Training and Contact
“The Demon Hunter organization includes several hundred members. They have been hunting demons tirelessly since their founding.
Demons. Humans are their main source of food, they kill and eat them. Nobody knows when or where they first appeared. They are physically very resilient and their wounds heal surprisingly quickly. Severed body parts grow back. Missing body parts grow back. Some have special abilities, for example they can change their shape. You can only kill them with sunlight or by decapitating them with a specially made katana.
The demon hunters face their enemies in direct combat. Because they are human, their wounds heal very slowly. Nevertheless, they confront the demons to protect humanity.”
===- Mount Sagiri -===- Giyuu POV -===
Giyuu and Sabito listen carefully to every word their sensei says. Although Sabito has probably heard it before.
“I am an instructor. I teach my students to fight with the sword. There are a few trainers like me. Everyone trains swordsmen in a different place and in their own way. To join the demon hunters you have to train hard and survive the final selection process on Mount Fujikasane. I will decide whether you can take part or not.” Urokodaki continued. “There are several breathing techniques. Flames, water, wind, rock and thunder. These are the five original breathing techniques. Other techniques have evolved from them over the years.”
The basic techniques are like the basic elements of the jutsus. That's practical, Giyuu muses as he thought about the five chakra elements.
“I use water breathing myself. It is the simplest, but should not be underestimated. Different breathing techniques, there are also different numbers of forms. Water breathing has 10 forms,” Urokodaki explains. “Not many can perfect their breathing. No matter how simple it is. The best hunters in the corps are called Hashira, they have perfected their breathing. I am the former water hashira. Since the beginning of the corps, there has always been a flame and a water hashira in the corps.”
Well, most of number 4 seems to be answered, Giyuu thinks with amusement.
“Giyuu” Urokodaki says, pulling Giyuu out of his thoughts. “Do you know how to hold a sword?” he asks.
I had a sword and fought with it, Giyuu reflects. But it is never the same sword technique, nor the same sword. I had a Kusanagi no Tsurugi. The sword I saw in the house was definitely a katana. "No Sensei, I haven't had a sword in my hand yet," he finally answered.
"Good. Then we start with how to hold a katana correctly,” says the former demon hunter.
========- Some time later -========
“96, 97, 98, 99, 100” Giyuu counts the practice strikes with the katana he was given. “999, 1000” Sabito, who has been training for a long time, do more practice shots.
“Good, now an extra 500 for both of you,” says the teacher from his seat as a spectator. Both students pout but don't argue.
This old man never told me how tiring it would be. Even if I had no choice, a warning would have been nice, Giyuu thinks annoyed.
==- little flashback / a few hours ago -==
“A katana can break easily. It's best to learn this right from the start. Long-wise it is stable, but vulnerable to side attacks.” explained Urokodaki.
“You always have to swing a katana in a straight line,” he continued and demonstrated. “The inclination of the katana and the direction in which you swing must be identical.”
“If even one of you breaks the katana. I’ll break your bones,” he threatened.
====- Back / Shortly before sunset -====
I'm hungry, Giyuu sulks in his mind. I had breakfast this morning and I've been training ever since.
As if on cue, his sensei says, “We’re ending training for today.” Giyuu’s eyes shine with joy. “I only have one more task for you.”
While Giyuu's eyes continued to shine, Sabito's face took on an exhausted look. A clear *Oh No* was written on his face.
"Run back to my hut at the foot of the mountain." Urokodaki says. "Come on time so you don't miss dinner." And Tomioka could practically see the grin beneath the mask.
It's foggy up here on the mountain and the air is thin, Giyuu thinks. That could be difficult.
He looks over at Sabito who meets his gaze. Giyuu's gaze shifts to his new sensei. Who. Is. Gone. Great. He looks back at the other boy with a first shocked and then annoyed expression on his face.
“Will he do this more often?” Giyuu asks him. “Get used to it,” Sabito replied, annoyed.
“Well then let’s go.” Sabito is already running forward while Giyuu nods at him and runs after him.
“You have to be careful.” His training partner warns him. “The old man has set traps all over here.”
“Understood.” They continue running until Giyuu runs over a string. A trap, Giyuu immediately notices. A tree stump flies towards him. Oh no, the person concerned remains rooted to the spot.
==- Back at the foot of the mountain -==
“I see the house,” Giyuu screams with joy. “Yes, we did it,” Sabito replies with joy.
=========- Urokodaki POV -=========
Urokodaki can already hear the laughter from outside. It's nice that they get along, Sakonji thinks.
Urokodaki is already sitting by the cauldron in which he is cooking salmon daikon. It's supposed to be a kind of welcome gift for his new student.
The wooden door opens and the two boys come in with bright smiles and covered in dirt and probably bruises.
“Welcome back,” greets Sakonji. "Dinner is ready."
The children beam at him and Urokodaki's heart melts. “What’s up?” Sabito asks with great anticipation. “Salmon Daikon.” And if Urokodaki thought the kids couldn't shine any brighter, he thinks so now.
==========- Giyuu POV -===========
Giyuu and Sabito get along surprisingly well. They became friends on the way down the mountain.
