Mere Gravel, Not Worth Half of Me!

Tanjiro?

Uchiha Hikari froze for a moment, then quickly realized.

So it wasn't "Calabash Brothers," but "Demon Slayer"?

Kamado Tanjiro, the protagonist of Demon Slayer—his head... really was quite hard. After all, he was the Demon Slayer Corps' Head Pillar.

Iron Head Kid: I don't really understand what you were talking about earlier, but you all must be very, very impressive seniors, right? May I ask you a question?

Nameless: ...Go ahead.

Iron Head Kid: How do I use a sword to cut through this rock? [rock.jpg]

"..."

A brief silence followed.

Forever with Sis: In Miss Hikari's world and mine, coating the blade in a layer of wind-nature Chakra would do it. But cutting through such a large rock in one strike requires great skill with the sword and Chakra control. If it's a world without Chakra, though, then I'm not too sure.

Forever with Sis @Nameless: Does Miss Hikari know?

Nameless: A little.

Nameless @Iron Head Kid: The world you live in is called the "Demon Slayer World." There are creatures known as demons that hide during the day, emerge at night, and prey on humans. To fight them, you need to master the "Breathing Technique" and the swordsmanship used alongside it... As for how exactly to train in the "Breathing Technique," your master Urokodaki should have taught you already. Just follow his instructions.

Uchiha Hikari responded based on the plot she remembered.

Meanwhile.

Iron Head Kid: The Breathing Technique... I understand. Thank you very much for your guidance, Miss Nameless and Mr. Forever with Sis!

He was quite polite.

Uchiha Hikari pondered for a moment.

Judging from Tanjiro's words, the Demon Slayer World's current point in time should be right at the beginning of the story.

—The Kamado Family had been slaughtered by demons, leaving behind only Tanjiro, who had gone out to sell charcoal, and his younger sister Nezuko, who had turned into a demon. Under the Water Pillar's guidance, Tanjiro found the trainer Urokodaki and began learning swordsmanship and the Breathing Technique in hopes of joining the Demon Slayer Corps. Cutting through the giant boulder was the final test Urokodaki had arranged.

According to the original plot, Tanjiro would receive guidance during his training from his late senior brother Sabito and the others, allowing him to complete the trial. Whether or not Uchiha Hikari gave him this reminder would not make much difference.

However...

Considering the Demon Slayer World's overall setting, Uchiha Hikari added one more sentence:

Nameless @Tanjiro: If you run into any trouble you can't handle, you can mention it in the group. Everyone would be more than happy to help you.

"Demons" were indeed dangerous and troublesome to ordinary people.

But to Uchiha Hikari, who possessed the Mangekyo, they were nothing much.

She happened to be somewhat interested in the Demon Slayer World's "Breathing Technique." Once she had some free time in a few days, perhaps she could discuss going over there with Tanjiro.

As for now...

Uchiha Hikari raised her head and listened to the wind in the forest.

"Someone's coming... Did they hear the commotion just now?"

Uchiha Hikari remained where she was and waited patiently.

Before long.

Several dark figures appeared in the nearby forest. After observing from afar for a while, they leaped down from the trees and approached the enormous crater left by the explosion, surrounding Uchiha Hikari on all sides.

"Who are you?"

"You caused that explosion just now, didn't you? Which ninja village are you from? What are you trying to do by infiltrating Konoha?"

"Hmph, the evidence is conclusive. Why even ask? She must be some naturally evil little spy from another village! Just drag her to the interrogation room and question her, then we'll know!"

"..."

Uchiha Hikari narrowed her eyes slightly and swept her gaze around.

These people were clearly all Anbu. They wore animal masks of various shapes, making their true identities impossible to discern. The only thing she could be certain of was that Kakashi was not among them, because not a single one of them had white hair.

"Who is your leader?"

Uchiha Hikari withdrew her gaze and spoke slowly. "I don't belong to any ninja village, nor do I intend to be your enemy. I simply have a few things I'd like to discuss with you. Could you tell me who Konoha's current Hokage is?"

"?"

The Anbu exchanged glances.

Uchiha Hikari genuinely wanted to know the answer, but her words were clearly taken as a provocation.

"Heh, asking such a stupid question... Are you mocking us? Looks like we'll have to take you in for interrogation. Come with us!"

As soon as the leading Anbu finished speaking, two people immediately rushed forward with blades in hand.

Uchiha Hikari instinctively stepped back.

But she had already been surrounded by the Anbu. The instant she moved, the Anbu behind her drew his short blade and charged in from the rear.

The wind howled!

The distance of less than ten meters vanished in an instant. The blade was already before her, and Uchiha Hikari could even feel the prickling pain of a blade at her back.

At the critical moment, she instinctively ducked low, her back barely avoiding the blade behind her. Then she stepped forward with the Body Flicker Technique, swiftly seized another ninja's wrist, and drove a punch into his stomach!

"Urgh—"

It was clearly a slender, delicate fist that did not look particularly powerful, yet the struck ninja's face changed on the spot, and he nearly lost his grip on the short blade in his hand.

Uchiha Hikari did not pause for even an instant. She snatched away his short blade, spun around, and swept it out, instantly unleashing a dazzling arc of sword light. The blade collided head-on with more than a dozen Shuriken, sending a string of blinding sparks flying!

"...Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Water Release: Water Whip!"

Taking advantage of the close-quarters clash, the Anbu leader rapidly completed his hand seals. As he pressed both hands to the ground, a vast amount of Chakra surged forth, sending the earth within a dozen meters into a frenzied upheaval. In an instant, huge earthen walls rose from the flat ground, while even the soil beneath Uchiha Hikari's feet swelled upward, lifting her entire body into the air!

At the same time, a torrential stream of water rushed at her, lashing toward Uchiha Hikari's waist!

It was clear that they still wanted to capture Uchiha Hikari alive rather than kill her.

But...

"Looks like you don't intend to have a proper conversation with me..."

Uchiha Hikari's expression darkened, scarlet light igniting in her eyes.

"?!"

"Those eyes... could they be..."

Before they could even say the words "Sharingan,"

Uchiha Hikari had already completed a dazzling sequence of hand seals: Rat—Ox—Dog—Horse—Monkey—Boar—Tiger!

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!!"

In an instant!

A blazing line of fire burst from Uchiha Hikari's mouth, then spread and unfurled in the blink of an eye, becoming an endless crimson sea of flames that surged into the sky. Like a blazing sun rising, it lit the night sky for hundreds of meters around as bright as day!

BOOM!!!

The blazing flames crashed into the earthen wall. The Anbu leader's Earth Flow Wall lasted only a second before it was crushed apart. The water filling the sky evaporated in an instant, turning into vast clouds of white steam that dispersed in every direction! The intense heat scorched the surrounding air, and for a time, the space within dozens of meters seemed to warp and distort!

Fire serpents danced wildly!

The heat spread!!

Amid the firelight, Uchiha Hikari's hair fluttered as her fair little face was dyed crimson:

"Insignificant dust... you are not even worth half of me!"