Water Breathing

The **Water Breathing** *(Mizu no Kokyu)*, is one of the five main Breathing Styles known, and one of the direct branches of the Sun Breathing. It is also the Style with the most branches itself.

## **Overview:**

The Water Breathing is a Breathing Style that mimics water, specifically the flow, flexibility and adaptability of the liquid and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques involve the user bending their body, arm and weapon in a fluid motion to match the movements of rushing or flowing water. Users also create and manipulate aural water when unleashing its techniques.

This Breathing Style was originally created by Suiryu Ichimizu, one of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's students who attempted to learn Sun Breathing, but since Yoriichi's techniques weren't fit for his body, he developed the Water Breathing we know today, up to the Sixth Form.

A Water Breathing user's Nichirin tools turn cerulean blue, and the Water Breathing can be performed by a regular Nichirin Katana.

## **Known Techniques:**

The Water Breathing, at its inception with Suiryu Ichimizu, had six Forms. Throughout years of development, it reached the total of ten Forms. Finally, Giyu Tomioka, the current Water Pillar, took time to develop ten other techniques.

* **First Form: Water Surface Slash** *(Ichi no Kata: Minamo Giri)* - The user generates enough momentum to create a powerful single concentrated slash, usually aimed at the neck.

* **Second Form: Water Wheel** *(Ni no Kata: Mizu Guruma)* - The user leaps and vertically spins forward in the air while releasing a flowing attack in a circular motion. One alteration of this form is to perform it horizontally.

* **Third Form: Flowing Dance** *(San no Kata: Ryuryu Mai)* - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path.

* **Fourth Form: Striking Tide** *(Shi no Kata: Uchishio)* - The user makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting their body and sword in a flowing fashion to deliver multiple blows simultaneously. The user may increase the quantity of consecutive strikes and slashes in order to contact a specific target during a chaotic situation.

* **Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After The Drought** *(Go no Kata: Kanten no Jiu)* - The user changes the grip on their sword and decapitates the opponent in a single flowing strike that causes little to no pain. It is a “sword strike of kindness” used when the enemy willingly surrenders.

* **Sixth Form: Whirlpool** *(Roku no Kata: Nejire Uzu)* - The user fiercely twists their upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool of air that cuts anything caught in it. Its effect and efficiently is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to enhance their slashes. This form can be combined with the Third to redirect projectiles

* **Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust** *(Shichi no Kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki)* - The user performs a fast and accurate stab, hitting from a specific angle corresponding to the sword's structure, which nearly nullifies the impact and momentum of a moving object.

* **Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin** *(Hachi no Kata: Takitsubo)* - The user cuts the target vertically in a flowing motion which is most effective when they are falling downward.

* **Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent** *(Ku no Kata: Suiryu Shibuki - Ran)* - The user changes their footwork in a way that minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal when fighting in a place with no solid foothold.

* **Tenth Form: Constant Flux** *(Ju no Kata: Seisei Ruten)* - The user performs a continuous flowing attack which seemingly takes the form of a water dragon that increases in strength and power with each rotation due to momentum.

* **Eleventh Form: Dead Calm** *(Ju Ichi no Kata: Nagi)* - The user ceases all body movements and enters a state of complete tranquillity, deflecting, blocking and cutting any incoming attacks with imperceptible speed with their blade. Despite being considered official, only its creator and his son, Giyu and Gikuro Tomioka, have been able to perform it

* **Twelfth Form: Sudden Tide** *(Ju Ni no Kata: Totsuzen no Shio)* - The user slides across the nearest surface to strike the opponent from below, slashing upwards in a diagonal cut, aiming to dodge the enemy's defences. While lacking power, this attack is difficult to block successfully.

* **Thirteenth Form: Continuous Current** *(Ju San no Kata: Renzoku Denryu)* - The user will use a modified version of the Third Form to slash a single target continuously. This form was designed to attack Muzan.

* **Fourteenth Form: Death, Tidal Waves** *(Ju Shi no Kata: Shibo, Naori Hato)* - The user will start performing the Eleventh Form, only to appear behind the opponent, bringing down their sword at immense speeds

* **Fifteenth Form: Ocean's Wrath** *(Ju Go no Kata: Umi no Ikari)* - The user leaps forward and attacks twice, spinning their body in two circles, forming a gigantic x-shape that strikes down anything in its path. This attack is incredibly quick and hard to follow.

* **Sixteenth Form: Brutal Waterspout** *(Ju Roku no Kata: Mugoi Suichu)* - The user twists and turns their entire body, spinning around extremely quickly while being capable of shifting surfaces. Moving extremely quickly, this attack can cause immense damage.

* **Seventeenth Form: Suffocating Brine** *(Ju Shichi no Kata: Chissoku Ensui)* - The user continually strikes the opponent near the head, not allowing them to move with continuous and incessant attacks that make the opponent unable to focus or strike back

* **Eighteenth Form: Red Tide** *(Ju Hachi no Kata: Akashio)* - The user slashes against the opponent's eyes, blocking their line of sight and distracting them, making an opening to get a clear blow against the neck. The Form is named as such because the Aura formed by it is oddly red.

* **Nineteenth Form: Deadly Vortex** *(Ju Ku no Kata: Chimei-Tekina Uzu)* - The user approaches from an off-angle, reaching the opponent and fiercely spinning them around with their blade. This attack, much like the others, can be used effectively underwater

* **Twentieth Form: Steaming Black Sea** *(Ni Ju no Kata: Mushi Kokkai)* - Obscuring their movement, the user crouches and attacks from below, sliding across the ground to approach the opponent as best as possible and avoiding detection, ending with a singular powerful slash to decapitate

* **Twenty-First Form: High Tide** *(Ni Ju Ichi no Kata: Michishio)* - The user builds up an insane amount of momentum, generated through movement. This Form is to be used with as much focus as the Eleventh Form, as they are nearly the same, although, this one is a massive, serpentine dragon in aura, and is so fast that it happens in a blink. This form is technically an esoteric technique of the Tomioka family, as no one other than Giyu and his son Gikuro have ever been capable of performing it.

## **Trivia:**

* Despite being the easiest Style to learn, the Water Breathing is one of the hardest to master.