Swordsmith Village
=- Gyomei POV
Himejima is standing in front of the coach that is supposed to take him to the village, he arrived at the meeting point a little earlier. Because he is so big and heavy, it has to be driven there in a coach.
Uzui was kind enough to explain to him yesterday what the new Hashira looks like, just so he could have a little idea.
Giyuu Tomioka has black hair that is tied into a small braid at the back. He wears a fox mask that is beautifully designed and has little bells hanging on the side. According to Tengen, he also wears a rather tasteless haori. One side is dark blue and the other has a green and yellow pattern with a red and white symbol on the back.
He wasn't able to have much of a conversation with the water pillar yesterday because he quickly disappeared after the meeting. Gyomei guesses it's because of the attention. The boy is probably not used to this.
He felt the presence of the water pillar when he came out with Oyakata-sama. It is a cold and unsettling presence. The last time Gyomei felt such a presence was three years ago.
It was during a visit from the master. No demon or human he has encountered so far had such a scary aura as Giyuu Tomioka.
He hears a faint tinkling of bells in the distance. It's a calming sound. Calming enough to bring him back from his thoughts to the present. Between the bells, Gyomei hears quiet footsteps.
“Good morning,” a voice greets him that is as calm as the water of a still lake.
Himejima recognizes this voice as Tomioka's. “Good morning, Tomioka.”
“Good morning,” say the voices of the two Kakushi who have just arrived in unison.
“Himejima-san, please sit in the coach.” Gyomei nods and sits in the coach. In the background he hears Tomioka getting the blindfold and earplugs from the other Kakushi. Himejima thinks he hears Tomioka sigh softly.
The journey itself passes quietly. Not that Gyomei can hear anything. He also has earplugs in himself.
After they finally arrive at the village, Tomioka goes straight to his blacksmith. Gyomei does this too. Maybe he can talk to the new water pillar later.
While the blacksmith tends to his weapon, Gyomei goes back to the inn.
The way to the village took a long time. The journey takes around four hours. When they reached the village it was already midday. Now it’s afternoon.
Unfortunately, Tomioka is nowhere to be found in the inn. Maybe they can chat over dinner. Gyomei would like to get to know the new Hashira better.
In the meantime, perhaps Gyomei can go meditate or sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. He goes to the garden of the inn. There is a pleasant silence there and the only thing you can hear is the bamboo that occasionally appears on the stone.
He sits down on the porch. It's a beautiful summer day. The sun shines on his skin and a cold but pleasant breeze blows across his face.
After a few minutes he hears footsteps coming towards him. The person stops a little in front of him and puts down a tray. "Here's your tea, Tomioka-san."
Before Himejima can realize what the person said, he hears a "Thank you." from Tomioka's calm voice.
“Would you like something to drink too, Himejima-san?” the person asks. “A tea would be great,” he replies with a small smile.
I didn't notice Tomioka in the slightest. Almost like Uzui. As loud as the sound Hashira is, he can hide its presence well. As expected of a shinobi, Gyomei remarks.
He hears the water pillar take a sip of the tea and make a gasping sound. “Hot, hot, hot, hot.”
Gyomei starts laughing. That seems to draw attention to him. “That’s not funny,” says an embarrassed voice. The feeling he gets from Tomioka is completely different than the previous day. It's calming and almost unnoticeable.
Gyomei just keeps smiling. “I have to admit. I didn’t see you when I sat down here.”
“Was…” a short pause. “Was that just a joke about your blindness?” asks Tomioka incredulously, obviously happy about the change of subject.
“Yes,” he replies. He hears the footsteps again. The tray is placed next to him. "Here you go, Himejima-san."
He accepts the cup. "Thanks."
The steps disappear again. “Be careful it’s hot,” he hears next to him. “Thanks for the warning.”
They both drink their tea in silence. Tomioka places his cup on the tray that was left behind. “I have to go to my blacksmith again. When is dinner?”
“In about two hours.” Gyomei takes another sip of his drink. “Shall we see each other at dinner then?” he asks.
"Yes," the boy answers confused and Himejima thinks he hears a suppressed laugh. Tomioka stands up and walks away with quiet steps.
What an interesting boy, Gyomei thinks as he takes another sip of his tea.
=- Giyuu POV
Giyuu walks towards Haganezuka's house.
I doubt Haganezuka is finished yet. The guy gave me a whole lecture because the sword was so beat up.
But what does he expect when you use it so often. Especially because it was still one of the blacksmith's first swords. Giyuu himself actually took good care of the sword.
