The Test before Final selection (2)

Toji was standing inside the house now , tanjiro was sitting in front of him and nezuko was sleeping . He looked at young boy , he was grown stronger .

Tanjiro Said to Toji while bowing his head

" Tomioka San , thanks for beleive me and nezuko that day. " Toji simply looked at him , this should been Said to real Giyu but he was not here and Toji was never the one who left nezuko and tanjiro under urokodaki care and neither would have cared in past .

So he simply said " no need to thank me , I only Did that because your sister protected you and it was never seen before in history of Demon slayers crops that a demon who was just transformed resisted the urge to hunt and protected the person near him . Both of you were anomaly for me , I did what was right from my prospective .

Tanjiro I am not the one who you should thank and you should be thankful Master urokodaki and Ubuyashiki ."

This caught urokodaki attention and he asked "huh!! Giyu did you told master about her situation ?" Toji looked at urokodaki and said " I have not told master about but I will not be suprised if Master Ubuyashiki already know about it . I am pretty sure that he already knows about it . "

Urokodaki was not much shocked about it since he knew that Master Ubuyashiki might already knew about the situation Nezuko was and decided trust Giyu judgement and wait for them to tell him . But problem might other hashiras knowing it , he was worried about Giyu already because of his relationship with other hashira and he didn't wanted tanjiro to suffer same or worse treatment .

Tanjiro was still confused about it since he didn't know much about Demon slayer corps and only thing he knew were taught by urokodaki san . So, he asked him" Master Urokodaki, who is Master Ubuyashiki ? And how will already know about Nezuko. "

Urokodaki looked at and said " Tanjiro listen carefully , Demon slayer corps was created by Ubuyashiki family , thousand years ago to protect people and kill demons . The head of Ubuyashiki family is are also head of Demon slayers crops. Master Ubuyashiki knows everything about Demon slayer mission through Kusagai crow that provided by them to every slayer for giving missions to slayers . So , there a possibility that master already knows about Nezuko condition and just waiting us to tell him . Since protecting the demon is taboo in Demon slayer corps but nezuko condition is different and he might want to our judgement on this case before we tell him"

Then Toji looked at him and said " the problem is not Master Ubuyashiki knowing about Nezuko condition but its others members since they will need evidence and many might still not agree since there dear ones were killed or become demon. Remember one thing tanjiro if you become Demon slayer than you cannot tell anyone about Nezuko until master himself don't meets you and Gives order for not killing your sister . "

Tanjiro nodded his head heavily and was just listing . Then Toji said to him " take you katana and go outside , I am going to test you in one on one battle . " Tanjiro left the room and Toji was left alone woth Urokodaki .

Urokodaki looked at him and said " it seems that meeting tanjiro that day have changed you , Giyu . " Toji simply looked at him , he was not Giyu but the memories showed that Giyu also little different from his usual self after meeting tanjiro but he didn't know what it might have affected him .

Toji looked at urokodaki and said " I am trying make some amends , maybe if I was not stuck in past so much , then I would have gave present more attention and his family would have been alive. "

Urokodaki after hearing the words was sure that Giyu was still in internal conflict but now it was for different reasons . Now he was finding ways of making amends. So he said to him " its still good that you were able to came out of the past that was tormenting you and I believe you have grown stronger too " last comment was on give height and body it was stronger then before .

Then urokodaki stood up and said " let's not make tanjiro outside , Its getting cold." Toji also stood up and nodded at urokodaki then they both left the house . Tanjiro was currently sitting outside the door of house .

He then looked at Toji who was standing against him and suddenly an wooden sword strike came to him . He barely dodged it but Toji said to him " don't be relaxed just because you think you are a safe spot . If it was demon in hiding you would die just from lack of care and it also become reason for death of many other students . Also keep your nose open to slight change of smell. I don't know if you can wake up if suddenly a demon attack through projectile while being in shadow . "

Tanjiro was know trying to make sure that he notice slight change in there smell. He looked at Giyu who was standing with wooden sword in hand , this was kind of overlapping with sabito since also attacked him with wooden sword to teach him .

Toji looked at stance tanjiro took and said " don't just stand there , the demon might kill hostage in meantime you are in deep thinking. " Tanjiro didn't understood about demon since there was none , and thought he was tell for future but then Toji launched a fast strike at urokodaki san and he didn't dodge but just looked at tanjiro . Tanjiro was little surprised by Toji attack on urokodaki and barely blocked it from hitting urokodaki san .

Toji said " currently think of me as demon and Master Urokodaki as the hostages you need to protect while fighting , as a Demon slayer dying while protecting I'd not acceptable , you need to survive and keep safe the civilian . Death is not option but a hurdle that you need to overcome in every fight keep people safe ."

Tanjiro understood that this was going to be difficult since he had only trained with sabito in one on one battle and there was no civilian around to protect to but he now could not concentrate properly . Toji said to him " demon slayer are not like Ronin that you get to fight one one against enemy . They are like the samurai who need to protect the person near them at all cost . "

This was something once that a foolish jujutsu sorcerers said once to him but instead demon it was curse and demon slayers it was jujutsu sorcerers and curse user . But Toji changed it little to his preference .

