Chapter 6: Conclusions, plans and doubts.
Endeavour was currently lying on a stretcher in the medical room of his agency, wrapped in several bandages and patches placed on different parts of his body to protect his wounds and stop the bleeding caused by the slash. Fortunately, the injuries weren't severe,not even the stab wound to his abdomen had damaged any internal organs. Still, the agency-assigned doctor informed him that a scar would remain in that area, especially since the surrounding tissue had been completely scorched and they had to cut away more for the muscles to regenerate properly.
Even so, he was required to rest for at least the remainder of the weekend, giving him an excuse to go over the report his assistant had handed him,the data collected from Kamado's tests,as well as reflect on the events of their battle.
The contents detailed various data points about the red-haired young man's body, from trivial things like weight and height to more specific measurements such as core temperature and ambient conditions during his Quirk use in combat and the hero had to admit, the numbers were impressive.
Hinokami Kagura was exactly what he'd expected: an emitter-type Quirk far more powerful than Hellfire, capable of overwhelming anything that stood in its path with the sheer intensity of its crimson flames. One only had to recall how effortlessly it had neutralized Endeavour's own attacks, as if they were nothing more than a refreshing breeze. Kamado also seemed to have excellent control over his Quirk's heat output. Before unleashing his full power, he had used a reddish flame almost as strong as Endeavour's own, perhaps as a safer way to engage. Or maybe, he still hadn't mastered the entirety of his power. That could explain why he used a weapon instead of simply producing flames directly from his body.
Then there were his physical abilities. As Burnin had mentioned before, his body temperature was high during the exercises, but even at rest, it didn't drop significantly, and neither did his heart rate. A resting pulse of 140 beats per minute was extremely unusual, but it made some sense if "Reinforcement" Kamado's second Quirk allowed him to prolong an optimal physical state. It was like shifting gears in an engine; going from fourth to fifth is much smoother than jumping from first to fifth, saving fuel or in this case, conserving energy. The most impressive part about Reinforcement was that it didn't just enhance his speed,his surprising strength could also be sustained over long periods, along with agility and mental , instead of suffering from the heat his body built up, he seemed to use it to amplify Hinokami Kagura.
It was a combination of Quirks that, at first glance, had nothing to do with each other, yet together they formed a powerful synergy,turning the weakness of one into the strength of the other. If Tanjirou Kamado was the result of a Quirk marriage, then the outcome was nothing short of extraordinary.
And the cherry on top was undoubtedly his combat skill. He had not only demonstrated the ability to slice through numerous tiny objects with his katana, but could also cut through highly durable materials, even managing to leave a superficial gash on Endeavour's steel bracers.
Endeavour might not be an expert in traditional weapons, but he knew enough to understand that wielding a katana effectively required immense skill. In inexperienced hands, the blade would dull or break easily, but in the hands of a veteran, it could cut through nearly anything, even materials tougher than the steel the weapon was forged from.
But the skill gained through training only helped up to a point. It wasn't the same to have time and space to slash at a stationary target as it was to do so against something in motion. Without a doubt, Tanjirou Kamado had proven he could wield a katana in live combat without damaging it.
It wasn't just the experience he showed with bladed weapons, but also his ability to adapt to different situations and even turn problems into advantages, like when he dodged Jet Burn and used Endeavour's own flames against him, or when he used the impact from Hell Spider to propel himself into the air.
The fact that he had a set of ultimate moves made it even clearer. He was someone who knew exactly how to use his abilities and Quirks in all kinds of high-risk scenarios.
There was no doubt. This kid didn't just know how to fight,he had real combat experience. Not just from weeks or months, but years. And not against thugs or street gangs. No, he had the kind of experience one could only gain from fighting dangerous villains,the kind that would be locked up in the deepest levels of Tartarus.
Everything about him gave it away. The numerous scars across his body, far too severe to have come from simple training. The sudden shift in his stance when Endeavour caught him off guard,an instinctive, almost natural reaction, as if he was constantly expecting an ambush. The precise movements he used to dodge or block attacks at just the right moment, combined with his calm demeanor, showed he was someone used to these kinds of situations and knew how to survive them.
Endeavour could still remember that cold yet intense stare the boy gave him when he caught him off guard. At the hospital, it reminded him of the worst villains he'd ever faced. But now that he'd seen him again, he could say it was worse. In a killer, he usually saw uncontrolled madness or sadistic pleasure, but his crimson eyes showed patience and control combined with flickers of anger and sadness, showing that he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate his target, but at the same time, he wouldn't let those emotions cloud his judgment.
Which led to the next questions. Who trained him? What kind of missions had he taken before he was found? How many had he completed? Were there others like him? And most importantly, for what purpose? Someone like that would be an extremely valuable asset for criminal organizations like the Yakuza, or for mercenary groups working for powerful families.
Maybe he was the disciple of an assassin like Stain. Their fighting styles were certainly similar. But Stain hadn't been in Musutafu. His last known sighting was in Osaka just a few days ago, with a total of twenty heroes killed in the past month. That was too far, too fast, and too risky to lose a disciple like Kamado,if that were even the case.
No, that couldn't be it. The only option left was some kind of training program funded by an organization. But which one? When did this training begin? Kamado mentioned his family,and he did so with affection and nostalgia,so he couldn't have been kidnapped as a baby. But at the same time, he clearly lacked basic knowledge about modern life. He could've grown up in isolation, which would explain the absence of any academic record. But he didn't show any social difficulties when he met Fuyumi. Could there be more people like him in training? That would require further investigation. It would be a serious problem if they had to deal with assassins as skilled or even more dangerous than Kamado.
