Chapter 10: Total Concentration Breathing

“Ahem! From today onward, I am Urokodaki, your teacher. You may call me Mr. Urokodaki.”

“Hello, Master Urokodaki. I look forward to your guidance from today onward.”

I bowed respectfully, my body steeped in etiquette, and greeted Mr. Urokodaki with proper manners. He seemed pleased with my demeanor, adjusting his mask slightly as we began training in earnest.

“Hmm… Ordinarily, I would have you begin with physical conditioning… but upon closer inspection, your body already seems well-trained. Have you been working on it from a young age?”

“Yes. I’ve trained myself under the pretense of self-defense.”

“Excellent. Then we can skip over basic conditioning. Continue training your body as you have been.”

“Then what comes next?”

“Let’s move straight into Total Concentration Breathing.”

I straightened my posture and assumed a listening stance. Nodding, Master Urokodaki began to explain the method.

“To be honest, even we don’t fully understand the principles behind Breathing Techniques. All we know is that by filling the lungs with air, we quicken the heartbeat and circulate blood faster, enhancing physical capabilities.”

‘So, essentially, it’s a form of over-oxygenation that accelerates blood flow, energizing cells and enhancing their function?’

I nodded, recalling some pseudoscientific theories. What mattered was the outcome, not the explanation.

“The power of your breathing depends on how you apply pressure to your lungs, how you shape your mouth during inhalation, how you control your throat, how you visualize the flow of energy, and how you distribute force throughout your body. I intend to teach you not only the Water Breathing technique but also the theoretical foundations of the other four basic Breathing Techniques.”

“The other four?”

“If you were simply suited to Water Breathing alone, there would be no need. But the Stone Hashira tells me you possess extraordinary talent and may even be capable of creating your own breathing style through self-study. That’s why I’ll provide you with the theoretical knowledge of all five basics—to give you a strong foundation for innovation.”

“I see… That makes sense.”

Indeed, having multiple models for comparison would aid greatly in the creation of a new technique. Acknowledging the wisdom of Himejima’s advice, I bowed again in gratitude and began to study the fundamentals of Total Concentration Breathing.

—FWOOOSH!

Inhaling deeply, I aligned my muscle movements to a specific rhythm, expanding my lungs to their full capacity. That breath traveled to my heart, which began to beat with the rhythmic power of crashing waves. As the principles of breathing revealed themselves in the Unveiled World, I smoothly transitioned from Water Breathing to Stone Breathing.

—HUUUH!!!

Thump! Thump! Like boulders rolling down a cliff, the rhythm pulsed heavily, yet flowed gently with forceful waves. The Stone Breathing technique emanated a powerful vibration with each heartbeat.

—FWAAAAH!!!

I transitioned again. Illusions of flames burst from my mouth as the breath surged through my body with intense vitality—Flame Breathing. Feeling its force and essence, I confirmed its principles and nodded.

Next came Thunder Breathing.

—SZZZZZT!!

Crack! A torrent of uncontrolled energy surged through my body, intense and chaotic. It felt like the strongest, yet hardest to master among the five.

I studied it as well, then moved on to the final basic technique—Wind Breathing.

—SHWAAAA!!

It was sharp and invigorating, spreading throughout every corner of my body with refined energy. I analyzed its workings in the Unveiled World, determined to understand each aspect in preparation for creating my own style.

Water Breathing was gentle and least taxing on the body. Flame Breathing was powerful but burdensome. Wind Breathing offered balanced power and control, wrapping the body in tightly packed energy. Stone Breathing was slow but immensely stable. Thunder Breathing was explosive and the most potent—yet also the most difficult to control.

It became clear why Thunder Breathing often centered around a single, concentrated technique like Thunderclap and Flash. Focusing all effort on mastering one overwhelming strike was likely the only way to harness its chaotic energy.

‘Water and Wind Breathing might be the most suitable bases for Flower Breathing…’

Flame and Thunder were too intense for the delicate image I had in mind. Stone Breathing lacked the lightness needed for agile movement. Only Water and Wind truly resonated with the concept of “flower.”

So, I would use those two as the foundation for my creation.

Water Breathing circulated gently and efficiently, placing minimal strain on the body. However, that gentleness sometimes compromised power. By combining it with Wind Breathing’s method of tightly packed energy flowing throughout the body, I could maintain a low strain while enhancing overall strength.

And if I could incorporate my own originality into the mix, I might just be able to create Flower Breathing.

Six months after beginning my training under Master Urokodaki, I officially began the development of my own Breathing Style.

By blending the fluidity of Water Breathing with the full-body reinforcement of Wind Breathing, I could channel strength smoothly throughout my entire body.

Using that strength, I specialized in rotational motion—circulating my limbs and muscles in arcs, reinforcing both extension and retraction for seamless transitions. This created a flowing, continuous combat style.

Leveraging the gentle deceleration from Water Breathing and the explosive acceleration from Wind Breathing, I combined the principles of “Relaxation” and “Snap Striking” to maximize the destructive power of every blow.

That power was immense. The force rippled through my sword, creating high-frequency vibrations that sharpened the blade’s aura like an illusion of sword energy. A temporary slash remained in the air as the blade cut through space, creating sharp vacuum trails that resembled petals scattering in the wind.

This dazzling, ever-changing technique was dubbed Flower Breathing—a style born from vibrational force, precision, and grace.

A sword art so unique, Master Urokodaki himself shook his head in awe.

“This is a technique that will never be passed down. Aside from you and Kanae, no one else could possibly master it…”

“Is it really that difficult?”

“Without entering that realm you described—the Unveiled World—it would be impossible to learn. Even as a former Water Hashira, I wouldn’t dare attempt it…”

“…That’s unfortunate.”

I clicked my tongue in regret—but in truth, I had achieved my purpose. I had entered the world of Demon Slayer to create a new technique—and I had done just that.

With that thought in mind, I decided it was time to pause this journey.

‘Pause Simulation.’

With those words, I exited the world of Demon Slayer and returned to reality.

It was time to re-enter the world of One Piece.