All Pass?

Mt. Sagiri, night.

"Haa... haa..."

Tomioka Giyu gasped for air, bolting upright from the ground.

Sabito poked the wild rabbit over the campfire with a wooden stick to keep it from burning, then turned back to look at Giyu, saying softly:

"Giyu, you're awake! Mr. Kujo Tachibana has already left. He said your injuries aren't serious and that you just need to rest for a few days and avoid physical exertion."

"You must be hungry, too! Don't worry, this rabbit will be ready in a moment."

Tomioka Giyu nodded in a daze, looking at Sabito and murmuring:

"I just had a dream. I dreamt that you died!"

"Then I passed the Demon Slayer Corps selection."

"Later, I even became the Water Hashira..."

"And then? What happened after that?" Sabito didn't care at all that he had "died," instead urging Giyu to continue.

Tomioka Giyu recalled the dream, which was already growing blurry in his mind. After a moment, he spoke:

"Later..."

Seven days after the Demon Slayer Corps final selection at Mt. Fujikasane.

Kayama Shinichiro, the Kinoe-ranked member of the Demon Slayer Corps in charge of this entrance exam, looked at the youths on the mountainside platform with a face full of confusion.

He thought to himself:

The number of people who passed is a bit high...

Are the newcomers this year really that strong?

Let me count them: one... two... three... thirty-nine!

After finishing the headcount, Kayama Shinichiro gasped!

"Nani!"

"Did I mess up this mission?"

"Did the demons on the mountain all sneak away?"

Not a single newcomer was eliminated!!

If he really let them all pass!

There wouldn't be enough Tamahagane for Kayama Shinichiro to provide.

(Tamahagane: The ore used to forge a Nichirin Sword.)

This was something that had never happened in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps!

Just as Kayama Shinichiro gripped his Nichirin Sword and walked toward the mountain path, intending to head up and investigate the situation, Kujo Tachibana walked down from the mountain, having finished searching Mt. Fujikasane and confirming there were no living people left.

As he walked, he held a notebook and scribbled rapidly.

These were some personal thoughts and suggestions Kujo Tachibana had compiled over the last seven days regarding this selection process.

It also contained data on this batch of reserve members, including their personalities, combat styles, growth potential, and suitable development paths.

These were all to be submitted to Ubuyashiki Kagaya for review.

This was the reason Kujo Tachibana was confident he could change the Demon Slayer Corps' selection model!

Compared to the current, crude seven-day survival test, his method was far more scientific!

Kujo Tachibana believed that Ubuyashiki Kagaya would understand.

"Mu-mu... Rumble Hashira-sama! Why are you here!" Kayama Shinichiro happened to run into Kujo Tachibana at the entrance.

Kayama Shinichiro looked at Kujo Tachibana before him, his eyes filled with immense fervor and excitement.

As it happened, Kayama Shinichiro, who was in charge of this entrance exam, had previously encountered the Twelve Kizuki, Lower Rank Four, Mukago, while on a demon-slaying mission.

Fortunately, Kujo Tachibana happened to be nearby; not only did he save Kayama Shinichiro, but he also killed Lower Rank Four, Mukago, with a single strike!

Kayama Shinichiro was instantly awestruck, and coupled with the endless stream of heroic deeds regarding the Rumble Hashira that had circulated since then, how could he not be captivated by Kujo Tachibana?

"It's Shinichiro, isn't it!"

"Not bad, you're full of spirit!"

Kujo Tachibana nodded. It was good that they were acquaintances; it saved him the trouble of explaining things at length.

"Yes! Rumble Hashira-sama, Kinoe-ranked member Kayama Shinichiro greets you!" Kayama Shinichiro puffed out his chest and said loudly to Kujo Tachibana.

"The anomaly regarding this corps selection is actually something I caused."

"This matter has nothing to do with you; I will explain the situation to the Master later."

After Kujo Tachibana offered a brief explanation to Shinichiro, he led him before the group of prospective recruits.

Looking at these slightly callow faces, Kujo Tachibana said in a loud voice:

"Greetings, I am Kujo Tachibana, the Rumble Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"I must offer an apology to all of you here!"

"Because of my own arbitrary decision, your final selection has undergone some changes!"

With that, Kujo Tachibana bowed deeply to the youths before him.

After straightening up, Kujo Tachibana continued:

"Based on my personal observations, the following twelve individuals have met the standards to join the Demon Slayer Corps!"

"Of course, this is merely my personal opinion. Will the twelve people whose names I call please step forward!"

"Urokodaki Sabito, Tomioka Giyu, Murata Hikoichi..."

The youths whose names were not called began to whisper among themselves.

Watching the twelve youths step forward, Kujo Tachibana nodded, then looked at everyone and said:

"Young ones! You are all brave, but after these seven days of testing!"

"Have you truly thought it through?"

"Whether you are actually suited to be a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps!"

"Confronting demons is not solely the duty of a swordsman!"

"The duties of the Kakushi within the Demon Slayer Corps are equally important!"

"If you believe you lack the talent for swordsmanship, you are also welcome to join the Kakushi!"

Kujo Tachibana turned to look at the twelve youths he had just named.

"Here, I want to give every one of you a chance to choose, including you twelve!"

"Those who wish to join the Demon Slayer Corps and become swordsmen, please move to the left and form a line!"

"Those willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps and become Kakushi, please move to the right and form a line as well!"

"If you do not wish to choose either, please remain where you are!"

A moment later, looking at the line of thirty-one people on the left and the mere eight on the right, Kujo Tachibana let out a soft sigh!

It felt as though he had done so much, yet also as if he had done nothing at all...

Of these thirty-one on the left, he didn't know if even half would survive a year from now; the path of a demon hunter had never been an easy one.

After a while, Kujo Tachibana looked at the youths before him, nodded, and said:

"I respect your choices!"

"I look forward to fighting alongside you all in future battles!"

Having said this, Kujo Tachibana gave these youths a brilliant smile!

Three days later, Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Kujo Tachibana and Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat facing each other.

Kujo Tachibana was playing with a baby; the child was six months old, the eldest of Ubuyashiki Kagaya's five children, Ubuyashiki Hinaki.

Little Hinaki had fine, soft white hair, violet pupils, and a small, delicate nose perched above a cherry-red mouth.

She was truly a beauty in the making, one who would surely stir the hearts of all who saw her.

It is worth mentioning that these five children were all born in a single pregnancy!

In other words, they were quintuplets!

Except for the third-born, Ubuyashiki Kiriya, who was a boy, the other four were girls.

And at this moment, our Master, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, was forced to forgo his precious time with his children to work overtime in misery, all because of Kujo Tachibana.

This was simply because Kujo Tachibana had brought with him a booklet titled "Demon Slayer Corps Talent Selection Plan!"