He is now standing in front of the house. The door is ajar. You can hear the sharpening of a sword from inside. He knocks and enters. The blacksmith sits in front of a grindstone. Giyuu's gaze falls on the sword.
Is this something completely new? he thinks. The sword has the same handle as the previous one, with the difference that the silver was exchanged for gold. The blade now has *Destroyer of Demons* engraved in kanji. The blade has an iron gray color instead of the oceanic dark blue.
I don't even try to talk to him. After the lecture he went straight to work and hasn't done anything else since. Should I be worried?
Giyuu watches the blacksmith work for a while until he decides that the blacksmith will let him know when the sword is finished. He can't go without a sword anyway.
Back at the inn, Giyuu finds himself in his assigned room. The window is open and Farukon is sitting asleep on his lap.
What is he doing in his room? He has no idea. He just sits there, listens to the birds and waits for dinner. Giyuu only ate the few rice balls that were in the kitchen and that was it. To pass the time, he starts writing a letter for Urokodaki.
After a while there is a knock on the door. "Tomioka-san, dinner is ready." he hears a soft female voice say. "Thanks. I'll be right there."
Giyuu stands up carefully and looks at the now awake figure of the falcon. “Would you like to come with me? Maybe they have some treats here,” he asks the bird. “Of course you can also go hunting.”
In response, the bird puffs itself up and flies onto Giyuu's shoulder. They leave the room together.
The dining room is not far away. When Giyuu came in, Himejima was already sitting at the table and the food was already put out. He sits down and Farukon flutters off his shoulder and out through an open window. So hunting after all.
“Good evening Himejima-san.” Giyuu greets. “Good evening.” There is a short silence. “Was that your crow?” asks the older one.
"No. That was my falcon. I met him a few years ago and he's been following me ever since." Giyuu answers simply.
“Does he have a name?” asks the other Hashira. “His name is Farukon.”
“A beautiful name. “Then let’s pray before dinner, shall we?” says the giant.
Pray? What prayer, Giyuu thinks confused. Instead, he answers with a “yes” and folds his hands like the other pillar. Himejima says a prayer that Tomioka doesn't know, but he waits quietly until the prayer is finished. And why does Himejima start crying?
The Hashiras chat during the meal. What breathing technique does Himejima use? (stone breathing). What is his favorite animal? (cat) and so on. They make a bit of small talk and talk about everything until the stone pillar says goodbye to go to sleep.
Giyuu also sets off. Just not to his room but to the hot spring that is supposed to exist. The sun hasn't quite set yet and the spring is open all the time anyway.
Tomioka slowly climbs into the warm water of the spring. It's pleasant and definitely helps with relaxation. Except for him, the hot spring is empty.
He remembers the time where Sakura, Naruto and him tried to find out what Kakashi looked like under his mask. They tried a hot spring, but the guy just hung a cloth over his face.
Then he remembers that Team 7 hasn't managed to see what's under this mask until today. When he's back in his universe and Konoha, they'll definitely have to try it again.
=- Next morning
Giyuu wakes up to the sun's rays shining on his face. Incorrect. Farukon has made it his mission to peck at him and scream in his ear until he wakes up.
“I’m already awake,” says a sleepy Tomioka. He sits up and rubs his eyes. The sun is slowly rising outside. Why is it so early?
Giyuu glares at the bird. “I could have slept in, you know?” Farukon looks at him with a smug look. “And you also know that I can’t fall asleep anymore.” Giyuu puts his face in his hands and rubs his eyes again.
What should I do until breakfast is served? he thinks. The letter that is on the table has already been written.
Hello Urokodaki-sensei,
I hope you are in good health. I haven't had much to say in the last few years. I have now taken the place of the water Hashira and I am currently in the swordsmith village to get a new katana. Unfortunately, the mask you made for me broke due to the constant fighting. I got a new, slightly more stable one from a friend.
Giyuu Tomioka
Maybe he can take a little walk. That actually sounds good. He gets up and puts on his uniform. “Are you coming with us or are you staying here?” Giyuu asks the falcon after he has gotten ready.
Farukon lands on his shoulder again. They go out together. After about five minutes, Farukon notices a mouse and immediately pounces on it. After a short while he comes back onto his shoulder with the dead rodent in his beak.
“Farukon. If you don't move away from my shoulder immediately, Hinokami will have to send a new messenger." he says sternly. The bird just looks at him stupidly.
Giyuu pinches the bridge of his nose. "It's far too early for a discussion." He looks around and finds a large stone.
Tomioka walks towards the stone and leans against it. “Get off my shoulder. “I’ll wait until you’re finished,” he says to the bird that flutters from his shoulder onto the stone. "It would be much easier if you could speak like Kanzaburo or Aoda."
