hear the difference in his breathing again.

Kyojuro noticed Izuku's arrival and leaped off the fridge to greet him. Izuku being the kind kid he is, bowed at the man. Kyojuro smiled and ruffles his hair.

"It's nice to see you again lad. I knew you wouldn't let me down."

He nodded at the older man. Looking around the beach, Izuku is saddened to see the garbage littering the area. It looks like people have used the beach for their own dumping grounds. He looks back at Kyojuro with a questioning glance. Kyojuro notices and explains.

"This here was a beautiful beach once. Many people have enjoyed their time here but since the garbage has piled up due to those who are too lazy to dump it themselves, it has been deserted. Here I will teach you total concentration breathing."

Izuku nodded in anticipation. He has been excited to learn the technique ever since Iroh told him about it. He takes off his sleevless hoodie and places it on a railing close to the stairs.

"What are we gonna be doing for the training?"

He asked while stretching. The question made Kyojuro smiles even more. He pointed at the garbage with enthusiasm.

"You are going to be cleaning up all this garbage!"

The boy nearly fell over at what he had said. He took another look at the beach and sweat dropped. There are all kinds of things that looked impossible for someone without a strength quirk to move. To top it all off, there is an abandoned vehicle that seemed to be a van that is partially burried in the sand.

"You want me to do this all by myself? But how am I supposed to move all of this junk? Most of it I can't even burn to make it smaller."

Kyojuro raised an eyebrow at what Izuku said. He walked over to a fridge larger that he is. He takes a steady breath and Izuku can once again hear the difference from normal breathing. Using both hands, Kyojuro shoved the fridge and it went flying about ten feet before stopping. Izuku's eyes are wide at the display of strength. He had no idea that total concentration would make you that strong.

"You'd be surprised at what people can do once they master the breathing technique. Like Iroh and I have mentioned before, strength, speed, and even thinking process are enhanced by total concentration."

Izuku looks at the fridge then back at Kyojuro. He bows to the man again, ashamed of questioning his methods.

"I'm sorry for doubting the technique. I'll give my all to learn from you. Where should I start?"

Kyojuro nods at the boy with a grin. He points to a truck parked at the top of the railings to enter the beach. Izuku follows his finger with his gaze and back to the beach. The distance from the garbage and truck made him gulp loudly.

"First you will lift what you can and throw them into the back of that truck up there. I've spoken to Iroh and Mr. Lee and made a sort of schedule to get the beach cleaned up before the U.A entrance exams. We still have plenty of time but also there is lots of trash here."

The explanation made Izuku nervous but also determined to put in the work. His drive coming from wanting to make his mother proud and to protect those who couldn't defend themselves. With that in mind he begins the massive task of cleaning up the beach.

"Remember that total concentration gets better with expanding your lung capacity so that you can intake more oxygen. This training will work to strengthen your body, lungs, and spirit. We will also be working on controlling your breathing so that you aren't wasting any breath."

Kyojuro says while Izuku attempts to lift a broken metal table. While he did train with weights and such, lifting something like that is still difficult without leverage and stable footing. The table it partially burried just like most of the garbage in the beach which made lifting it harder for the boy. Once the table is out of the sand he saw that it was only missing one leg. The thought of someone throwing the table out and nkt trying to fix it annoyed him a bit as he and his mother have had to fix their own furniture plenty of times.

-A Few Hours Later-

The truck is filled with various smaller pieces of garbage. At first glance one could see the metal tabel, a wooden door, different kinds of scraped metal, and broken furniture. Kyojuro stood at the truck making sure to tie down the garbage so it doesn't fall out of the back. Once he finishes he goes back to the beach to see Izuku laying in the sand breathing heavily. Nodding to himself, he walks over to the downed boy.

"You did very good for your first day, lad. I didn't know if you would be able fo fill up the truck bed on your first day."

Izuku looks up at Kyojuro from the sand. His arms and legs are aching from the constant lifting and moving of different sized garbage. Not to mention his lungs feel like the first day he trained with Mr. Lee.

"Now we start the hard part of the training."

That one sentence made Izuku look up at Kyojuro with a face of bewilderment. His body is too exhausted to do anything more, even looking up at the man caused his neck to ache.

'He's worse than Iroh and Mr. Lee put together! At least they let me rest after a workout.'

He thought to himself as he tried to roll over to his arms.

"I know its hard but I'm going to need you to stand up. You're breathing is at the point where we can begin total concentration breathing."

Izuku struggled for a moment but managed to get up. His legs are shaking and his upper body is sagging low with his arms hanging. Kyojuro walked over to him and positioned his body into a stance that allows oxygen to be breathed more easily. The man took the same stance Infront of him.

"Focus on your breathing. Picture your lungs expanding with each breath you take. The oxygen you inhale while breathing normally only goes so far to relax you after stressing your body."

Taking shaky breaths at first, Izuku imagined the oxygen going in and out of his larger than normal lungs. The stance made it easier to breathe more as it did when he was on the ground. Kyojuro nodded at him.

"Now picture your muscles, bones, and blood vessles. See the blood moving inside of them. Feel your bones getting harder, your muscles getting stronger as you circulate the oxygen from your lungs into them."

To Izuku, it is easier said than done. His body is so tired that he feels like he'll fall at any moment. His breathing is too ragged for him to concentrate. He tries to 'see' the oxygen not just going to his lungs but his other organs and bones as well. Kyojuro gives him a moment to keep attempting it. With no sound the man walks towards Izuku and uses his hand to slap the boys stomach. Izuku let out a gasp of air as he fell to his knees wheezing.

"You are trying too hard to force your breathing. My apologies for hurting you, but this has to be done."

While on the ground, Izuku struggles to get his breathe back. He looks up at Kyojuro once again with a death glare. The man is unfazed and only gives him a warm caring smile. The sound of his breathing is still ragged and a bit choked up. Struggling to stand once again, He manages to get back into the stance. Kyojuro looks impressed as he didn't think the boy would get up that quickly.

"I...w-will...headbutt...you a-again!"

Izuku manages to choke out. He closes his eyes and pictures his lungs again. This time instead gulping down oxygen like water, he tries taking in deep slow breaths. He struggles at first to maintain a rhythmed breathing pattern only for him to get light headed and almost faint. After a moment of controlled breathing he goes back to gasping for air. Kyojuro claps his hands together happily.

"I'm very proud of you Izuku. Even if it was for less than a second, you were able to perform total concentration breathing on your first day. Not many demon slayers can say they have done such a feat. We'll end the training for today."

Kyoguro ruffles Izuku's hair while giving him a genuine smile. Izuku looked up at the man, teary eyed. They have known each other for less than a day and it feels like he has an older brother already. Taking in more breathes he falls back to the sand exhausted. Kyojuro looks at him surprised then starts to laugh loudly.

"Let's go get some food!"

And the total concentration training has begun! I kept rattling in my head how to do the training. I didn't want it to be the same at Tanjiro training in the moutains. Though I still made it so that he can clean the beach like in the canon story. What does everyone think about that? Hopefully it won't go downhill from here. I took a bit longer fo update this chapter due to trying to look for a second job. Anyway please read and comment what you guys think of the story so far. Peace out!