While Endeavour was pleased with the outcome and held high expectations for the boy, he still had many questions about his past, especially due to the lack of information. There were no living relatives, no names to trace any background, no mention of a guardian or orphanage. It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere.
"Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Muzan Kibutsuji" Those were the only names he had. Two of them were said to be delirious ramblings, according to the agency's doctor. And even if Endeavour wanted to look into them, without surnames or physical descriptions, he wouldn't get far. The third was the name of a villain Kamado claimed to be fighting. He'd have to investigate that one, because as far as he could remember, he hadn't faced anyone by that name.
The idea of asking Hawks to dig up information on Tanjirou Kamado briefly crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. He already owed Hawks a favor for looking into All Might over a small rumor about him taking on a successor. He didn't want to add more to that debt. Even though Hawks had repeatedly insisted he didn't owe him anything, Endeavour could never fully trust someone who works for the Hero Public Safety Commission.
Those people had too many rumors and secrets surrounding them for it to be safe to get involved. Besides, if they ever found out about Kamado, they wouldn't hesitate to sink their claws into him and take him away without giving him a chance to resist, using him for who knows what, before he could be eliminated by the Hero Commission itself or at least that's what conspiracy theorists say, with several cases of heroes going mad, turning into villains, or mysteriously disappearing. If he were still in his younger years, he wouldn't have hesitated to investigate those cases to the very end. But nowadays, that was impossible if he wanted to keep his family away from them.
The best course of action was clearly to give Tsukauchi only the bare minimum of information and do the rest of the digging himself anything he could find out about the swordsman. Perhaps Fuyumi or Shouto could casually ask Kamado about his past. The last thing he needed was for the boy to become paranoid, say nothing, or even try to run away.
Maybe the past couldn't be erased, and he deeply hoped that there wasn't a long history of murders behind Kamado's name, but he could still guide him down the right path. At the very least, he could say Kamado was a good person and could help mold him into a hero who would support Shouto in reaching his full potential to become the next Symbol of Peace and the greatest hero in Japan.
Or he could even take him in as his protégé and train him to achieve that goal. Kamado had all the potential to make it, and even if they didn't share blood, it would still count as a victory for him. The protégé of the former Number Two Hero, turned into the new Symbol of Peace. If that happened, Endeavour wouldn't mind seeing him marry his daughter and give him incredibly powerful grandchildren,strong kids born from the combined Quirks of Tanjirou and Fuyumi. Her fire, though too weak to be useful as a Quirk on its own, would definitely boost the chance of their children inheriting the solar power of Hinokami Kagura, enhanced even further by the Frost ability she got from Rei. Plus, the two of them seemed to get along extremely well, despite having just met. Kamado would surely make her happy and protect her, and Fuyumi could help him stay on the right path and deal with the burdens of his past.
"I guess I'll have to talk to Nezu and see if, with a bit of luck, they'll accept a new student" The hero thought, already mapping out endless plans for Shouto and Kamado. He had a lot to do if he wanted to make sure his two aces could surpass All Might's chosen successors.
Throughout his years of service as a Demon Slayer, Tanjirou had faced countless dangers and situations that could have easily cost him his life. He had managed to overcome them thanks to the invaluable help and camaraderie of his friends, especially Zenitsu and Inosuke. He had witnessed horrors worthy of the worst nightmares, and after so many battles, he was convinced that nothing could intimidate him anymore. Especially after he lost the natural fear of death.
How wrong he was.
The redhead was now on his knees, forehead pressed to the floor, his body trembling slightly under the killing intent that Fuyumi was radiating. The white-haired woman sat on one of the living room sofas, a serious expression on her face, her eyes glaring steadily at the shaking figure of the Hanafuda-earring-wearing swordsman.
He had been, more or less, dragged into this situation by the woman the moment he and Shouto entered the Todoroki mansion. And when Kamado saw his companion's cheerful expression shift into one of absolute terror, he knew something bad was about to happen.
Unfortunately, his confusion cost him dearly when Fuyumi grabbed his hand and pulled him straight into the living room. By the time his nose picked up the sharp scent of anger, it was already too late. And even though he tried to call for help, Shouto had already bolted away so fast that Tanjirou could've sworn he used Thunder Breathing to escape.
He couldn't blame Todoroki,he would've done the exact same thing. He knew from personal experience how terrifying a woman's anger could be.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry!" the redhead pleaded. "I was training my Bre-Quirk, yeah, and accidentally the flames shot out! I didn't know I could do that, I was really surprised, and when I realized what was happening, I tried to put the fire out as quickly as I could. I'm really sorry! I promise I'll be more careful next time and fix the damage!"
Fuyumi stayed silent, staring at him for several seconds before sighing and shaking her head. "You don't have to worry about the damage. Luckily, it was just a couple of holes in the wall and they were fixed quickly."
The swordsman lifted his head slightly, relieved to hear the damage had been minimal. "That's good, I-"
"However," she interrupted, glaring at him again, "that doesn't mean you can use your Quirk freely. You could've started a fire!"
The Slayer immediately pressed his head back to the floor, still trembling slightly from the woman's intimidating aura. "I'm so sorry! I promise it won't happen again!"