Tanjiro attacked Toji using water breathing but giyu simply dodged but after a while he started to counterattack instead of dodging . He looked at tanjiro , he was getting exausted . He said to him " don't just attack your enemy try to improve in battle to have edge in battle ."

The attacking dodging went for a while and Toji didn't take single strike but he didn't tanjiro just made sure that his attack were at a speed that he could barely dodge. After seeing tanjiro completely exausted he said " if you are fighting a strong demon alone with any civilian near you then try too take few steps back and focus on what you learned about demon and his way of fighting . Try to make sure that he thinks that he is at advantage and you are at disadvantage to make sure he put his guard down.

But this is not acceptable when there are civilian near because then it will target them to lure you out . Remember one last thing, demons will try to make sure that you lose your temper in battle by telling you about how they kill and how will they kill you ,So try to keep your head cool in every situation "

Tanjiro said " Yes , Tomioka San and thanks for the lesson I will remember it . " Toji then looked at him and said " that will be all for know and started to walk inside . He was just near the door fo house when he stopped and launched another strike on tanjiro with his wooden sword but this time Tanjiro blocked. Toji simply looked at and gave a small smile and said " Now I believe you are ready for final selection ."

Tanjiro bowed again said " thanks tomioka San. " but Toji was already in house . Urokodaki looked at him and said " tanjiro , giyu is already inside " then tanjiro looked at door in front him dumbfoundly.

Urokodaki said again " You did very well , just remember everything he said to to. And be happy a little because making Giyu smile is hardest thing to do that even I have done only few time . So you did good , now let's insides its getting cold and you are going to go to final selection tomorrow at Mount Fujikasanae. "

both went inside the house ,that day urokodaki san made Salmon and radish for tomioka san since it was his favourite food and then they went to sleep .

Next day Tanjiro was ready t go towards Mount Fujikasanae but Toji stopped him and said " you had to stay late because of so, it would be better if I take you there with me early . " Urokodaki also nodded in yes at Toji suggestion . Tanjiro thanked toji for this and they both outside. Toji picked up tanjiro with one hand and took off at full speed towards Mount Fujikasanae.

Before leaving Tanjiro said to Urokodaki for thanking Sabito and makimo for helping him train . Urokodaki was shocked that how did Tanjiro knew the names of those deceased children . Toji simply said that ' maybe there spirit have not passed yet are waiting for someone to kill that demon . I believe tanjiro can do it . '

Tanjiro was amazed by the sheer speed at which they were traveling , he thought ' just how fast are we going , I don't even see passing trees or fields because this speed . ' tanjiro had never seen a hashira so this speed was a shock to and Toji on top of it was even faster with total concentration breathing.

Toji looked at tanjiro whose face was deforming because of speed that they were going so , he decided to slow down little for him. It took him less then a hour to even reach near Mount Fujikasanae but at outside of mountain he dropped down tanjiro and said " From now on you are going to enter as a normal participant and will go to final selection area from here. "

" Thank you for bringing me here tomioka san " after saying this tanjiro went towards starting area . Toji was also going to see how his was going to turn out so he decided that he will stay there . Toji also remembered that kocho sister kanao was also going to enter this year so it was going to see her skills too.

With Tanjiro :-

Tanjiro was walking up the stairs on mountains towards the site where final selection was going to begin . Tanjiro looked at wisteria trees and thought ' wow but wisteria shouldn't be blooming this time of year.' while walking he reached a tori gate where all the participants were. They were rough looking . Tanjiro thought that there were so many people there.

There were two children standing in front of gate . They both were wearing flower pattern kimono and had lantern in there hands. One of them had black hair and other one had white .

The child with black hair started talking " Greetings everyone thanks for gathering here tonight for final selection . Mount Fujikasanae holds Demons that demon slayer swordsman had taken Alive and trapped here." The white hair child started speaking after other stopped "demons hate wisteria flowers , which bloom here even out of season. They cover mountain from its foot to halfway slope ." Then both children said in unison" however from that point on, the wisteria does not bloom . So demons roam free. You must survive there for seven days and nights.

If you do then you have passed final selection . Now go on."With all the children that were there left and went into upper part of mountain.

With Toji :-

Toji was currently sitting at a tree listing to Master Ubuyashiki children telling all participants about the requirements they needed to fulfill for becoming a demon slayer .

Toji thought ' I guess this year Master's children are going to be here instead of Miss Amane to tell the participants about Final selection. I guess will say my greetings too . '

After all the children left for test , Toji leaped out of wisteria trees and greeted Kiriya and his sister " I wish you a good health Master Kiriya and lady kanata ." They both greeted him back in unison and said " we wish for your good health to Water hashira Tomioka Giyu. Can I know for what are you here ? " Kiriya asked .

