Moon Breathing

The Moon Breathing (の) is a Breathing Style derived from the Sun Breathing.

The Moon Breathing combat and breathing style mimics the Moon, specifically the shape of classical crescent moons, and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and swordsmanship. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms are standard yet powerful strikes and movements that always follow the shape and pattern of a crescent moon. When used properly, the user visualizes bright yellow or blue crescent moons emanating from their weapon or parts of their body.

It has been revealed that, like all of the other original Breathing Styles, the Moon Breathing also branched out of the Sun Breathing. When its creator, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, attempted to learn the Sun Breathing from his twin brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, he discovered he was unable to master it and so was instead trained in an alternate Breathing Style. Yoriichi created it fit and cover his individual strengths and weaknesses, and Michikatsu then continued to train and develop this breathing until it eventually evolved into its own unique Breathing Style, which he named Moon Breathing.

This Breathing Style is only used by Upper Rank 1, Kokushibo, who was one of the first Demon Slayers who utilized breathing techniques and a powerful demon, he has enhanced this breathing style using his Blood Demon Art, allowing him to create tangible crescent moons with every sword swing, each of them as sharp as blades, making this combat style is one of, if not the, most powerful and deadly ones showcased thus far. It is known that Kokushibo continued to develop and add techniques to the Breathing Style over the centuries as an immortal Demon. At this point in the story, it is the only known Breathing Style to possess at least 16 different techniques, easily surpassing the other Breathing Styles.

Techniques

 * 1) First Form: Dark Moon - Evening Palace (ノ ・の) - Kokushibo draws his sword and slashes swiftly in a single motion; like with all Moon Breathing techniques, numerous chaotic crescent blades originate from the slash. This technique is reminiscent of Iaijutsu.
 * 2) Second Form: Pearl Flowers Moongazing (の ノ) - Kokushibo performs several slashes that defend him from incoming attacks while also creating a barrage of crescent blades.
 * 3) Third Form: Loathsome Moon - Chains (ノ ・り) - Kokushibo swings his sword rapidly in two gigantic crescent slashes, from which a storm of smaller crescents spread. This technique causes huge destruction in a small area.


 * Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy (ノ) - Kokushibo makes multiple curved slashes layered over one another, resembling a rising vortex. Sanemi Shinazugawa noted that Kokushibo performed this attack without swinging his blade.


 * Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Incessant (ノ ・) - Kokushibo releases a wild barrage of crescent-shaped slashes in front of him. This technique was powerful enough to not only slice up multiple Hashira around him but also overwhelm the Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa.


 * Seventh Form: Mirror of Misfortune - Moonlit (ノ ・え) - Kokushibo swings his sword in a powerful frontal slash that then creates a multi-directional frontal assault, powerful enough to create several deep gouges in the ground and push back two Hashira.


 * Eighth Form: Moon-Dragon Ringtail (ノ) - Kokushibo triples the range of his normal attack radius and creates a singular gigantic slash that slowly decreases in size.


 * Ninth Form: Waning Moonswaths (ノ り・) - Kokushibo creates a seemingly endless stream of claw-like vertical and horizontal slashes, capable of cutting down his intended target from a long range.


 * Tenth Form: Drilling Slashes - Moon Through Bamboo Leaves (ノ ・) - Kokushibo creates a triple-layered slash twister, capable of mowing down his targets into three clean pieces.


 * Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe - Tenman Crescent Moon (ノ ・) - One of the Moon Breathing's most powerful techniques. An advanced and more powerful version of Kokushibo's Moon Breathing: Fifth Form. He swings his sword and creates a chaotic vortex of powerful omni-directional slashes that destroys whatever is caught up within its attack radius.


 * Sixteenth Form: Moonbow - Half Moon (ノ ・れ) - Possibly the Moon Breathing's most powerful technique. Kokushibo creates a barrage of downward crescent slashes, resulting in a powerful sixfold slash crashing down on his opponents; the attack itself is powerful enough to create several miniature craters where the slashes have landed. As this technique is so wide-ranged, it can easily surround and overwhelm multiple enemies at once.