Even though Fuyumi wanted to keep up her strict tone a bit longer, she couldn't help letting out a small laugh. She hadn't expected Tanjirou to be the kind of person who overdid apologies. "Get up already. I just wanted to ask you to be careful if you're going to train, not beg for your life."
Wasting no time, the swordsman stood up quickly, still embarrassed by all the trouble he had caused. "Yes, I'm sor- I mean, okay," he corrected himself quickly when he noticed her gray eyes narrowing again.
"Good. Now take off your shirt."
Tanjirou's mind went completely blank for a moment, struggling to process and deny what he had just clearly heard. "What?"
A small blush formed on Fuyumi's cheeks as she paused to consider what she had just said. She hadn't really thought it through because of how angry she'd been, and now she found herself in a rather awkward situation. "Shouto mentioned you suffered some burns, and they haven't been properly treated yet."
Tanjirou considered rejecting the idea for a moment due to how uncomfortable he felt, but he didn't want to come off as rude, especially since he was still a guest in their home. "Alright, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness."
Fuyumi initially looked away to give him some privacy and to reconsider her own request. She hadn't thought about how awkward this situation would look if her brothers walked in or how strange it felt for her as well. But her thoughts came to a halt when she caught a glimpse of a pale mark on Tanjirou's abdomen.
Looking directly, she gasped softly at the sheer number of lines, cuts, and scratch marks covering most of his body. Some of them looked like they had been unbearably painful, and she couldn't help but shudder slightly imagining how he got them. "How did you get all those scars?!"she asked, horrified.
The question made him tense up a little. He had expected a reaction like that, but his mind still froze whe she asked about them. He had to take a few seconds to calm himself down before he could answer, which only made Fuyumi more worried. "I'd rather not talk about it, please," Tanjirou replied quietly.
She simply nodded. It was clear it must have been a traumatic experience, and guilt quickly followed for speaking without thinking again. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
The redhead tried to give a reassuring smile to show he was fine, but it came out more as a strained expression, which didn't help ease Fuyumi's concern. "Don't worry. I understand your concern, but I'm okay."
She chose to stay silent and began examining the reddish marks on Tanjirou's body. Luckily, the burns were superficial,just a couple on his left shoulder, one on his right arm, and another on his abdomen,but it was best to make sure they wouldn't leave any lasting damage, especially considering the already worn state of some parts of his skin.
Even so, the sight of his scars wasn't grotesque or disturbing at all. In fact, they gave him an imposing and intimidating presence. Combined with his strong, toned body, which she could now see more clearly, it sparked a desire in her to run her fingers over each of his muscles. Fuyumi could confidently say that all of it made him look incredibly attractive and mature, if not downright sexy.
That last thought triggered a deep blush across her face. She bit her lower lip in a vague attempt to calm her excitement. She wasn't used to being around men, and the view in front of her, paired with the idea of rubbing lotion over his body, only made her feel more nervous, to the point where she could barely move.
Tanjirou was in a similar situation, but for entirely different reasons. At first, it felt awkward to undress in front of someone he barely knew, especially since he was aware of how eye-catching his body might be to someone outside the Demon Slayer Corps. Still, he had trusted that Fuyumi would treat his injuries with professionalism. Big mistake,he could now sense her nervousness and lust through his nose, the light sweat, the quickened breaths, and her fast heartbeat. All signs that made the redhead extra cautious and tense. He would never allow any woman to touch his body with those intentions.
"AIN'T NO WAY!"
The shout snapped both of them out of their thoughts. At the entrance stood Natsuo and Shouto, eyes wide open, their faces frozen in utter confusion as they tried to process what they were seeing.
Fuyumi's blush deepened to the point where it looked like steam could come out of her ears from how hot she felt. If she had a fire Quirk, her body would've been completely ablaze. "G-guys! This isn't what it—"
Her protests were useless. Shouto, followed by Natsuo, quickly shut the door and bolted from the room, clearly trying to erase what they had just witnessed from their memories.
"Just keep it down in there!" warned the youngest Todoroki.
"SHOUTOOO!"
"Sorry, Yumi! I came to apologize to Kamado about what happened during dinner, but I see you're already apologizing for me in your own way, so we won't interrupt. Just don't go giving us nephews too soon."
"NATSUOOO!"
Fuyumi couldn't take it anymore and rushed out of the room. Part of her wanted to get away from Tanjirou out of pure embarrassment over what had just happened and what her brothers had said. But another part of her wanted to catch up to them and freeze them to the bone for their teasing. She was sure Natsuo had gone out of his way to embarrass her as much as possible. She wasn't about to let either of them get away with it.
Tanjirou finally let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in a loud sigh, grateful to be alone at last. He silently thanked the Kami or whatever deity had helped him escape that situation and was now ready to treat his wounds himself.
A bell chimed, catching the redhead's attention. He turned to see the clock on the wall showing 8 p.m., but it wasn't the time that drew his interest. It was the calendar below it.
-March 10-
Tanjirou was confused. He was sure it was January 23. His crow had told him that just last week when he asked about Giyuu's birthday, and if he'd calculated the time correctly, it should have been around February 2 or 3.
Maybe Matsuemon got the date wrong. After all, he was still a crow, and time was a concept that Tanjirou barely grasped himself. He only had a basic idea of the seasons to help with farming back in his village. Once he became a Demon Slayer, time had stopped mattering,except for rare occasions. Why would it, when every day he lived with the uncertainty of whether he'd see the next? Even with his strong desire to live and cure his sister, he couldn't promise he'd make it. It was a lesson he'd learned the hardest way during the Mugen Train mission.