Toji told them that he was visiting Master Urokodaki and his student was late for final selection So , he brought him here. Toji then said" I believe , you will be attending final selection from now on, instead of Lady Amane"

Kiriya looked at him and said with a smile on his face " Yes , since father's health it getting worse , mother is staying by his side and I will be conducting Final selection from now on." " I see, well then I guess will stay with you and lady kanata for you safety till you reach back to Headquarters safe " Toji proposed it and Kiriya answered " You don't need to stay and waste your time here , we don't want to be reason for you not being able to take mission. "

Toji then answered " you don't need to worry about that I am currently relieved from duty to meet Master Urokodaki and I was going back to Headquarters after final selection was over . So ,it will be alright and I can't have life of future head of Demon slayers crops compromised , even though Master Ubuyashiki don't take body guard even after our several requests , I can least send you back there safely."

Kiriya simply smiled and said" I see ,then we will taking your offer , see our destinations are same . " Toji decided to sit near a wisteria trees. He focused his senses to highest levels to see what was happening and how selection going on. What caught in entirety of test was the boy with boar head , child that was killing demon while unconscious and the boy with Mohawk who was killing demons by eating Demons .

Kocho sister was also doing quite well and was extremely skilled but he expected it since shinobu trained her . Kanao was unofficial tsuguko of Insect hashira so he was not much interested in her since she might have taught her some advance technique too.

Tanjiro was currently was doing good and keeping his head cool . Toji taught him keep focus and his head cool in battle because of hand demon and he was sure that demon will attack tanjiro since it specifically hunted Urokodaki's students .

Kiriya and Kanata were sitting near him , then they asked him " Tomioka San what do you think of the participants of this year ?" Never before Hashira was present during final selection so it was Never known which are potential students but today Toji was there so they both asked him .

Toji looked towards the Young Master and said " there are few extremely talented ones but one of them don't realise it own potential . There is one who can eat Demon to fight with there abilities . They are really rare to see these days since demon specific target them for being fake demons. There boy with boar head . He is currently the strongest among all the participants if we exclude kocho sister , since she was trained by her . Then there tanjiro but I believe he might not be good with water breathing .

That boy is extremely passionate like Rengoku . It would be better for him if he try to learn flame breathing in future ." Kiriya smiled and said " I see , so there are few talented participants today ." Toji only nodded .

Few hours later tanjiro encountered hand demon and was able to win against him . The body of Giyu was happy that now there will be no hand Demon to hunt students of Urokodaki's students . Toji sensed that happiness that rushed in his mind and smiled .

Seven days later :-

After seven days of survival test only four were currently present and other were dead from Tanjiro prospective but Toji knew that the boy with boar head left early . He understood that boy was fighting for fun and had no interest in demon slayer corps.

Toji could use that boy and train him into a hashira with his own training because that boy would do any training for getting stronger . So he was going to ask for master to send that boy to him .

Master kiriya and lady Kanata said " welcome back . Congratulations I am glad you are safe ." Toji was now standing behind them . Tanjiro was thinking ' only for of us left . We started with nearly 20. That one kid isn't here either.. I lost consciousness for the time and I guess he disappeared..... I couldn't save him." Kanao was quite playing with butterfly on her hand . The boy with blond hair was repeatedly saying " Die ... I am gonna Die, Die ,Die ,Die . even though I survived here , in the end I will die.

The boy with scare on his face said " so?what am I supposed to do now ? Where my katana ?" Toji understood this boy was just a hot head like sanemi and there might be a scene.

Master kiriya and lady kanata started telling again " First we will provide you with corps uniform .we will take your measurements and engrave your ranks."

" There are ten ranks

KINOE,

KINOTO,

HINOE,

HINOTO,

TSUCHINOE,

TSUCHINOTO,

KANOE,

KANOTO,

MIZUNOE

And MIZUNOTO.

Right now you all are at bottom rank MIZUNOTO."

The boy with scar face said again " Where is my katana ?"

Lady kanata continued " today you will choose your ore for your sword. Then it will take two weeks for katana to be finished . The. We will assign you Kusagai crows. "

Lady kanata clapped and Kusagai crows came flying and went four of them . The boy with yellow hair got a sparrow but Toji didn't said anything since Master Ubuyashiki is one who assign them , so he might did it on purpose.

Master kiriya said " Kusagai crows are usually used for communication among corps members but not generally ."

The scar face boy shook off the crow from his hand and said " I don't care about cows , I want katana , my colour changing katana " he tried to grab hair of lady kanata but Toji grab his and in mid action and said " you have just became a slayer , so I will ignore this action now but know who you tried to hurt boy , I wouldn't care to break your if you tried to do his again ."

There was a killing intent in Toji voice that sent chill to everyone that was present there . Boy with yellow hair started shivering . Tanjiro froze in his place and the boy now was regretting the action was going to make . Master kiriya said " I think you should forgive the child Water hashira ."

Toji released boy's hand but said " apologise to Master Kiriya and lady kanata now for your action and your katana will only made after you choose ore so for now keep quiet ." The boy said apologized to them and Toji pointed towards the area where ores were .

Toji then went tanjiro and said " tanjiro I will be leaving with Master Kiriya and lady kanata for headquarters , so go to Master Urokodaki for now and wait till your nichirn blade comes ." Tanjiro was too tired to say anything and only nodded to him.

After they all choose their ore , they went back . And Toji went back to Headquarters with Ubuyashiki siblings .

(Thanks for reading and sorry for any grammatical mistakes...)