Sand Breathing

The **Sand Breathing** *(Suna no Kokyu)* is a Breathing Style derived from the Stone Breathing.

## **Overview:**

The Sand Breathing was created by Suguru Sunarashi to compensate for his lack of aptitude on the Stone Breathing. Most of the techniques are designed to kick up dust and conceal the user in a true sandstorm. After a while, a boy named Shinku Sakamoto developed nine techniques for the Naginata, due to his lack of proficiency on the Kusarigama.

Sand Breathing users can expect their Nichirin items to turn Bronze in color, and it is best to use this Style with either a Kusarigama or a Naginata. This Style's aura is composed of sand being kicked up and following the user's weapons.

## **Known Techniques:**

Suguru Sunarashi created six Forms for the Kusarigama, while Shinku Sakamoto developed parallel techniques for the Naginata, and three other original Forms.

### **Kusarigama:**

* **First Form: Buried in Dunes** *(Ichi no Kata: Ume Rareta Sakyu)* - The user will manipulate both ends of the kama in a low stance, bringing nearly against one another, however, keeping one end above the other, as they slash two times at once.

* **Second Form: Desert Blade** *(Ni no Kata: Sabaku no Ha)* - The user spins their chains all around themselves, forming large blades with the attacks. This form can contend with actual swords in a duel.

* **Third Form: Shrivel and Die** *(San no Kata: Chidjinde Shinu)* - The user spins their chains continuously, to tear an opponent in close proximity’s body apart. This attack does leave the user with plenty of openings.

* **Fourth Form: Sand Cannon** *(Shi no Kata: Suna Taiho)* - The user throws a scythe in the opponent’s face with maximum momentum forward. The attack is supposed to pierce through any defences and poison the opponent.

* **Fifth Form: Booming Sands** *(Go no Kata: Todoroki Suna)* - The user spins both scythes around, forcing them upwards and then downwards in a devastating, long-ranged attack. This move causes immense damage, and can continue even after the scythes have been planted on the ground.

* **Sixth Form: Desert Whirlwind** *(Roku no Kata: Sabaku Senpu)* - The user spins both scythes in a single direction in a short-ranged movement. This is a defensive form. The attack can swiftly change directions, to avoid attacks coming from anywhere

### **Naginata:**

* **First Form: Buried in Dunes** *(Ichi no Kata: Ume Rareta Sakyu)* - The user performs two continuous slashes from opposite directions in quick succession, with its cuts having a powerful range and damage

* **Second Form: Desert Blade** *(Ni no Kata: Sabaku no Ha)* - The user begins to perform powerful, long ranged horizontal slashes, reaching a massive area and going under the opponent's defenses

* **Third Form: Shrivel and Die** *(San no Kata: Chidjinde Shinu)* - The user performs quick, skin-level cuts on the opponent, over and over. This can be used as a defensive Form

* **Fourth Form: Sand Cannon** *(Shi no Kata: Suna Taiho)* - Throwing away their weapon, the user launches their spear full-force against the opponent, tearing through any defenses and stunning them.

* **Fifth Form: Booming Sands** *(Go no Kata: Todoroki Suna)* - The user jumps up in the air, swinging their weapon downward and striking with all their strength and weight.

* **Sixth Form: Desert Whirlwind** *(Roku no Kata: Sabaku Senpu)* - The user slashes all around themselves with their weapon continuously. This Form is designed to be used while moving, and to tear through a multitude of enemies

* **Seventh Form: Malevolent Punishment** *(Shichi no Kata: Kyoakuna Batsu)* - The user kicks the ground back, dashing while biding their time to thrust their weapon, causing immense damage with this singular attack.

* **Eighth Form: Infinite Sandstorm** *(Hachi no Kata: Mugen Sunarashi)* - The user jabs all around the target continuously, causing damage from omnidirectional attacks, performed so fast the used doesn't even appear to move. This attack tires the user out, however, and is designed only to attack a single target.

* **Ninth Form: Barren Breeze** *(Ku no Kata: Kaze no Koya)* - The user takes a powerful stance, using their enhanced sense of touch to map their surroundings completely. Using the range of the weapon, the user will thrust and pierce anything that enters their range.

## **Trivia:**

* The Sand Breathing's earliest iteration was the "Ground Breathing", which was subsequently scrapped when this one was made.
* The Sand Breathing is the Style with possibly the largest confirmed weapon range. The Kusarigama and the Naginata are two incredibly different weapons, but both are equally suited for the Sand Breathing.