[Demon Slayer] Three-tomoe Sharingan

"Why do you still have the face to stay here? Why do you refuse to leave? Just how many times are you going to make Teacher lose face before you're satisfied?"

"Teacher accepted the invitation to come here to train more excellent swordsmen, not to waste time on you."

"Crying and weeping all day long... it's because of a Disciple like you that Teacher can't even hold his head up in front of the other Hashira!"

An extremely dissatisfied scolding rang out, which Kiyokawa Izumi happened to overhear as he passed by.

The dark night shrouded the Butterfly Mansion. Kiyokawa Izumi, who had just finished a simple dinner, was thinking of finding a secluded spot to practice his basics.

It was also by chance that he saw Kaigaku mercilessly scolding Zenitsu.

Why was this scum here? Kiyokawa Izumi, who had been away for a long time, could only guess that it probably had to do with the rotation of Team Members.

One batch of Team Members was sent out on missions, while those who were idle were sent here for training.

Under the rotation, it wasn't surprising for Kaigaku to appear here—perhaps in the eyes of the higher-ups, he was still a good prospect.

With his background and talent, he was clearly much more worth cultivating than ordinary swordsmen like Murata.

Able to proficiently use all Moves except the First Form and possessing the right of succession for Thunder Breathing, he was a Disciple of the Former Sound Hashira. This status was not something ordinary swordsmen could compare to.

As for strength, an old Senior like Murata was certainly far inferior to him.

If they actually fought, he would probably be defeated in minutes.

But Kaigaku, who came here for training, was not having a smooth time—his relationship with other Team Members was not harmonious. He already looked down on those talentless fools; his only goal was to become the current Sound Hashira.

He wanted to become stronger, gain higher status, and stand above all swordsmen.

With this mindset, his training was quite diligent.

He also had his own schemes; he wanted to become a Successor to another Hashira and stand out among the crowd of Team Members, laying the first step to becoming a Hashira himself.

Many Hashira did indeed come to the Butterfly Mansion.

But aside from the Flame Hashira, who was more enthusiastic, both the Serpent Hashira and the Wind Hashira were not easy to get along with, nor were they willing to waste time taking on an unnecessary Successor.

It wasn't that they were irresponsible; when they came by occasionally, they were willing to spend a little time guiding the Team Members' training.

Never mind how hard they hit; the question was whether there was guidance.

They felt this model was quite good. With a former Hashira responsible for the Team Members' training, there was no need to specifically take on a Successor; it didn't mean much.

In this situation, Kaigaku's little schemes were completely useless.

Coupled with his occasional disdainful attitude toward ordinary Team Members and his superior air, it was natural for him to be slandered behind his back.

Those people didn't say anything too excessive; they just said that since he couldn't even use the First Form, he definitely wouldn't be able to become a Hashira.

Angry as he was, was Kaigaku the type to give up so easily?

Hearing that Kiyokawa Izumi had returned, he trained even harder, even coming out late at night for extra practice, his purpose clearly self-evident.

He hoped to be noticed by that person and become Kiyokawa Izumi's Successor.

He had secretly inquired about that person's personality—many Team Members said that Kiyokawa Izumi was an extremely easy-going Hashira, and in combat training, his strikes were very measured.

Compared to the irritable Wind Hashira and the sharp-tongued Serpent Hashira, wasn't Kiyokawa Izumi a gentle soul?

In combat, he wouldn't beat the Team Members until their heads were covered in bumps, nor would he curse them as useless or trash. The most excessive thing he had said was: "Are you performing?"

Having received unanimous praise, Kiyokawa Izumi was thus targeted by Kaigaku.

Of course, a more important point was that Kaigaku believed in his heart that Kiyokawa Izumi was a strong individual.

Facing an Upper Rank head-on and escaping unscathed was something even Teacher couldn't do in his youth.

If he could become this person's Successor and receive his training, he would surely become the Sound Hashira as a matter of course in the future.

It was a pretty good idea.

But as soon as he came out, he ran into Zenitsu, whom he loathed immensely.

This eyesore had caused no small amount of embarrassment. How could such a person be worthy of being his Junior Brother? What a joke.

Why couldn't this piece of trash just leave on his own?

If others knew that he and this trash were both trained by Teacher, wouldn't they question Teacher's ability?

Most terrifyingly, it would also drag down the evaluation of him.

Being from the same school as trash, was he also trash?

Kaigaku's scolding became increasingly excessive, but he didn't choose to take action. It wasn't because he felt a shred of brotherly affection, but because he didn't want others to see a joke.

Moreover, he believed in his heart that if he really taught this guy a lesson, he would definitely go crying to Grandpa to complain, because he was just that worthless.

At this critical juncture, Kaigaku had not yet gained that person's favor and was unwilling to stir up bad rumors, so he was trying his best to restrain himself.

Kiyokawa Izumi, who was hiding aside watching the scene, didn't know he had been targeted by this scum—if he did, he would feel disgusted.

As a Hashira, and since it was night, even if he didn't intentionally hide, he wasn't someone Kaigaku and Zenitsu could discover.