Giyu Tomioka

Under the moonlight, the group slowly left Spider Mountain and headed along the mountain road toward the nearest town.

Their shadows stretched long through the woods. The wind swept through, lifting up Kaina's still-steaming figure, like a blazing flame that had not yet cooled, silent yet dazzling.

On this day, the young members of the Demon Slayer Corps witnessed a combat system outside of Breathing Techniques for the first time.

It was a Taijutsu that could tear demons apart with just the bare flesh, without using Nichirin Blade or Blood Demon Art—a world they had never heard of before had quietly appeared before their eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, a fork in the road of fate was slowly opening at that moment.

The Otogakure of streams lapping against rocks drifted through the mountains, mingled with the steady, chilling sound of footsteps.

"Someone's coming." Kakashi frowned slightly and stopped in his tracks first.

The next second--

"... It's you guys."

A calm, deep voice seeped into my ears like water.

A black and blue haori fluttered slightly in the moonlight, and a man with a cold expression appeared at the end of the mountain path. His eyes were like an icy pool, sharp yet restrained.

"Mr. Tomioka!" Tanjiro exclaimed in surprise.

Giyu Tomioka walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over Tanjiro and the others before finally settling on the scorch marks and steam that had not yet dissipated in the distance.

"What happened to your injuries, and those marks on the hilltop...?"

"It was Mr. Guy and Mr. Kakashi who saved us!" Tanjiro bowed deeply. "They're not from the Demon Slayer Corps, but they really helped us a lot!"

Tomioka's gaze shifted to Kai and Kakashi.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Was that impact you caused?"

"Huh? You mean Morning Peacock?" Kai stood with his hands on his hips, looking both serious and smug. "That's just a tiny flame of youth!"

"... Your power doesn't seem like a breathing technique." Tomioka's tone was calm, but his voice carried a hint of seriousness.

"That's not true," Kakashi said calmly. "We come from a very far place. Guy uses a Taijutsu called 'Eight Gates Formation.'"

"Taijutsu?" Tomioka repeated in a low voice, his eyes shifting slightly.

"Just like your breathing techniques, it's a method for training the body and unleashing power."

Kakashi continued, "But Taijutsu doesn't rely on breathing rhythm; instead, it involves opening the limiters within the body and forcibly extracting power from within."

Tomioka fell into a brief silence.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

"So..." He fixed his sharp gaze on Kakashi, "You are strangers?"

"You could say that," Kakashi didn't deny it.

"What brings you here?"

Kakashi glanced down at Tanjiro and the others, then swept his gaze over the charred remains on the ground.

"We were just passing by at first. But now it seems we might be able to help."

"You want to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Tomioka's gaze sharpened, and his tone became more wary.

"Not 'join,' but 'participate,'" Kakashi replied calmly. "In our own way, we will fight alongside you."

"There are aspects of your breathing techniques that we can learn from. And our Taijutsu may be able to make up for your weaknesses."

Tomioka did not respond immediately.

Just then, Tanjiro suddenly shouted:

"Wait a minute, Mr. Tomioka... Weren't you against me fighting alongside Nezuko before?"

Tomioka paused slightly, turned around, and his black and blue haori fluttered gently in the forest breeze. His expression remained indifferent, devoid of much emotion.

After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke.

"I'm not against it," he said, his voice low, "I'm just... afraid you'll die."

Tanjiro was stunned.

"You're traveling with a ghost, yet you're completely unprepared."

This world won't be kind enough to wait for you to grow up.

"If you die, then my intervention was the right thing to do; but if you survive—"

Tomioka looked him straight in the eye, his voice cold yet tinged with a heavy tone, "That proves you deserve what you stand for."

Tanjiro's eyes reddened slightly, and his throat tightened, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"I too have had companions I couldn't protect," Tomioka whispered. "I don't want you to be the second."

Tanjiro bowed deeply. "Thank you, Mr. Tomioka."

Tomioka nodded without saying anything more, then turned and left again. His back was quiet and aloof in the moonlight, but his steps were a little lighter than before.

Kai was completely bewildered. "Why does this guy look so unapproachable? He's not youthful at all!"

Kakashi stared in the direction Tomioka had disappeared, muttering to himself, "He's someone worth watching."

He turned to look at Kai: "Are you willing to casually pass on this kind of Taijutsu to others?"

"Of course!" Kai grinned. "Youth is for sharing! As long as they can endure hardship and pain, I'll teach them—but..."

His smile suddenly vanished, and his expression turned serious.

"If anyone uses it to harm innocent people, I will be the first to object."

Tomioka looked at them quietly for a long time, then nodded.

"Then you will come with me to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters."

"We will assess you. If you are not our enemy, we welcome you; but if you have ulterior motives, we will not hesitate to take action."

"Yes," Kakashi replied calmly, without hesitation.

"That's great!" Tanjiro's eyes lit up. "Mr. Tomioka's willingness to take you to headquarters means he approves of you!"

Zenitsu was still a little guilty, but he smiled and said, "With you guys here, I feel much safer..."

Inosuke was already gesturing wildly. "Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters?! Is there a martial arts competition? I want to fight Guy-san!!"

"Let's talk about it when you can hold out through the first gate," Kakashi chuckled.

Kaze said with a serious expression, "I'm ready to teach the entire Demon Slayer Corps a lesson in Taijutsu!"

Tanjiro suddenly said seriously:

"However... breathing techniques are not something that can be taught casually."

"We're willing to teach because you saved us. The Demon Slayer Corps fights to protect humanity... As long as you're willing to fight alongside us, I will trust you without reservation."

Kakashi nodded, his tone sincere:

"Trust begins with fighting side by side."

Tomioka said softly, "Let's go then. It's still quite a distance from headquarters."

He took a few steps and added in a low voice:

"And... thank you for saving them."

"No need for thanks!" Kai struck his signature youthful pose. "I just beat up a few unreasonable guys!"

Kakashi sighed softly, "Actually, he's always wanted to be praised."

"I heard you!!!"

Amidst laughter, the group gradually entered the forest into the night.

Spider Mountain, scorched by flames and still warm from the battle, did not fall into complete silence as people had hoped.

The night wind had just blown away the ashes left by the flames, and a cold and chilling atmosphere quietly descended.

"As expected... something's up."