Thunder Breathing is a Breathing Style that mimics and replicates lightning based attacks/movements, specifically swift strikes and movements akin to lightning ripping through the sky, and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve utilizing blinding speeds and immensely fast attacks to overwhelm the enemy in an instant. Users of Thunder Breathing also visualize themselves seemingly creating and manipulating lightning and electricity when unleashing its techniques.
It has been remarked by Zenitsu Agatsuma that this Breathing Style focuses on channeling strength into the user's legs, and maximizing the output of every single muscle and blood vessel in them. Users also mimic lightning to such high fidelity that they cause the air to vibrate when poised to unleash a technique and create immensely loud sounds akin to thunder with their mere footsteps. This Breathing Style is also very reminiscent of a swordsmanship style practiced and utilized in real life known as Iaijutsu, a famous quick-draw sword technique.
This Breathing Style was created by one of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's students who attempted to learn Sun Breathing. But due to not being as innately powerful as Yoriichi, he was instead taught an alternated personalized Breathing Style that focused on their individual strengths and weaknesses, which eventually evolved into Thunder Breathing.
A known Cultivator of Thunder Breathing in the Demon Slayer Corps is the former Rumble Hashira, Jigoro Kuwajima.
Thunder Breathing has 6 standard forms in total, with the first form has been said to be the foundation for all and every other forms in this Breathing Style. However, Zenitsu Agatsuma developed a Seventh Form in order to stand on equal ground with Kaigaku, his former senior disciple under Jigoro, who had become the Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki. All 7 forms would be demonstrated.
Note: The second to sixth forms of Thunder Breathing have only been displayed by Kaigaku, who uses actual lightning in conjunction with his swordsmanship. While the forms are presumably still similar to the original style, it is currently unknown how a normal swordsman would perform these techniques, or if mastery of the first form would alter how the others are executed.
First Form: Thunderclap and Flash (壱いちノ型かた 霹へき靂れき一いっ閃せん, Ichi no kata: Hekireki Issen?) - The user unsheathes their katana, dashes forward at blinding speeds and slashing their opponent with a horizontal sweep faster than they can react, before sheathing it back. This technique is extremely reminiscent of Iaijutsu and its movements are described to be akin to "lightning ripping through the air".
Sixfold (六ろく連れん, Rokuren?) - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash six times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of his dashes.
Eightfold (八はち連れん, Hachiren?) - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash eight times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of his dashes.
Godlike Speed* (神しん速そく, Shinsoku?) - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash while greatly augmenting the speed of the technique. During the first display of this technique, an unconscious Zenitsu remarked that he mustn't perform this technique more than 2 times, otherwise his legs would be rendered useless due to muscle fatigue and exhaustion. However, during the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, Zenitsu has shown improvement in the proficiency of this technique, allowing him to use it more than 2 times while still maintaining the power and speed of the technique.
Second Form: Rice Spirit (弐にノ型かた 稲いな魂だま, Ni no kata: Inadama?) - The user delivers five, consecutive, arching lightning slashes in quick succession in a single breath.
Third Form: Thunder Swarm (参さんノ型かた 聚しゅう蚊ぶん成せい雷らい, San no kata: Shūbun Seirai?) - The user rapidly circles around the enemy and assaults them with a series of wide, arched, lightning slashes from all directions, surrounding them in a series of afterimages.
Fourth Form: Distant Thunder (肆しノ型かた 遠えん雷らい, Shi no kata: Enrai?) - The user charges forward at high speeds and releases a multitude of electric slashes in a single sword strike.
Fifth Form: Heat Lightning (伍ごノ型かた 熱ねつ界かい雷らい, Go no kata: Netsu Kairai?) - The user takes a stance and swings their sword upwards, electrocuting their opponent with lightning.
Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash (陸ろくノ型かた 電でん轟ごう雷らい轟ごう, Roku no kata: Dengō Raigō?) - The user unleashes a horizontal slash, which releases a series of powerful long-ranged lightning attacks. The multitude and range of these bolts makes the form difficult to evade.
Seventh Form: God of Fire Thunder* (漆しちノ型かた 火ほの雷いかづちの神かみ, Shichi no kata: Honoikazuchi no Kami?) - The personal creation of Zenitsu Agatsuma. The user dashes forward at blinding speeds and unleashes a singular, horizontal slash at a low stance, which is seemingly accompanied by a blue-to-yellow gradient, lightning-like Japanese dragon. Using this form, Zenitsu's footwork in preparation was powerful enough to create surges of lightning around his surroundings, and he was able to cross a great distance after falling several hundred feet down a chasm of the Infinity Castle.
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