Tanjiro wanted to say how could a human overcome gravity but before he could finish, his wide-open mouth couldn't close.
He saw Yamada lift his right foot and step directly onto the vertical tree trunk. Without any momentum from a sprint, and without using his hands to climb, he walked just like he was on flat ground.
One step, two steps, three steps...
His body kept completely parallel to the ground, leisurely walking up that vertical pine tree.
"You're lying!!!"
Zenitsu clutched his head with both hands, letting out a scream, "Why can you ignore gravity?! Did you paint super glue on the soles of your feet?! This is not swordsmanship at all, this is magic! It's definitely magic!"
Inosuke, who had climbed out of the pond, was also stunned, his eyes under the boar mask wide. "I want to learn this too! Is this the legendary Mountain King's footwork?"
Yamada walked under a thick branch, turned upside down, and stuck his feet to the bottom of the branch, hanging upside down like a bat. He crossed his arms and looked down at the three stunned little ones below.
This was the most basic Chakra control training in the world of Naruto—tree walking.
But in the world of Demon Slayer, where the power level wasn't high, the visual impact of this scene was comparable to a miracle.
"Stop looking. This is the application of Chakra, you will never learn it in your lifetime." Yamada shattered their fantasies.
"Then what did you let us watch for?!" Zenitsu yelled in a breakdown.
"Don't rush. I mean, although you can't learn to hang upside down, you can train your evasion."
Yamada flipped his wrist and pulled out a dozen balloons filled with water from who knows where.
"For the next half hour, I will throw these water balloons down. Whoever gets hit once, their lunch portion will be halved. If you get hit three times, you'll go help Aoi scrub toilets all day."
As soon as he finished speaking, the water balloons in Yamada's hand had already turned into afterimages, heading straight for Zenitsu's face.
"Waaaah! Help!"
Zenitsu scrambled away in terror. The water balloon smashed onto the bluestone slab where he had originally stood, instantly exploding into a huge splash.
"Concentrate! Don't just scream!"
Tanjiro immediately drew his wooden sword, attempting to parry with the hilt. But the water balloons thrown by Yamada were not only extremely fast, but they also changed trajectory in mid-air due to the attachment of Chakra.
Even with Tanjiro's sharp sense of smell, he couldn't avoid being hit right on the forehead by a curving water balloon.
Splat!
Tanjiro instantly became drenced.
"Bastard! Take this throw from me!" Inosuke picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the tree.
Yamada hung upside down on the branch, tilted his head slightly, and the stone flew past his ear.
He casually threw two water balloons, smashing them onto Inosuke's boar mask.
For the next half hour, the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion turned into a tragic, one-sided massacre.
"Help... stop throwing, boss! I was wrong! I shouldn't have been jealous that you're handsome! Glug..."
Zenitsu rolled wildly in the mud, already doubting life from being smashed so much.
Just at this chaotic moment, light footsteps sounded from outside the gate leading to the backyard.
"Oh my, I heard the commotion from far away. Shinobu-chan, your courtyard is really lively." A vibrant voice rang out.
A girl with pink hair, wearing an extremely revealing Demon Slayer uniform, walked in with a smile. Her cheeks had a natural blush, and she was carrying an exquisite food box in her hand.
Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri.
Following beside Mitsuri was a helpless-looking Shinobu.
Shinobu was wearing a light purple haori today, and seeing the three mud figures rolling on the ground in the courtyard, as well as Yamada hanging upside down on the tree, she immediately felt a headache.
"Yamada, you're bullying them again." Shinobu sighed, but no blame could be heard in her tone.
Yamada released his feet, flipped his body lightly in mid-air, and landed steadily on the veranda, not a drop of water on him.
"Just special training." He clapped his hands, his gaze falling on the food box brought by Mitsuri. "Did you bring something delicious?"
"Hello, Yamada-san. I am the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri."
Mitsuri saw Yamada approaching, and countless pink stars instantly appeared in her eyes.
She held her hands to her chest, screaming frantically inside, 'Waaaah! Yamada-san looks so handsome up close. Not only does he have the aura of a powerhouse, but there's also such a lazy and charming feeling. Who can withstand this?'
She hurriedly handed over the food box in her hand. "This is Sakura Mochi I made myself. I heard Yamada-san was here, so I specially brought it for you all to taste."
"Thanks."
Yamada didn't stand on ceremony, took the food box, opened it, took out a pink Sakura Mochi, and took a bite. The sweetness was moderate, with a faint cherry blossom fragrance, and it tasted quite good.
Mitsuri watched Yamada eat the Sakura Mochi, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and she couldn't help but lean into Shinobu's ear, lowering her voice to gossip. "Hey, Shinobu-chan. How far have you two developed now? I heard you not only live in the same courtyard, but he even carries the sachet you gave him when he goes on missions. It's as sweet as a newlywed couple. When is the wedding? Can I come?"
This barrage of questions caused Shinobu's brain to crash instantly.
The Insect Hashira, known for her sharp tongue and dark belly, was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her entire face flushed red instantly, and even her speech stuttered.
"Mi... Mitsuri! What nonsense are you talking about? What newlywed... we don't have that kind of relationship. He's just a shameless freeloader."
"Eh? Are you lying?"
Mitsuri blinked, looking at Yamada in disbelief. "But I clearly saw the look in your eyes when you looked at him just now, that look full of love can't be faked. This is the sour smell of love."
Shinobu was ashamed and angry, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to defend herself, a hand suddenly wrapped around her shoulders.
Yamada naturally pulled her into his arms, and with his other hand holding the half-eaten Sakura Mochi, he handed it to Shinobu's lips.
"Don't listen to her nonsense."
Yamada looked at Mitsuri, a wicked smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "We're not some newlywed couple. We're still in the passionate phase of our relationship."
Boom!
It was as if a bomb had detonated in Shinobu's brain. Her whole body instantly stiffened into a piece of wood.
She subconsciously opened her mouth, and Yamada took the opportunity to stuff the Sakura Mochi in.