A loud crash pulled the Hanafuda-earring-wearing swordsman out of his thoughts, followed by groans, screams of pain, and… ice breaking? Tanjirou had no idea what was going on, and he didn't want to know. He just had a strong feeling that Fuyumi wasn't being very gentle with Natsuo and Shouto.
He just hoped she wasn't as cruel as his butterfly.
Tanjirou stood up from the ground with great difficulty, a clear expression of pain and suffering on his face from the impact he had taken to his back when he crashed onto the rocky courtyard floor. As a result, his bare skin now burned intensely and had turned a reddish color from the small fragments of stone embedded in his body.
He had another nightmare during the night. This time, the death of Genya haunted his sleep. They had been ambushed by a horde of demons, and while at first they were able to handle the situation well, things quickly got worse when Akaza appeared. Tanjirou was forced to fight him, leaving his friend exposed to the attacking demons. One by one, they devoured him while Kamado could do nothing but watch helplessly as Genya's life was slowly torn away, unable to reach him because Akaza wouldn't let him through.
Another nightmare born of guilt and imagination, just like the one from the previous night about Muichiro's supposed death. But none of that made the overwhelming sorrow feel any less real.
And in the end, it all played out nearly the same as the day before,waking up with a muffled scream, the smell and sensation of blood clouding his senses, and a panic attack that left him barely able to breathe or move until he managed to regain his composure. This time, however, the absence of the violet butterfly meant he had to punch himself hard in the chest to tense his muscles for a few seconds and regain control of his breathing. A crude method, but better than suffocating. If these nightmares were going to become routine, he would need to find a way to calm his screams and convulsions or risk waking someone up. He already had too much attention on him to let the Todorokis find out about his mental struggles.
With no desire to go back to sleep, Tanjirou chose to use the time to improve his control over Sun Breathing. He repeated the first three forms again until he collapsed onto the ground, lungs about to burst, body completely stiff, and his temperature dangerously high. He was almost certain he had the early signs of a fever. Still, he wanted to push further and uncover more differences between the family dance and the original Breathing style. After a short rest, he decided to try out more forms to experience for himself the sensations passed down by the first user of Sun Breathing,starting with Fake Rainbow, and ending with a painful crash into the ground.
Even though he had an image in his mind of Yoriichi using the technique, performing and controlling it was much harder than he expected. Unlike the Fake Rainbow in Hinokami Kagura, where rotating the Nichirin and the reddish flames across the blade created dazzling colors to mesmerize opponents and induce hallucinations, the Sun Breathing version surrounded his entire body with multicolored fire. It made him vanish into the flames, which could drift through the air. Yoriichi himself once used this form to lift off and reach higher places in the mountains, reappearing only when the effect ended and his body rematerialized at the intended location.
After that strange yet fascinating experience, Tanjirou reconsidered the direction of his training. For now, it was better to stick with the simpler forms for extended periods,just like he had trained with Hinokami Kagura before trying the more complex techniques like Raging Sun, Fake Rainbow, or Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance.
Satisfied with today's training, Tanjirou sheathed his Nichirin and headed inside the mansion to prepare breakfast. Even though it was still too early for Fuyumi to be awake, he preferred to do it alone this time, both to make up for the chaos he had caused earlier and to reflect on today's discovery.
Sun Breathing was far more different from Hinokami Kagura than he had imagined, even if the movements were nearly identical. He would have to write this down in his family's book once he returned, and also in the Breathing journal.
"Sorry, could you repeat that?"
"I want to fight you again," Shouto replied seriously, watching the swordsman as he cleaned his katana.
Tanjirou hadn't expected that kind of request, especially not today. Not with the injuries Todoroki still had, and the mysterious negative opinion the dual-haired boy seemed to have of him. Besides, he had already planned to start writing down everything he knew about Sun Breathing to include it in his journal.
"No," he answered plainly as he returned to polishing his Nichirin blade.
"But-"
"Todoroki, your chest still hurts, right?" the redhead cut in without looking away from his weapon. The silence that followed was awkward enough to be confirmation. "I'll take that as a yes. You need to recover properly first. Then I can help you train if you want, but right now isn't the right time."
Shouto wasn't about to give up that easily. Even if Tanjirou had a point, he didn't want to feel the humiliation of yesterday ever again. To avoid that, he needed not only physical training, but to learn Kamado's movements and improve his own combat style. Without warning, he grabbed the katana and yanked it out of the swordsman's hands before sprinting away with it, hoping to provoke a reaction. Tanjirou just looked at him with mild amusement and a hint of nostalgia at the obvious tactic.
"Guess you're not the type to take no for an answer so easily," the redhead thought before vanishing from the spot.
Shouto ran as fast as he could through the mansion's long hallways and rooms, constantly glancing to the sides in case someone was following him or any sign that Tanjirou was nearby. When he opened the door to the room he had in mind, a hand suddenly yanked him inside and shoved him hard to the ground. He felt a slight pressure on his upper back that kept him from moving, and both his wrists were pinned tightly, making him drop the katana.
"You make too much noise when you move, and you rely only on your sight to detect danger when you have other senses."
"How did you find me?" Shouto asked in disbelief. He was completely sure no one had followed him. Besides, how did Tanjirou even know he'd go to the gym?
