Stone Breathing Successor

Chu Yang immediately put on a different expression and said viciously, "We’ve already done this much. What’s wrong with keeping a contingency plan? If they want to settle scores, then let’s all stop playing nice, flip the table, and fight it out."

Izuna Uchiha laughed heartily. "The young man’s got quite a temper. I like it."

Madara Uchiha nodded as well. "Yang is right. We must keep the contingencies we should keep. We want peace, yes, but not to the point of sacrificing ourselves."

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju looked at each other, then agreed to Chu Yang’s proposed allocation plan.

Hashirama Senju and Chu Yang both had a few private thoughts they did not voice.

The Uzumaki clan’s Sealing Jutsu was extremely powerful and held a very high priority in the Naruto world. It could not only seal tailed beasts and Ninjutsu, but even things on the level of the world’s rules.

However, the Uzumaki clan’s own combat power was very weak, making them vulnerable to attacks from forces wary of them. With the Nine-Tails’ power, the Uzumaki clan’s safety could be ensured.

Furthermore, Chu Yang also wanted to guard against Black Zetsu.

The Uzumaki clan’s Sealing Jutsu could directly threaten Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Once the tailed beast capture plan had been finalized, Hashirama Senju officially issued orders for the Anbu to track down the tailed beasts.

There would certainly be casualties along the way. After all, tailed beasts were not easy to provoke, and they would not obediently wait in place to be captured.

Another huge wave of ambitious young Uchiha rushed forward one after another, and Chu Yang’s scheme to leave them without heirs was taking effect.

Tobirama Senju was responsible for contacting the Uzumaki clan. Sealing the tailed beasts required their strength, and both sides also needed to establish a formal alliance.

For a thousand years, the Senju clan and the Uzumaki clan had relied on blood ties to stand together.

When the alliance was signed, Hashirama Senju, as Hokage, would need to appear in person.

As for Lord Madara, he was Konoha’s gold-medal enforcer.

He was only responsible for beating people up. Once a tailed beast appeared, he would rush to the scene immediately to subdue it.

As for Chu Yang…

A hardworking people’s teacher, he had no special contributions beyond helping the village cultivate its future flowers. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Demon Slayer world.

After returning from the Soul Palace to reality, Chu Yang’s body underwent explosive growth overnight.

His once-scrawny body suddenly sprouted eight rock-hard abs, and he grew another five centimeters taller!

This was all thanks to the selves in other worlds selflessly sharing their talents and abilities, allowing this good-for-nothing to undergo a qualitative transformation.

Of course, if he learned a Breathing Technique, it would also benefit his other selves in other worlds.

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

During every day he spent recovering at the Butterfly Mansion, Chu Yang stuffed himself with food and trained hard. A week later, he was informed that he could be discharged—that was, he could leave the Butterfly Mansion.

Naturally, Chu Yang did not want to leave.

So he sought out Shinobu Kocho and asked to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.

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

Chu Yang’s request seemed to stump Shinobu Kocho. The young girl stood before him hesitantly, wanting to speak but holding back.

She’s not taking the bait?

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

In the Demon Slayer world, a "Tsuguko" was actually a kind of successor. Put simply, it meant the direct disciple of a Pillar-level swordsman.

Under normal circumstances, Pillar-level swordsmen would take swordsmen who used the same type of Breathing Technique as their Tsuguko, though there were also special cases where those who used different Breathing Techniques became Tsuguko.

Pillar-level swordsmen had the authority to command Demon Slayer Corps members of any rank, but if they wished to command someone else’s Tsuguko, they had to obtain that Pillar’s consent.

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

Hearing that Chu Yang wished to become her Tsuguko, Shinobu Kocho’s fair face reddened at a visible speed.

She flusteredly waved her hands at Chu Yang.

Chu Yang smacked his lips. He always felt that the Shinobu Kocho before him was strange, very different from the one he remembered.

"Hahaha! Someone actually wants to become little Shinobu’s Tsuguko? How interesting!"

A silvery laugh rang out behind Chu Yang. He turned around and saw a girl who looked seventy or eighty percent similar to Shinobu Kocho, but was more mature and gentle.

The girl had lively light-purple eyes and glossy, silky black hair that reached her waist. Butterfly-shaped hairpins adorned both sides of her hair, and she wore a colorful butterfly-patterned haori over her clothes.

The girl skipped up to Chu Yang and teased, "Little Shinobu isn’t a Pillar, so she isn’t qualified to take a Tsuguko. I can, though. 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!

That proved the current point in time was at least four years before the story officially began!

No wonder Chu Yang had thought Shinobu Kocho looked like such a baby. She really was a baby…

"It’s very rude to stare at a girl like that." Kanae Kocho stepped closer and whispered into Chu Yang’s ear.

Chu Yang shuddered and hurriedly backed away, apologizing over and over. His mind was a mess right now.

"I can sense the aura around you. As an ordinary person who has never undergone training, your physique is exceptionally outstanding. You have the potential to become a powerful swordsman."

Kanae Kocho smiled softly. "I was only joking earlier. Your physique isn’t suited to cultivating my Breathing Technique, but if you truly want to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, I can introduce you to another Pillar."

Chu Yang came back to his senses and immediately nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you."

"You’re in luck. He’ll be coming over shortly." Kanae Kocho’s eyes were full of amusement as she anticipated what kind of sparks Chu Yang and that Pillar would create.

Shinobu Kocho seemed to have guessed which Pillar her sister meant, and she subconsciously revealed a surprised expression.

Chu Yang watched the two of them speak in riddles, completely confused.

After a while, a tall, burly figure pushed open the door. He murmured, "Amitabha," and bore a long, narrow scar across his forehead. His eyes were completely blind, Buddhist prayer beads hung around his neck, and he held another string of prayer beads in his hand.

A monk!

Gyomei Himejima!

Chu Yang turned to look at Kanae Kocho, who was grinning from ear to ear, and let out a deep breath.

Gyomei Himejima was powerful!

He could even be called the strongest Pillar, without question!

The moment Gyomei Himejima entered, he noticed Chu Yang. Having lost his sight, his senses had become extraordinarily sharp. If he had not failed to smell any demon scent on Chu Yang, he would have nearly swung his weapon and cut him down!

Kanae Kocho smiled. "Himejima-sensei, if it weren’t for the Pillar Meeting, it would be difficult to see you normally. Are you training every day?"

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

"A survivor." Kanae Kocho summarized Chu Yang’s experience in three brief words, then said, "He wishes to remain in the Demon Slayer Corps."

If it had been an ordinary person, Gyomei Himejima would have directly advised him to return and live an ordinary life. But the powerful aura surrounding Chu Yang was simply impossible to ignore.

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

"I understand," Chu Yang replied.

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

Gyomei Himejima hesitated for a while. During that time, he sensed Chu Yang’s aura once more, and finally could not help but nod.

His Stone Breathing finally had a successor!