A Visit
=- Kyojuro Rengoku
Kyojuro took his father's place two months ago. He is now a Hashira. The Flame Hashira to be exact. But his father is still grumpy and drunk every day. His little brother on the other side is happy for him.
The other Hashira are nice. He already knows Igoru. Tengen is an interesting man and has an admirable three women that he shows off all the time. Himejima is nice, as is Kocho.
Shinazugawa is also nice, but also quite stubborn and aggressive from what he has heard.
And then there is Tomioka. He's a strange man. Calm like a lake. He hadn't even noticed the man until he introduced himself. Kind of creepy.
Kyojuro hadn't seen the Water Hashira in action yet. But now Tomioka, Uzui and him have been sent on a mission together.
It is evening and it still takes a day's walk to the place where the demon was reported.
Uzui has insisted on taking over the night watch, but he can't sleep due to the excitement of his first mission with two of his new colleagues.
So he gets up and sits next to Tengen at the campfire. “Can’t you sleep?” asks the Sound Hashira.
“I'm too excited,” he replies a little quieter than usual so he doesn't wake up the water column. Although he almost couldn't hear himself because of his bad ears.
The two Hashira talk about everything. Tenges women, food, Senjuro, that Uzui is an ex-shinobi. The latter is particularly interesting and cool.
After a while, Kyojuro gets tired. He lies down and falls asleep.
The sun is just about to rise when Kyojuro is woken up by an abnormally loud (even for him) noise. A little frightened, he sits up and looks around for enemies.
But all he finds is a dozing Tengen and an awake Tomioka with a falcon on his shoulder. Is that Tomioka's falcon? Doesn't he have a crow? He'll ask him later.
Plus, as hard as it is, he believes in one. “You should be quiet.” Tomioka can be heard growling at the bird. Tomioka looks over at him. "Good morning."
“Good morning,” Kyojuro greets back. “Uzui-san and I have already eaten. We want to move on in an hour,” explains the Water Pillar.
“Got it.” Kyojuro gets up and gets ready. The group has been traveling for two days now. They walked through the first night, but Rengoku got tired. But now he's super rested again.
After about an hour, the Hashira continue running. What Kyojuro noticed on the way to the mission site is that Tomioka runs similarly to Tengen. Like a shinobi?
"Tomioka-san?" Kyojuro catches the other's attention. "Yes?"
“Is that your falcon?” he asks in his usual cheerful tone. After a short silence he adds. “The one from this morning.”
“Farukon belongs to me. But he is not in the role of my connecting crow. My crow is at headquarters in case there are any new instructions or anything like that,” the man explains. He's probably gotten the question many times.
“I didn’t know you had a falcon, Tomioka. That’s really flashy,” says the Sound Pillar in surprise.
“No one asked,” was the simple, tired answer, after which the atmosphere fell back into the calm silence as before.
Apparently neither Kyojuro nor Tengen can stand silence for long periods of time since they both like to talk. So they resume the conversation from the previous evening.
During the conversation, Kyojuro observes Tomioka walking at the front of the group. Tomioka seems bored. His posture is sluggish and crouched. It looks more like he is dragging his arms behind him.
After hours the group arrives at their destination. “We’ll split up and explore the area. We'll meet here again in two hours." Uzui orders as he looks into the slowly forming night sky.
“Why did Oyakata-sama send three Hashira here anyway?” Kyojuro asks curiously.
“According to the report, there is said to be an upper moon here. We should find him and defeat him if possible,” explains Tomioka briefly.
"Understand. Thank you.” Kyojuro replies happily. They separate and run in opposite directions.
After two hours of searching, Kyojuro found nothing. He runs back to the meeting point where Tengen is already waiting for him. "Where's Tomioka-san?"
"No idea. He'll probably come soon." Uzui replies while shrugging his shoulders.
“Did you find anything?” asks a tired voice. The Water Hahsira emerges from the shadows. Kyojuro didn't even sensed him.
The other two Hashira shake their heads. “Maybe the demon has already fled,” Tengen thinks.
Suddenly Tomioka turns around in a quick movement and gets into a fighting stance.
"What's wrong Tomioka?" Tengen asks carefully and, like Kyojuro, who also reacted immediately when Tomioka turned around, goes into attack position.
A person comes out of the shadows. The skin looks like tree bark and the hair like leaves. The number two is in his yellow pupils.
“Didn’t think you’d notice me, Hashira. You have keen senses.” the Lower Moon claps his hands mockingly.
“So no Upper Moon after all. Just a weakling,” Tomioka mocks back, barely audible.
"Do you think you can take on the three of us?" asks a smiling Uzui next to him.