The redhead simply pointed to his nose, confusing him further. "My sense of smell picked up your direction, and I just assumed you were heading here." Carefully, Tanjirou moved off his back and picked up his Nichirin, though his attention shifted as his crimson eyes scanned the spacious room, full of machines similar to those at the agency. "I didn't know there was a training room here."
Shouto stood up slowly, still a little sore from being tackled. "It's the old man's personal gym, but we can use it whenever we want."
"That's good" Tanjirou murmured, slightly distracted as he looked around at the strange machines, the weights, bags, and swords. A small smile formed on his lips when he noticed a little backpack with the number 30 written on it, reminding him of the box he used to carry Nezuko.
"What are you doing?" Shouto asked, confused as he saw the redhead strapping a weighted bag to his back.
"You wanted to train, right? Then let's go. If you hit me even once, you win," Tanjirou said with a confident smile, getting into a combat stance.
The challenge irritated Shouto a little, so he quickly summoned a dozen ice spikes and launched them, only to see Tanjirou dodge with a single leap, to his great surprise.
Tanjirou used that moment of distraction to sweep Shouto's legs, sending him crashing to the floor. "In a fight, you have to stay focused at all times. A single moment of distraction could get you killed."
Shouto quickly got back up and began freezing the floor to try to throw his opponent off balance while launching more ice spikes. But the Slayer slid effortlessly over the slick surface, using jumps and acrobatics, grabbing pieces of ice lodged in the walls and hurling them back, forcing Shouto to move with great difficulty across the slippery floor.
"If you're going to use your surroundings, make sure you know how to defend yourself when someone turns them against you"Total Concentration! Hinokami Kagura: Third Form, Clear Blue Sky." With the help of his reddish flame, Tanjirou launched a pair of fiery slashes at the frozen surface, melting all the ice to move more freely.
Todoroki tried to refocus the ice in his hand to fire off a blast, but his attack was cut short when something hit one of his legs, throwing him off balance and making him fall again. As he tried to get back up, he felt a sting on his forehead. Looking up, he saw Kamado with his katana just inches from his face.
"You ignored your senses again. You only focus on one specific point and ignore everything else around you." The swordsman pointed at the ground and the many ice spikes embedded in it.
"I see…" Shouto tried to seize the moment to concentrate ice on his leg and create several sharp pillars behind Tanjirou, but the redhead dodged with a leap before even one could form, much to Shouto's frustration and Tanjirou's amusement.
It was clear Kamado wasn't bluffing with the advice he gave. Shouto would have to work hard if he wanted to win.
Shouto was lying on the floor, breathing heavily from the intense physical effort and shivering from the cold caused by the overuse of his ice side. He had spent hours trying to land a single hit on Kamado, but every one of his attacks had been dodged with such ease that it made him both angry and frustrated. At some points, he'd even resorted to using his fire to avoid freezing himself and to try and catch his opponent off guard—something that didn't work at all.
The worst part was that just when he was about to give up, Tanjirou switched from dodging to attacking, poking him all over with his katana or chunks of ice he had collected and thrown. Shouto had been forced to keep dodging until his body finally gave out and he collapsed, nearly unconscious. Thankfully, the redhead seemed to take pity on him and let him rest, using the reddish flame generated on his katana to help thaw out the frozen half of his body.
What bothered Shouto the most was the sheer difference in skill. Kamado barely looked tired, while he was completely exhausted—and he hadn't even used Hinokami Kagura once. Now, though, Shouto understood why. It wasn't just about power, but also his fighting style and how easily he adapted to any situation.
"I didn't know your… ability could hurt you too," he said confusedly, remembering the Blood Demon Arts. He was pretty sure he'd never seen that happen to a demon before.
"It wouldn't hurt me if I used my fire side," Shouto muttered, clearly irritated by the fact that his own weakness came from his father and for having broken his promise not to use his flames.
"I could tell when you threw that burst of fire. I'm not sure Endeavour-san would be happy to see his machines scorched," Tanjirou commented, slightly worried, keeping his flames active through Total Concentration.
"My Quirk is called Half-Hot, Half-Cold. It's an improved version of the old man's fire combined with my mother's ice. If the fire starts overheating, the ice balances the temperature, and vice versa."
"Then why don't you use your fire to warm yourself up? It'd be faster than this," the redhead suggested, giving his katana a small swing.
Shouto just closed his eyes and took a moment to calm down. He hated when people asked about that. "I don't want to use the old man's power."
"Why not?" asked the Hashira, clearly puzzled by his refusal and by the sour scent of bitterness coming from the dual-haired boy.
"He didn't tell you?" Shouto replied bitterly. Tanjirou shook his head. "I see. Have you ever heard of Quirk marriages?"
"No," Tanjirou answered, trying to imagine what that might mean.
"They became a problem in the first few generations after superpowers became widespread. People would choose partners solely to enhance the Quirks passed on to their children, forcing marriages just for that purpose and treating Quirks like property."
"Sounds a lot like the arranged marriages of noble families," Tanjirou murmured thoughtfully, and Shouto nodded in agreement.
"My father, being a hero, had enough influence and money to marry into my mother's family, whose members have ice-based Quirks. He managed to marry someone from that family even though they weren't in love at all."
"I don't get it," Tanjirou said uncertainly. "Why would he do that if you say Endeavour-san was already someone well-known?"
Shouto paused again to take a deep breath and calm the growing anger he felt, something that clearly worried his companion. "He doesn't want fame. He wants to prove he's the strongest by becoming the number one hero. But he'll never achieve that because he's not as powerful as All Might,the Symbol of Peace."