After Farukon has torn the mouse apart and eaten it, he flutters back onto his shoulder. He continue on the given path.
Where is Kanzaburo anyway? He led me to the meeting point and then he flew away again. As he thinks about this, he arrives at Haganezuka's hut.
I don't think I wanted to go here, he thinks and looks around at his surroundings. The door is still ajar and you can still hear the sound of a sword sharpening from inside.
Is he still working? He has to love his craft even more than Naruto Ramen and you have to get there first.
Giyuu looks at the hut again and then moves on without saying anything.
After a walk of about an hour, Tomioka is back at the inn. He enters the dining room. There is no one to be seen far and wide.
This bird definitely woke me up too early. Giyuu goes towards the kitchen to make some tea.
He walks back to the dining room with tea in hand. He sits down at the table and waits for someone else to wake up.
Farukon, who went hunting again, comes flying through the open sliding door. He carries two dead mice in his beak at the same time. “You know you’re supposed to eat this outside.” After a short staring contest, the hawk hops outside to eat its prey.
What should I do today? It still takes a while until the sword is finished. Although, at this rate, it could be finished tomorrow, Giyuu thinks. I could train with a practice sword or with my Kusanagi no Tsurugi.
While he is thinking about how and where he can train, a person comes into the room. “Good morning Tomioka.” says a deep voice.
“Good morning Himejima-san,” he greets the giant back. Himejima sits down next to him. “Why are you awake so early?”
“The bird woke me up,” Giyuu replies as he points to the falcon. The Stone Hashira just raises an eyebrow. Oh, right. “Farukon.”
“Why are you awake so early?” asks Giyuu. “I usually get up at this time,” he is answered.
“Would you like some tea?” I made one for myself too,” Tomioka offers cautiously.
Himejima gratefully accepts the offer. After Giyuu receives praise for his tea, the Hashiras talk.
In fact, there is a training dummy in the village. It is intended to serve as training for Hashira. Maybe Giyuu can take a look at it later.
After breakfast he says goodbye as the stone pillar leaves the village at the end of the day.
With Farukon on his shoulder, Giyuu goes looking for the blacksmith who is supposed to own the doll. According to Himejima, it is said to be a family heirloom.
After a bit of asking around and a surprisingly short search, Tomioka finds the doll's owner.
The owner takes him and the training dummy to a large place in the forest. He starts the doll and goes to the side.
The doll looks alive. Not like the puppets from Suna where you can see the inhumanity. The doll also has six arms.
On the way to the training ground he was told that the doll was a reenactment of a swordsman from the Sengoku era. He was also told that these six arms are needed to replicate the strength of this swordsman. The hair resembles that of the fire god and the clothing is traditional. The name of this doll is Yoriichi Type Zero.
Seven or six swords. That doesn't make much of a difference, Giyuu thinks and goes into attack form (he got a katana from the swordsmith to practice with). The doll also goes into attack form. Giyuu attacks, the doll skillfully blocks the blow and strikes with another sword.
=- A while later
After about five hours of continuous fighting, he stops. Giyuu couldn't put a single scratch on Yoriichi Type Zero. He himself is completely out of breath. Killer B was definitely easier to fight with seven swords. But it was really good exercise.
“You held up well,” the swordsmith congratulates while holding out a hand to Giyuu. Giyuu accepts the hand. "Thanks."
Giyuu goes back to the village with the blacksmith. Once they get there, Giyuu says goodbye and heads to the hot springs. Farukon sat back on his shoulder after the training ended.
He was able to copy a lot from the doll. Of course, his Sharingan makes this easy. Now he just has to incorporate the forms into his own fighting style.
=- next day
Farukon let him sleep in this time. After breakfast, Giyuu goes to Haganezuka again.
Just as he is about to knock on the door she jumps up. He backs away and sees his swordsmith with a finished sword in his hand.
“Good morning,” Giyuu greets the blacksmith. “Your sword is now ready. Take better care of it this time and don’t even dare……” and the lecture begins again.
How do I know this lecture again? Oh yes. You've already recited it to me, Giyuu thinks, annoyed. Nevertheless, he waits until the blacksmith is finished.
“Thank you very much for the sword,” says Giyuu and accepts the new katana. He pulls it and it turns back to an oceanic dark blue.
“Have a nice day,” he says and leaves. “Have a nice day,” calls the blacksmith afterwards.
He goes back to the inn to say goodbye. After he has done that he goes to Kakushi who accompanies him out of the village.