Check-in at Mt. Sagiri

Mt. Sagiri got its name because fog covers it until the sun comes out. The former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki, lived here year-round as a trainer. Since half the day had no sunlight, Sakuji Urokodaki could also better protect others here.

Tsugikuni Kuuga walked through the misty mountain path to the Water Breathing group's residence. A young girl was carrying a bucket of water toward the house.

The girl wore a plum blossom patterned short kimono, her ink-green hair flowing in the wind. This was Giyu Tomioka's senior disciple sister, Makomo, a lovely girl.

Makomo noticed Giyu Tomioka and the other had returned safely. She quickly set down the bucket and ran toward the wooden house, shouting, "Master! Senior disciple brother and junior disciple brother are back!"

Makomo's voice was ethereal, her words light and airy, like a linnet.

Hearing his disciple's voice, Sakuji Urokodaki rushed out instantly. For over a dozen generations of disciples, this was the first time someone had returned alive from the Final Selection. Sakonji Urokodaki was overjoyed.

Sakuji Urokodaki burst out of the wooden house and didn't even notice Tsugikuni Kuuga. He directly hugged both disciples in his arms. Sabito and Giyu Tomioka were stunned—their usually steady master had never lost his composure like this.

Makomo walked over too, the smile on her face never fading since she saw Sabito and the others.

"Master! I understand your feelings, but it seems there's someone else here!"

Makomo's reminder snapped Sakuji Urokodaki back to reality. He quickly let go of his two bewildered disciples and regained his composure.

"Young brother, forgive my rudeness!" Sakuji Urokodaki said somewhat awkwardly.

"It's only human, completely understandable. I'd be even more excited!" Tsugikuni Kuuga smiled.

Then Tsugikuni Kuuga bowed first. He deeply respected trainers like Sakuji Urokodaki, who not only toiled for the Demon Slayer Corps their whole lives but also diligently supplied fresh blood to the Corps after retirement.

"This Humble One is Tsugikuni Kuuga, from the Butterfly Mansion!"

Sakuji Urokodaki quickly helped Tsugikuni Kuuga up. He didn't understand why this person would bow upon first meeting.

"First meeting, young brother, no need for such formality!"

"It's nothing! I'm showing respect to a trainer like you!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said.

Sabito pulled Makomo over and introduced her to Tsugikuni Kuuga: "This is Makomo. Though she's younger than Giyu, she came earlier, so she's the senior disciple sister!"

Makomo walked up to Tsugikuni Kuuga and said with a smile, "Nice to meet you, I'm Makomo. Please take care of me!"

"Hello, lovely senior disciple sister!" Tsugikuni Kuuga replied.

Tsugikuni Kuuga's words made Makomo a bit shy. After all, the two guys around her were both straightforward men who had no idea how to compliment a little girl.

"By the way, Master, Kuuga saved us. If not for him, Giyu and I might not have made it back!" Sabito said.

"Is that so! Then we'll have to make extra good food today to thank him!" Sakonji Urokodaki said with a smile.

Then the Water Breathing group returned to the house. Tsugikuni Kuuga said he wanted to look around Mt. Sagiri. Mr. Urokodaki readily agreed to his request.

Urokodaki watched Tsugikuni Kuuga's retreating figure, feeling puzzled. Through his sense of smell, he could tell Tsugikuni Kuuga was very strong—definitely stronger than his own disciples. He wondered how that young man had managed it, but he felt this youth might be able to put an end to this thousand-year fate.

"Master, what's wrong?" Makomo tugged at Sakuji Urokodaki's sleeve.

"Nothing. Alright, let's prepare. We need to properly host that young man!"

"Master, let me help!" Sabito rolled up his sleeves.

Makomo pulled Giyu Tomioka aside to chop firewood. In reality, Giyu Tomioka did the chopping while Makomo watched nearby.

But this showed what true inner peace meant. With a beauty like Makomo staring at him the whole time, Giyu Tomioka's heart remained utterly calm. No wonder he could comprehend Water Breathing: Eleventh Form, Calm.

"Junior disciple brother, you seem different!" Makomo said.

Giyu Tomioka only replied flatly, "Is that so?"

"Oh dear! You're always so aloof. How will you ever find a wife like this? Sigh!" Makomo sighed.

"I won't start a family until I've killed all the demons!" Giyu said seriously.

"You blockhead!" Makomo teased.

But without her noticing, she had already moved behind Giyu Tomioka. Her speed was remarkable. Like Shinobu Kocho, Makomo wasn't strong, so she specialized in speed.

Makomo pinched Giyu Tomioka's soft cheek and then ran off. After all, little girls loved to play. Giyu Tomioka continued chopping firewood, unperturbed.

At the top of Mt. Sagiri, Tsugikuni Kuuga sat on the ground resting. He had just experienced the same training as the Head Pillar, which fulfilled one of his small wishes.

He had to admit, the traps Mr. Urokodaki set were quite ingenious, excellent for training evasion. The sun had just set, so the forest fog was still thick.

Tsugikuni Kuuga stood up and walked to the other side of the traps. The vast Mt. Sagiri was well worth appreciating—that hazy, misty feeling always gave a kind of dreamlike beauty.

Walking through the forest, breathing fresh air, Tsugikuni Kuuga felt completely alive. Though being at the summit, the oxygen was a bit thin.

As he walked, Tsugikuni Kuuga realized he might have gone deep into Mt. Sagiri. He decided to turn back, or he'd definitely get lost once it got completely dark.

Just then, he heard a girl's crying from within the fog. Tsugikuni Kuuga followed the sound. Around the mountainside, he spotted two black figures in the mist.

One figure seemed to be an adult. The one lying on the ground looked like a little girl. The crying came from her.

"Please, don't eat me, boohoo!" The girl's voice trembled.

"But you look delicious!" The man replied.

Hearing the man's words, the girl grew even more frightened. She slowly crawled backward, her body rustling against the fallen leaves.

Then Tsugikuni Kuuga saw the man in the fog grab the girl by the neck and lift her up. The sound of tearing clothes followed.

What the hell, even demons had perverts? Hearing the sound of torn clothes, Tsugikuni Kuuga was dumbfounded. Good grief—wild mountains, a man and a woman, clothes tearing. As a righteous gentleman, Tsugikuni Kuuga smiled.

What was he thinking? Wasn't this just tearing the wrapper to eat the food? Perfectly normal. As Tsugikuni Kuuga thought this, he quickened his pace. Saving someone was the priority, of course. Checking out the girl? That didn't exist.