He reminds me a bit of Naruto, thinks Giyuu. Maybe that's why we get along so well. I also have the feeling that my rejuvenation also makes me more childish.
I think it's better if I have some friends in this universe, Giyuu thinks.
These salmon daikon are damn delicious. Tomioka's eyes shine, it tastes so good. This might be my favorite food in this universe. Maybe Sakura can cook it when I'm back with her, Giyuu thinks.
“Giyuu, I put a futon for you in Sabito’s room. “You will share the room,” says his teacher. “Thank you very much,” Giyuu replies.
He notices that he is slowly getting tired. Sabito and him look at each other. "We're even roommates now, friend." Sabito smiles at him.
Tomioka looks at him surprised. “Yes.” He smiles back. “Then let’s go to sleep. I'm really tired. And you’ve been doing this for a year?”
“Yeah, right?” Sabito whispers back playfully. "Goodnight, Sensei." he says and gets up.
"Goodnight, Sensei." Giyuu says and also stands up after putting his bowl aside.
“Good night you two,” Urokodaki says back calmly.
They both go to their room and lie down. They try to sleep but they always find something to talk about until they both just nod off.
========- Next morning -========
Giyuu wakes up early as usual. He looks at Sabito, who is still sleeping. Giyuu stands up carefully so as not to wake the other person.
It's still pretty early in the morning and I have to try something out before we train again today, thinks Tomioka as he sneaks outside from the main room.
Urokodaki doesn't seem to be awake yet either, he notices. Giyuu has now moved a little away from the house. He doesn't have to hide and he doesn't need long either. He just has to...
Activate his Sharingan. It works! Good. That means he still has his Sharingan. Due to the whole action, he completely forgot to check whether he still had his Sharingan because the Rinnegan was missing.
Now that he's checked, he should go back inside. He didn't want to try it inside, what if Urokodaki had come in. He didn't feel like explaining it.
Shortly after he comes in, Urokodaki comes into the room. “Good morning,” he greets him. His sensei greets him back and shortly afterwards Sabito wakes up too.
===- Summary of the next few days -===
Every day after training they run the same route home over the mountain. Thanks to the constant new traps, Giyuu's reflexes have improved again. And he has more stamina again. The traps are also becoming more and more deadly. Sabito even has to run down the mountain with the sword in his hand.
Practice strokes are carried out daily. Each time before they run down the mountain to complete their daily training.
Tomioka seems to be a genius at sword fighting. Because after about a week he also takes his katana down the mountain. And damn. It's in the way all the time.
=======- Two weeks later -=======
What is this god waiting for?!, Giyuu thinks as he goes into the main room of the small house.
Urokodaki gave him and Sabito a day off today. He gets up early as always. Just as he was about to sit down, he heard a bird screaming outside.
Giyuu ignores it. But the bird just doesn't want to be still. Tomioka goes out before the bird - a falcon according to the noise - doesn't wake up the others.
Outside he sees a brown hawk sitting in the tree across from the house.
They look at each other until the falcon flies towards him. Giyuu reflexively raises his arm so that the falcon can land on it.
Just as the hawk lands on his arm. His surroundings change into a very familiar picture. The thin surface of the water. The summer temperature. Not too hot, but not cold either. And in front of him an unforgettable figure. The falcon is still sitting on his arm.
“Welcome back,” says the god in his calm voice. “Hello,” he greets back.
“How were your first days in the new universe. Giyuu Tomioka?” asks the god. "It was good. I learned a lot about the universe. I found the former member you told me about. He took me in and I trained with his other student. Tomorrow we will start with the first form of water breathing,” reports Giyuu.
“Glad you’re clear. Since the world outside doesn't move, we have as much time as you need. Do you have any questions?” says Hinokami. “Yes, actually I have a few questions.”
"First, how do we both stay in touch?" asks Giyuu. “By the falcon you carry on your arm. He will stay close to you and if you want to get in touch, all you have to do is to call *Farukon*. That’s his name.”
"Understand. And what happened to my Rinnegan?” Tomioka continues to ask. “I put it aside for now. Your body couldn't have withstood the Rinnegan. You will get it back as soon as your body can withstand the Rinnegan again.”
“Understood.” Giyuu replied with understanding. “I have one last question.”
Tomioka waits a bit until he drives up. “I can now handle a katana well. But with the usual kunai and other weapons that I'm used to, I can probably fight better in an emergency. I never doubt that there are stores where I can get something like that.“
“Of course,” says the god understandingly. “You still know the incantations for weapons.” Giyuu nods. “Good, that makes it work. And the kunai then disappear after a while.”
I don't even ask why he knows this. Or how this all works, thinks Giyuu, whose arm is slowly getting tired because the falcon is still resting on it.
“Are there any other questions?” Tomioka thinks for a moment. “No, everything is answered for now. Thanks."
“Good, then I’ll send you back now,” says the creature. “Have a nice day,” Giyuu says goodbye. On command, the world disappears again and Tomioka stands in front of the hut. The falcon on his arm flies back onto the branch.
I have to try out and prepare a little something, thinks Giyuu and smiles to hisself. I have a day off today. And Sabito wants to go with Sensei to the village near here. I'm home alone. That will be fun.