"Oh…" was all Tanjirou managed to say as he tried to hide the confusion on his face. He had no idea who this All Might was or what it meant to be the Symbol of Peace. But judging by the fact that he was number one, he guessed he had to be someone stronger than Endeavour. How much stronger? That was the real question on his mind.
Shouto took a moment to breathe, trying to calm the anger building from the frustration of training, combined with the familiar fury he felt toward his father whenever he thought about his childhood"So he chose a woman with a Quirk opposite to his own, just to have a child with a perfectly balanced combination that could surpass All Might. Of course, that wasn't going to happen on the first try. My siblings didn't meet his expectations and were completely ignored, as if they had no worth at all," Shouto explained without hiding the resentment in his voice. "One of them even died because of him"he added silently in his mind.
Tanjirou didn't know what to say or think. From the start, he had noticed the absence of a maternal figure in the mansion and had assumed it was something similar to his own situation with his father,but he never expected something like this. Was this what arranged marriages among nobles and the wealthy were like?
"That must have been a really difficult situation for all of you."
"Since I was what he wanted most,his masterpiece. He forced me to train until I collapsed, to reach my full potential and surpass him once I became a pro hero…"
"But…" Tanjirou added gently, encouraging him to continue.
Shouto took a few more deep breaths, but his frustration only grew, fueled by years of pent-up resentment that was starting to surface, intensified by the helplessness he had just felt after being so easily outmatched. His fists clenched tightly and began to tremble. Tanjirou, worried, was about to speak when Shouto finally continued.
"But I wasn't the only one who suffered. My mother had it even worse," he said as he pointed to the burn over one of his eyes,shocking the swordsman. "She's the one who did this to me. She was so traumatized by the old man's abuse that she couldn't look at the right side of my face without thinking of him. One day, she panicked and threw boiling water at me, screaming how horrible my right side looked. After that, she was institutionalized, and I haven't seen her since I was eight years old. That's why I want to reject everything connected to Endeavour, including his Quirk. I'm not going to let that bastard win after all the damage he's done. I'll become the Number One without relying on him. This is my total disavowal of him!"he paused for a second, then slammed his fist into the ground"Or… that would've been my plan, until you showed up and defeated me so easily that...no! I won't let him win! I'm not going to be his damn puppet! But how am I supposed to prove I don't need him if I keep getting outclassed like this? Damn it! This is so frustrating! I hate him! I hate that bastard and everything tied to him!"
Tanjirou stepped away for a moment, grabbed a nearby towel, and handed it to Shouto, who was now trying, and failing, to hold back the tears streaming down his cheeks. Now he understood the reason behind the boy's hostility. It wasn't personal. It was the weight of an almost impossible burden, mixed with the sadness of a broken family. Tanjirou knew that feeling better than anyone. Even now, he was still haunted by the same helplessness, despite having become one of the top swordsmen in the Corps.
If he managed to become a Hashira, it was because he used everything he had to fight the demons,from his swordsmanship training to the sacred family dance that turned out to be Sun Breathing. A single moment of hesitation could decide someone's life or death, and if Shouto truly wanted to help others, he had to understand that using everything he had wasn't weakness,it was strength. The question was, how to help him realize that without making him defensive?The answer came faster than he expected. It was empathy.
Shouto looked up as Tanjirou handed him the towel. At first, he was confused by the gesture, but then he felt a cold sensation on his cheeks and realized he had been crying. Embarrassed, he took the towel and began wiping his face. The redhead simply sat down beside him without a word. He didn't seem to care about the outburst at all. On the contrary, he waited calmly and silently for Shouto to recover and he appreciated that more than he could express.
"I… I'm sorry for earlier, and for being so cold with you. I let the pressure from the old man get to me, and as much as I hate to admit it, he's kind of right when he says you're really good at this hero stuff," the dual-haired boy muttered, lowering his gaze.
The Hashira remained silent for a few more seconds, watching the peaceful view of the garden before finally speaking"You know, your story reminds me of someone I once knew."
Shouto quickly lifted his head. The fury he felt was replaced by deep curiosity and confusion. He had expected some cliché speech about how he should embrace the potential of his Quirk. Instead, all he saw in Tanjirou's crimson eyes was nostalgia. "What?"
The redhead's gaze seemed distant, lost in memories of the people who had been important in his life and in his training to defeat Muzan. He wanted to talk about them, all of them, but didn't want to expose too much of his past. So, he took a moment to carefully decide what to say.
"One of the people who taught me came from a ninja clan," the swordsman finally said after debating with himself. "I don't know all the details. He was trained by his father from childhood, along with his brothers, to become powerful assassins and lead the clan. Some didn't survive the brutal training. Others ended up killing each other in blind combat."
Shouto was shocked, to say the least. His father might be an idiot, but at least he had never done something so insane. "Your mentor killed his own family?"
Tanjirou nodded sadly, remembering the sorrow the Sound Hashira had felt when they shared stories about their families and how he could never forgive himself for what had happened. "He never knew it was them until it was too late. He blamed himself so deeply that, at first, he wanted to wipe out his entire clan and then commit seppuku as a form of repentance. But he couldn't bring himself to kill his last remaining brother. Even if that brother shared the same beliefs and ideals as the clan, he was still family. He didn't carry enough hatred to end his life. So, he chose to abandon the clan and reject their twisted ideals in order to create a legacy of his own."
"And then what happened?" asked Shouto, genuinely intrigued.
