Tsugikuni Michikatsu

A tall man rolled out from the bushes, his body covered in wounds and tattered rags, looking quite disheveled.

However, judging by the sword at his side and his remarkably tall, imposing stature, it was clear he came from a distinguished samurai lineage.

What was most striking was the man's face; handsome and composed, it bore a five or six-part resemblance to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

"Brother?!"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's eyes widened, looking at the familiar face before him with a mix of surprise and delight.

This was his older brother, Tsugikuni Michikatsu, with whom he had grown up during his childhood.

"Why are you here?"

"And..."

Tsugikuni Michikatsu also recognized the younger brother who had run away from home, his heart filled with surprise as well.

"Yoriichi!"

But after the surprise faded, Tsugikuni Michikatsu fell into a somber mood.

"The samurai of the Tsugikuni Clan have all been killed."

"By a group of monsters known as Demons."

"I was pursued by them relentlessly, and that is how I managed to escape here!"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi sighed upon hearing this, his expression filled with pity.

"So the Tsugikuni Clan has also..."

Although Tsugikuni Yoriichi had little affection for anyone other than his mother and brother, knowing that the people of his clan had all died at the hands of Demons still left him feeling a sense of sorrow.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the disheveled Tsugikuni Michikatsu with an intrigued expression.

This world still possessed the effects of fate; the contradictory existences of Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Tsugikuni Michikatsu had met after all.

Compared to the Upper Rank One Kokushibo from hundreds of years in the future, the head of the Tsugikuni samurai family before him appeared so handsome and valiant.

Even the disheveled state of his wounds and appearance could not diminish his presence.

I just wonder, now that I have influenced things...

Will Tsugikuni Michikatsu still walk the path of a Demon?

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered.

On the other side, the two brothers finished their long conversation, and Tsugikuni Yoriichi brought his brother before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Lord Sarutobi..."

"This is my brother, Tsugikuni Michikatsu, who is also an exceptionally gifted swordsman."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and offered a friendly smile to Tsugikuni Michikatsu.

"I have heard of you."

"As a swordsman, you are indeed quite qualified."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked strange upon hearing this; he did not recall ever mentioning his brother to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to understand his brother very well.

Tsugikuni Michikatsu also felt a sense of unease, finding the gaze of this superior, whose aura was far heavier than his own, to be somewhat peculiar.

It made him feel quite uncomfortable.

While Sarutobi Hiruzen understood that Tsugikuni Michikatsu might not be as purely virtuous as Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he held no negative opinion of him.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had said, he held high regard for Tsugikuni Michikatsu's resolve as a swordsman, and his desire to improve and grow stronger even if it meant becoming a Demon.

After all, the fear of death and the desire for strength were normal human cravings and needs; Tsugikuni Michikatsu had simply chosen the path that many would choose.

Not everyone was born a saint, like Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not engage further with Tsugikuni Michikatsu; there were few people in this world worth his time, and Tsugikuni Michikatsu was certainly not among them.

This understanding came with a prerequisite: that he must not stand in his way.

Watching Sarutobi Hiruzen's departing back, a chill silently rose in Tsugikuni Michikatsu's heart.

The playful, piercing gaze from just moments ago felt as if it had seen right through him.

Furthermore, Sarutobi Hiruzen's aura was heavier than his own as the head of a samurai clan, which only made him more curious about the identity of this mysterious old man.

Night fell.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's group did not continue on the road, choosing instead to set up camp where they were.

The campfire shone brightly, illuminating those gathered around it.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi maintained his Nichirin Sword, while Tsugikuni Michikatsu practiced the Breathing Style he had learned from his brother earlier that day.

Masahiro was diligently refining his Chakra, while Perfect 1 stood silently once more, wrapped in his cloak, standing beside Sarutobi Hiruzen as he read a scroll, looking like a temple guardian.

The heat of the campfire dispelled the cold wind nearby, but it was powerless against the chill drifting in from further away.

"My lord."

Masahiro picked up his weapon and signaled toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

However, Tsugikuni Michikatsu interrupted, "Mr. Sarutobi..."

"Yoriichi."

"Please, let me try."

"I want to take my revenge alone!"

"My family, and my subordinates..."

"They were all killed by these bastards!"

"I want to sever their heads with my own hands!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shrugged, having no objections, and although Tsugikuni Yoriichi felt some concern, he nodded after seeing the determined look on his brother's face.

"Thank you..."

Tsugikuni Michikatsu remained very polite; he borrowed the Nichirin Sword from Tsugikuni Yoriichi and left the side of the campfire.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

"Squelch, squelch, squelch..."

Immediately, from the bushes obscuring the view nearby, the sounds of weapons clashing and blades sinking into flesh rang out incessantly.

Ten minutes later, a blood-drenched Tsugikuni Michikatsu returned to the campfire and returned the blood-free Nichirin Sword to Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

But aside from his heavy, ragged breathing, the blood on Tsugikuni Michikatsu's body did not belong to him; it belonged to the hostile demons.

Masahiro looked at Tsugikuni Michikatsu before him with a mixture of wariness and envy; he had seen Tsugikuni Michikatsu's swordsmanship during the day, and such skill was second to none even within the Demon Slayer Corps.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded inwardly at the sight.

Although Tsugikuni Michikatsu's personality was somewhat wretched and his talent was far inferior to Tsugikuni Yoriichi's, among mortals, Tsugikuni Michikatsu's talent was undoubtedly top-tier.

One could see his aptitude for swordsmanship in the fact that he had managed to escape from demons time and again even before he had mastered a Breathing Style.

And after learning Tsugikuni Yoriichi's Breathing Style, Tsugikuni Michikatsu had adapted to it in a single day, nearly fully mastering the flow of the technique.

Such talent could be described as truly terrifying.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi also looked at his brother with gratification; being able to reunite with his brother and fight side-by-side was a source of great happiness for him.

"Hm?!"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi suddenly looked up at the sky, where a black crow was flying down.

It landed directly in front of Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

This was a crow raised within the Ubuyashiki clan, said to carry the bloodline of yokai, possessing the ability to track people, find paths, and deliver messages.

Usually, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his group, while far outside the Demon Slayer Corps, also used these crows to exchange intelligence with the Ubuyashiki leader.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi removed the note tied to the crow's leg and unfolded it to read.

His expression immediately turned grave, "Lord Sarutobi!"

"According to the Master..."

"Traces of the Demon King have been discovered!"