“I don’t need to fight. I know that I have no chance against three Hashira.” The demon takes a few steps backwards. “I know when it’s appropriate to retreat.”
The demon suddenly stops right in front of a tree with a surprising gasp. His movements are stiff and tense, as if he is trapped in something. The Hahsira remain on alert.
Tomioka approaches the demon with his katana drawn. “Watch out, Tomioka,” Tengen whispers carefully.
Tomioka walks past the demon and stands behind him. A moment later the head slips from the body and falls to the floor. "What? What the hell happened?” the demon screams as soon as his head hits the ground.
Tomioka turns around and walks back to him and Tengen in silence. What kind of action was that? Tomioka didn't swing the katana anywhere near the demon's neck.
He heard that Tomioka is a workaholic and completed his mission in record time. Seeing it in action is truly amazing. Even if the demon's cramped hang was strange.
Suddenly the demon that had just been beheaded appears behind Tomioka. The water pillar ducks so that the demon jumps over it.
“YOU!” the demon points at Tomioka. “YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!” he screams and runs towards Tomioka.
“Uzui-san behead him.” Tomioka says in a louder tone than usual. The Sound Pillar calls. “You’re in the way Tomioka!”
"Doesn't matter. Just attack!” After a moment’s hesitation, Tengen attacks the demon and beheads it. “What was that about Tomioka? I could have hurt you.”
“And I trusted that as Hashira you have perfect control over your swords,” explains Tomioka as he looks at the decaying demon.
“So you just completely trusted that I wouldn’t hurt you?” Tengen asks cautiously.
“When you are deployed, you should be able to trust your fellow fighters. It doesn't matter whether you like them or not. Without trust, you are dead on the battlefield. After the fight, you can always beat yourself to death to your heart's content,” explains the Water Hashira in a neutral, worrying tone.
=- Tengen POV
Tengen can't get what Tomioka said out of his head. This had been Uzui's first mission with the Water Hashira.
In a way, Tengen agrees with the Wind Pillar's rejection of Tomioka. Tomioka has an arrogant demeanor and unsettling presence.
Thanks to his excellent hearing, he can hear the sounds that others cannot hear. Such as a person's heartbeat. Tomioka is calm all the time. When he asked Tengen to kill the demon even though he was in the way, he was calm. He had complete trust in him. That he wouldn't meet him.
The movements of the Water Pillar are relaxed and attentive but also silent and light-footed. Just like the movement of a shinobi. Tengen has noticed how similar he and Tomioka run, but the movements are different due to the different breathing techniques.
Furthermore, Tomioka seemed to have spoken from experience. But he is known to fight alone. And Tengen has noticed how other demon hunters are avoiding the man as much as possible. Despite this, Tomioka has complete confidence during the mission.
"Welcome back Tengen-sama." all three of his beautiful women greet him as he enters the property. "Hello my loves."
“And how was your mission?” asks Suma. The previous thoughts disappear. He can think about it again later.
=- Giyuu POV
This universe is annoying. Giyuu doesn't care whether the others like him or not. Well, except for Kanzaburo and Urokodaki. He kind of likes them.
He doesn't trust others in this universe in the slightest. Yes, teamwork is important, especially in combat (Kakashi literally beat that into Team Seven's heads). Just like trusting his fellow warriors, but he would only trust others in this universe with his life if he knew he could save himself.
Taking the situation from the last mission with two of the other Hahsira. He only trusted Uzui with his life because he knew that the sound pillar was precise and because Tomioka knew that he could disappear quickly if something happened.
Why should he trust others? He doesn't know anyone here and doesn't want to get to know anyone. He has taken on the character of a distant, tired, lonely workaholic. Someone who doesn't want to have anything to do with others.
He's just here for the mission. He doesn't have to deal with the others, he has Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and maybe even Sai and Yamato. But just maybe.
These demons don't help him get any closer to Muzan. Most people haven't even seen this sun-allergy-sufferer.
No useful information has come out of the few lower moons he has decapitated so far. He tried genjutsu, but every time the demons mentioned the Demon King's name, they were brutally murdered.
He was never actually ordered to find Muzan directly. He is only supposed to serve the organization as a demon hunter. But as every shinobi knows, information is just as valuable as gold. Plus, he could get home quicker if the king falls.
A good thing is that his sleep rhythm is back under control and the constant tiredness is gone. Well almost. It's so boring and all of his previous opponents have been weak. He hasn't had a real challenge for a long time.
To be honest, he just wants to go home. But a mission is a mission and he won't allow himself to fail. If he were to just leave now, he would have more than wasted his time.
Giyuu enters his property. He has just delivered the report to the master and has asked for three to four days off so that he can visit Urokodaki.