"Despite all the abuse he suffered and the regret he felt for his actions, he decided to use everything he had learned to protect and save innocent lives, even if it meant sacrificing his own. He wanted to redeem himself by helping others and inspiring other swordsmen to become noble protectors. And in the end, he became a respected and beloved person."
"He must've been a great man," Shouto murmured, clearly moved.
Tanjirou nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, he's the flashiest and most extravagant person I've ever met. I'll always be proud to say I had the honor of learning from him." He smiled more fully as he remembered the Sound Hashira's enthusiasm and spirit. "What I'm trying to say is that no matter where your power comes from, you're the only one responsible for what it will mean to others, and how you choose to use it. After all, it's yours now, and it will be until your last day. When you give it a meaning that feels right and fulfilling to you, that'll be the day you can become the man you want to be."
Shouto's mind went completely blank for a moment after hearing Tanjirou's last sentence. He didn't know why, but there was something familiar about those words, and his mind was doing everything it could to remember what had been forgotten. It took a few moments, but when he finally made the connection, the image of his mother appeared in his thoughts,gently stroking his hair with the affection he had missed so much, while they watched one of All Might's many rescue missions together.
"You aren't a slave to your Blood. It's okay, Shouto. You can become the man you want to be"
Seeing the distant look in the dual-haired boy's eyes and with nothing more to add, the redhead stood up and began heading to his room. He had learned some interesting things today,like the Symbol of Peace, Quirk marriages, and more. He needed to do some research to better understand this place and determine whether it could pose a threat to humans.
"Wait!" Shouto called out. "Why are you helping the old man?! Is it because of the murder investigation?!"
Tanjirou was slightly surprised to hear him mention the case he was involved in. He hadn't expected Endeavour to share that, so he couldn't help letting out a small sigh at the troublesome situation. "Partly, yes. But really, I just want to be free so I can go home."
Before Shouto could say anything else, Tanjirou disappeared, leaving him both surprised and thoughtful. He had learned a lot today thanks to Kamado's advice, and now he understood more about his motivations for helping him and even his father with their training. Still, it raised more questions about the swordsman's past and the reasons behind his intense training and unmatched strength.
"Go home…" He really would've liked to know what that meant. But he hadn't had time to ask. Judging by the sad look Tanjirou had when he left, it seemed like it was a place that brought both happiness and pain. Combined with the scars he had seen, it made Shouto wonder what kind of life the swordsman had lived.
Shouto looked at his left hand, reflecting on the story he had just heard. He couldn't help but feel admiration and respect for the man who had trained Tanjirou. Instead of being consumed by anger, guilt, and hatred,like Shouto himself had done for most of his life, his mentor had given those abilities a new purpose. It was no longer the skillset of his clan, but something unique and personal. Could he do the same with his flames? Honestly, he wasn't really sure.
He would've really liked to know the man's name. But at the very least, the story had given him a lot to think about regarding this new perspective on Half-Hot.
"Are you okay, Shouto?"
"Huh?" he asked, slightly dazed as he snapped out of his thoughts, only to notice the concern in his sister's turquoise eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said distractedly. He had spent too much time thinking about what Kamado had said about turning bad things and experiences into something good to help others. When he realized it, it was already past midnight, and he was now suffering from mild drowsiness.
"Well, you don't look fine. Honestly, you look like crap" Natsuo commented while eating some pancakes, although he nearly choked when Fuyumi shot him a sharp glare.
"Is it about what we talked about yesterday?" Tanjirou asked, receiving a nod from the dual-haired boy, which didn't surprise him much. "Take your time. I had my doubts too when I started training with a Nichirin."
"What's a Nichirin?" Natsuo asked, clearly intrigued.
The swordsman choked on the juice he was drinking, much to Fuyumi's alarm and dismay. He silently cursed himself again for getting carried away and saying things without thinking. "I-it's the name of my katana!"
Natsuo's eyes lit up with excitement, now seeing the weapon resting beside the swordsman in a whole new light. "Your katana has a name? That's so cool! You sound like one of those samurai from the Sengoku era!"
Fuyumi just smiled slightly, amused by this new topic of interest, though her priorities were elsewhere. "That's not important. What exactly did you and Shouto talk about yesterday?"
"Just some training tips from yesterday at the gym," he replied simply.
"So it was my dear brother who froze and damaged part of the gym floor and walls?"
Shouto quickly looked to his brother and Tanjirou for help, but both of them seemed conveniently focused on something on Natsuo's phone, clearly trying to avoid Fuyumi's wrath. He had to think of a way to change the subject fast. "Today I have my first class with All Might."
That caught Natsuo's attention instantly. He turned to his younger brother with excitement, eager to hear more. "You've gotta be kidding! With the number one hero?!"
"Don't change the subject, Sho-"
"Who cares about the old guy's gym?" Natsuo cut in. Fuyumi glared at him again, but this time, the white-haired man was so hyped he completely ignored any attempt at intimidation. "Tell us, how do you know he's going to be in your class?"
Shouto couldn't help but smile slightly at the success of his plan, especially when he heard Fuyumi's frustrated sigh. "Aizawa-sensei told us last week."
"It's not that surprising, considering it's his first year as a teacher at UA," Fuyumi added, letting go of her frustration about the gym incident, at least for now. "What's strange is that you're only now having a class with All Might. Wasn't he supposed to be in charge of hero training from the start?"
Shouto just shrugged" I don't know the reasons about that. I just heard that All Might was busy with the second- and third-year students. He wanted to make sure they were well-prepared, but starting today, he'll be teaching the first-years too."
