Chapter 55: Successor of Stone Breathing

Chu Yang immediately changed his expression and said fiercely, "We've gone as far as this; we've done our part. What's wrong with keeping a few trump cards up our sleeves? If we're going to settle scores, let's just stop playing around and flip the table to fight it out for a winner."

Uchiha Izuna laughed heartily, "The young people have quite a temper, but I like it."

Uchiha Madara also nodded, "Yang is right. We must keep the necessary safeguards. It's true we desire peace, but not at the cost of sacrificing ourselves."

Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama looked at each other, and subsequently agreed to Chu Yang's distribution plan.

Both Senju Hashirama and Chu Yang harbored small private intentions that they did not voice.

The sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan were incredibly powerful and held a very high priority in the world of Naruto; they could not only seal Tailed Beasts and ninjutsu but could even seal things at the level of world laws.

However, the combat strength of the Uzumaki clan itself was quite weak, which led to other powers fearing and attacking them. With the power of the Nine-Tails, the safety of the Uzumaki clan could be guaranteed.

Additionally, Chu Yang intended to keep a watchful eye on Black Zetsu.

The sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan could directly threaten Otsutsuki Kaguya.

Once the Tailed Beast Capture Plan was established, Senju Hashirama officially issued orders for the Anbu to be responsible for tracking the Tailed Beasts.

There would certainly be some casualties during this process, as Tailed Beasts were not easy to deal with and would not simply wait in one place to be captured.

Another wave of ambitious young Uchiha members stepped forward one after another; the "extinction plan" set by Chu Yang was beginning to take effect.

Senju Tobirama was responsible for contacting the Uzumaki clan. Sealing the Tailed Beasts required their strength, and both sides also needed to reach a further official alliance.

For a thousand years, the Senju and Uzumaki clans had stuck together through blood relations.

When signing the alliance, Senju Hashirama, in his capacity as Hokage, had to appear in person.

As for Old Man Madara, he was the village's gold-medal enforcer.

He was only responsible for beating people up; once a Tailed Beast appeared, he would arrive at the scene immediately to suppress it.

As for Chu Yang...

He was a hardworking, selfless teacher. Aside from helping the village nurture its future flowers, he made no special contributions, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

***

Demon Slayer World.

After returning to reality from the Soul Palace, Chu Yang's physique had undergone an explosive growth overnight.

His once thin and weak frame suddenly boasted eight rock-hard abdominal muscles, and he had grown five centimeters taller!

This was all thanks to his other selves from different worlds unselfishly sharing their respective innate abilities, allowing this "loser" to undergo a qualitative mutation.

Of course, if he learned Breathing Styles, it would also provide feedback to his other selves in different worlds.

To avoid exposing the secret of his physique, Chu Yang wrapped himself up tightly. Fortunately, the weather had recently turned cool, so no one grew suspicious.

During every day of recovering at the Butterfly Mansion, Chu Yang ate heartily and trained hard. A week later, he was informed that he could be discharged, meaning he could leave the Butterfly Mansion.

Chu Yang, of course, did not want to leave.

Thus, he sought out Shinobu Kocho and proposed his request to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Lady Shinobu, could you teach me how to become a swordsman?"

Chu Yang's request seemed to stump Shinobu. The young girl stood before him, hesitating, her words caught in her throat.

Not taking the bait?

Chu Yang gritted his teeth and shouted loudly, "Lady Shinobu, please take me as your Tsuguko!"

In the Demon Slayer world, a "Tsuguko" actually refers to a status of succession; more simply put, it is the direct disciple of a Hashira-level swordsman.

Generally, a Hashira would take on a swordsman of the same breathing style as a "Tsuguko," but there were special cases where those using different breathing styles became Tsuguko.

A Hashira possessed the authority to command Demon Slayer Corps members of any rank, but if they wanted to command someone else's Tsuguko, they had to obtain that Hashira's consent.

A "Tsuguko" held a very special status within the Demon Slayer Corps.

Hearing that Chu Yang hoped to become her Tsuguko, Shinobu's fair face turned red at a visible speed.

She waved her hands at Chu Yang in a panic.

Chu Yang smacked his lips, feeling that this Shinobu was a bit strange, quite different from his impression of her.

"Hahaha, someone actually wants to be Shinobu's Tsuguko, how interesting!"

A bell-like laugh rang out behind Chu Yang. He turned around to see a girl who looked about seventy to eighty percent similar to Shinobu, but was more mature and gentle.

The girl had lively light purple eyes and long, shiny black hair that reached her waist, with butterfly-shaped hair clips on both sides. She wore a colorful butterfly-patterned haori.

The girl skipped toward Chu Yang and teased, "Shinobu isn't a Hashira, so she isn't qualified to take a Tsuguko. I, however, might be. Are you interested, little brother?"

Chu Yang stared blankly at the girl before him, not because she was beautiful, but because she was...

Kanae Kocho!

Kanae Kocho was still alive!

This proved that the current point in time was at least four years away from the official start of the plot!

No wonder Chu Yang always felt that the Shinobu before him looked like a baby; it turned out she really was a baby...

"It's quite impolite to stare at a girl like that," Kanae Kocho said softly, stepping closer to Chu Yang's ear.

Chu Yang shuddered and hurriedly backed away, apologizing incessantly; his mind was a bit of a mess right now.

"I can feel the aura on you. As an ordinary person who hasn't undergone training, your constitution is excellent. You have the potential to become a powerful swordsman."

Kanae Kocho smiled softly. "I was just joking with you earlier. Your constitution is not suited for practicing my breathing style. If you truly want to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, I can introduce you to another Hashira."

Chu Yang regained his senses and immediately nodded. "Then I shall trouble you."

"You're in luck; he will be here shortly." Kanae Kocho's eyes were full of smiles, somewhat looking forward to seeing what kind of spark would fly between Chu Yang and that Hashira.

Shinobu seemed to guess which Hashira her sister was referring to, and instinctively showed a surprised expression.

Watching the two of them speak in riddles, Chu Yang was completely bewildered.

After a while, a tall and burly figure pushed the door open, muttering "Namu Amida Butsu." He had a long, narrow scar on his forehead, was completely blind, wore a string of prayer beads around his neck, and held prayer beads in his hands.

A monk!

Gyomei Himejima!

Chu Yang turned to look at the grinning Kanae Kocho and took a deep breath.

Gyomei Himejima was incredibly strong!

One could even say he was the strongest Hashira, bar none!

The moment Gyomei Himejima entered the room, he discovered Chu Yang. Despite being blind, his perception was exceptionally powerful; if he hadn't failed to smell the scent of a demon on Chu Yang, he almost would have swung his weapon to strike him!

Kanae Kocho smiled and said, "Mr. Himejima, it is difficult to see you normally unless it is a Hashira Meeting. Are you training every day?"

Gyomei Himejima nodded, then asked impatiently, "And who is this beside you?"

"A survivor." Kanae Kocho summarized Chu Yang's ordeal in just three words, then added, "He wishes to join the Demon Slayer Corps."

If it were an ordinary person, Gyomei Himejima would have directly advised him to go back and live an ordinary life, but the profound aura on Chu Yang was truly impossible to ignore.

Gyomei Himejima said deeply, "This will be a journey more arduous than you can imagine."

Chu Yang replied, "I understand."

Kanae Kocho suggested, "I think you should teach him personally. A trainer might not be able to fully stimulate his talent."

Gyomei Himejima hesitated for a moment, during which he once again sensed Chu Yang's aura, and finally could not help but nod.

His Stone Breathing finally had a successor!