Somehow he owes it to the Old Man. He taught Giyuu everything he needed to know for this universe.
Kakashi has put in a lot of effort with Team Seven - especially with Sasuke - but he's still Kakashi, always late and carrying around a porn book that he reads in public. Nevertheless, the man cared about his students and was never late to help them.
Orochimaru is a story all on its own. Good sensei but bad habits and a psycho. Wanting to take over your student's body in order to stay younger is not normal.
“Do you want to come too Kanzaburo? You old men definitely get along brilliantly.” asks Giyuu as he puts his things into his backpack. “Ha ha,” the bird caws in response.
Tomioka has already written a letter to Urokodaki so that he doesn't show up so unexpectedly. He just didn't say exactly when he would show up.
He occasionally received letters from the old man and - but rarely - wrote them back himself. Giyuu plans to tell the man about his mission. Maybe someone who knows would be helpful.
Finally, he puts his Hitai Ate in his bag. Just like his Kusanagi no Tsurugi, he always carries it with him on missions. One could say as a kind of good luck charm. “All right. Let's go into town for a moment and then we'll get going. We’ll be at Mount Sagiri tomorrow at noon.”
Kanzaburo sits on his shoulder and Farukon sits on his backpack.
Together they make their way to the town near the estate. On the way there he recognizes fire-colored hair that comes from another property.
"Oh. Hello Tomioka-san." the flame Hahsira greets. “Hello,” he greets back. He doesn't feel like seeing any of the other Hahsira right now.
A girl appears behind Rengoku. She wears the uniform - albeit a bit too revealing - and has pink hair with green tips that are braided into three pigtails. “Hi.” the girl greets cheerfully, albeit shyly. "Hello?"
“Tomioka-san, this is Mitsuri Kanroji, my Tsuguko,” explains Rengoku. Apparently he noticed the confusion. “Mitsuri, this is Tomioka-san. The Water Hashira.”
"Ohhh." Konroji squeaks. "Hello. Nice to meet you. We were just about to go for lunch. Would you like to come with me?”
“Thanks for the invitation, but I just wanted to buy something,” he says disinterestedly. He wants to get out of here.
"Oh right. Do you still want to come with us?” asks Rengoku. “So just as far as the city.”
"We're going the same way." Giyuu shrugs. Kanroji points a finger at his mask. To be precise, on the forehead of the mask. “That’s a cool symbol on your mask. Does that stand for something?”
Giyuu turns his head in her direction. “It’s the symbol of my clan,” he answers briefly and walks forward.
"I've never heard of the Tomioka clan." Rengoku says confused. “Me neither,” Kanroji agrees.
“I don’t want to go into it any further.” They move on. After about ten minutes, Giyuu stops. "We are there. See you.” The conversation behind him falls silent.
“Bye.” Rengoku says goodbye. Kanroji is still shouting afterwards. “Bye.” What a loud duo.
So now briefly buy some grains and maybe something for Urokodaki and then we can get started. This city is far too crowded, Giyuu remarks annoyed.
After Giyuu buys the bird seed, he sets off for Mount Sagiri.
Giyuu has found another new type of tea. Urokodaki often drank tea. He even took off his mask in front of his students. Kakashi should take an example. At some point and somehow, Team 7 gets that mask off his face.
The journey to the mountain passes uneventfully. When Giyuu arrives at the small hut, Urokodaki is outside chopping wood.
“Hello Urokodaki-san,” he greets, drawing attention to himself. “Giyuu. Nice to see you.” the man stops his activity and walks towards Giyuu.
"I see you're with us," Urokodaki remarks. “This is Kanzaburo, my bond crow. And the falcon is Farukon.”
“Let’s go in.” Urokodaki goes first. “The new mask looks good. It suits you well.”
“Thank you.” Giyuu enters the old hut. He looks around. Nothing has changed. “Sit down. I'd love to hear what I missed. You don’t write that often.”
"Good. Eh. So I'll get this over with for now. I don't feel like wearing the mask the whole time during my stay." Giyuu begins after a short silence. And don't feel like using the transformation jutsu all the time. The teacher tilts his head to the side in confusion. “So, I want you to stay calm. You’re the first person I’ll show this to and I want to keep it that way for now.”
Giyuu thought about it the entire trip. Should he take off the mask? He decided to tell the teacher why he is here. Somehow Giyuu wants to take advantage of the man's trust. If he ever needs help where God can't help.
Urokodaki sits upright. "Good. I stay calm. You can trust me. I won’t tell anyone.”
Giyuu closes his left eye and takes the mask. He opens his eye and looks directly into the eyes of Urokodaki's mask. There is an uncomfortable silence. Urokodaki sits there staring at him through his mask.
“What the…?”