Natsuo nodded approvingly, supporting the idea. "Makes sense. The other classes won't have the benefit of being trained for three years by the Symbol of Peace. Do you think you could ask him for an autograph for me?"
"I don't think that would be very respectful, considering how overwhelming the press is with heroes."
"Don't be such a buzzkill, Fuyumi. Besides, our dear brother loses nothing by trying."
The pleasant conversation was suddenly interrupted when the door opened to reveal Endeavour, wearing his usual serious expression. His turquoise eyes scanned the people at the table, each reacting differently: clear irritation and anger from Natsuo and Shouto, a nervous smile on Fuyumi's face as she sensed the shift in the atmosphere, and an analytical look in Tanjirou's crimson eyes. The boy remained silent, still lacking information about All Might.
"I'm heading to university," Natsuo said, standing up and walking out of the room without even glancing at his father.
"I have to go to UA too," added Shouto, following the same path as his older brother.
"D-Dad! I'm glad to see you back," Fuyumi exclaimed in an attempt to ease the heavy mood. "How are your injuries?"
"I'm fine. It was nothing serious. I just stayed to take care of some things at the agency," the hero replied.
The white-haired woman let out a small sigh of relief followed by a reassuring smile. "That's good to hear. I was really worried when I saw the photos Shouto showed me. By the way, sorry I didn't prepare anything for you. I was expecting you to arrive in the afternoon after work."
Endeavour shook his head. "Don't worry about me. You already cook enough for Shouto, Natsuo, and Kamado. I really appreciate it. I just came to pick up Kamado."
Tanjirou stopped eating when he heard his name, confused since he hadn't expected to be needed today, especially with Todoroki not going with them. "Me?"
The hero nodded in response. "Your performance in the tests was impressive, but I want to see how you operate in the field, so I want you to patrol with me today. Also, I want to introduce you to someone this afternoon to discuss a few things that could be very beneficial for you."
After that, the older redhead left, leaving them slightly curious about where they were headed. Tanjirou looked to Fuyumi for an answer, but she just shook her head. She had no idea who her father might be referring to.
In the end, he just accepted he'd have to wait, even if he didn't like the idea of more people finding out about him. He hoped that, at the very least, this would help in his case to gain his freedom as soon as possible.
A/N: FINALLY! I've had this chapter almost complete since last month, but because I've been very busy recently (and will be for at least 3 weeks, sorry for those waiting for an update for Dance of the Sun and the Moon), I haven't been able to finish it until now, which has been very frustrating for me because I just wanted to finish and update.
Now, this chapter was a bit more character development than plot advancement, but it's also a break between the "introduction" arc and the one coming up next, where there will be more battles, new characters, and more problems for our beloved Sun Hashira. So I decided to take the opportunity to explain more about Tanjirou's abilities.
With Sun Breathing, I'm taking some liberties because the true potential of this power has never been seen. Tanjirou only used a few techniques against Muzan without fully mastering it, and it's unknown how Yoriichi used it because... Yoriichi was a deity among mortals! But given that people firmly believed it was a spirit, it wouldn't be crazy to think that the Sun Breathing forms (not to be confused with Hinomaki Kagura) had supernatural effects. Furthermore, any of these effects will be based entirely on official information along with my own theories about the true power of Sun Breathing. I'm not going to add a power-up that doesn't make sense, like Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance creating a dragon that attacks constantly and independently, or Fake Rainbow being able to teleport long distances or use it for minutes on end. Besides, the power-ups and effects of the forms aren't something Tanjirou will be able to fully master for a long time.
One more thing I wanted to comment on was the future of this story. I'm changing the title for two reasons. The first is because I don't really like the title. I didn't think much of it at first and just added it for the sake of adding something. The second is because of the direction the plot is taking. At first, this was going to be a casual story, probably 50 or 60K words, but when I decided to rewrite the first few chapters and started watching all the seasons of MHA to get a better idea of the lore, along with some alternative stories popular in the fandom, several ideas started coming to me as I wrote the chapters. In the end, I decided to take this story much more seriously. I mean, I'm close to this story reaching 50K, AND WE JUST FINISHED THE INTRODUCTION, so I'll put the final title in the next chapter. If you don't want to miss it, I recommend saving this story or leaving a comment (my favorite option) for when I update.
Another thing, I've received messages about offers and commissions from artists, and I'm making it clear now: I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM. So please refrain from offering such services. If you wish to draw any scene from the story, it will be free of charge and of your own free will. Also, you must notify me first so I can give permission (something I will most likely give), but I don't intend to hire those services. It's the decision of whoever decides to draw.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter a lot. A small but interesting Easter Egg is the following: when Tanjirou immobilizes Shouto in the gym, he uses the same technique Obanai used against Tanjirou at the Hashira trial. A small reference that I tried to represent as best as possible.
-Discarded Idea:
As mentioned in the chapter, Tanjirou knew several people who, to a greater or lesser extent, had a similar situation to Shouto's. These were Uzui, Rengoku, and Tamayo, so any of the three could have been mentioned. However, I decided to use the Sound Hashira because I wanted to give some prominence to other characters, and Kyojuro is already mentioned constantly in the plot. With Tamayo, Tanjirou probably wouldn't talk about her because it would have been too risky to talk about a demon, and he still doesn't feel mentally ready to talk about the people who died in the Infinite Castle without bursting into tears.