Fox-Masked Boys

Mount Sagiri.

This mountain was shrouded in mist year-round, hence its name.

Sakontzi Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira, had secluded himself here. After stepping down from the front lines, he had continued quietly contributing as one of the mentors of Water Breathing.

Today, he was once again sending his disciples to take part in the Final Selection.

At the foot of the mountain, two boys stood side by side. One wore a confident, sunny smile, while the other looked utterly miserable, as though someone owed him a hundred million.

Sabito and Giyu Tomioka, the most talented pair in the history of the Water Breathing lineage—especially Sabito.

Their master, Sakontzi Urokodaki, stood before them, an elderly man wearing a red tengu mask.

"Master, Master!" Sabito called out several times, but Sakontzi Urokodaki never answered. No one noticed that Urokodaki's hands were trembling.

To him, the Final Selection was a nightmare—a nightmare from which no disciple ever returned, no matter how outstanding they were.

Not a single one of Sabito and Giyu's senior brothers or sisters had returned.

"Children, do you really have to go?" Sakontzi Urokodaki came back to his senses, his hoarse voice sounding out. He intended to make one final attempt to stop them. He did not want his disciples to throw away their lives.

"Master, I'm definitely going! And I'll carry our lineage forward too. I'll absolutely inherit your position and become the Water Hashira!" Sabito's tousled flesh-colored short hair fluttered as he spoke, full of a young man's confidence.

As he spoke, he nudged his good brother beside him. "Giyu, right?"

Giyu stared with dead fish eyes and spoke flatly, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"Sabito, I can't do it. You can do it instead!"

"Hey!" Sabito threw an arm around Giyu and gave him a knock on the head, encouraging him with boundless energy. "Giyu, you can definitely do it. Trust your bro, no problem!"

Sakontzi Urokodaki knew there was no use saying more. All he could do was believe in his disciples.

This time, he was still filled with hope, because Sabito was undoubtedly the most gifted disciple he had ever taught.

Giyu was no slouch either. He had trained for barely half a year, yet he had completed the trial of cutting through a giant boulder. He was far stronger than Makomo, his senior sister who had joined Urokodaki's tutelage before him.

Sakontzi Urokodaki took out two Fox Masks from his robes and handed them to his two disciples. They were Disaster Averting Masks he had made himself.

"Wear these Disaster Averting Masks when you go!"

"You must come back safely. Your master will wait for good news from both of you!"

Sabito and Giyu put on the masks. They fit perfectly.

"Master, believe in me. I'm really strong!" Sabito bent his arm and struck a muscle-flexing pose, his smile as confident as ever.

Giyu nodded without a word.

"Strong my ass. You two forgetful idiots—how am I supposed to stop worrying about you?"

Sigh!

An annoyed voice burst from the mist. It was a girl's voice, bright and spirited.

Then, two bundles flew in with pinpoint accuracy and smashed Sabito and Giyu right on the heads.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Sabito clutched his head and cried out, hopping around in pain as if the ground beneath his feet were scorching hot.

Giyu, on the other hand, had a bundle pressed over his head without changing expression. He looked incredibly composed, but inside, his heart was nearly dead.

A girl emerged from the mist. She wore a short kimono patterned with plum blossoms, with long hair falling to her shoulders. Her hands rested on her hips, and her dark green eyes shot out a look of utter exasperation.

The girl was Makomo—Sabito's junior sister, Giyu's senior sister, and the unquestioned little housekeeper of Mount Sagiri.

She passed right by her master and headed straight for the pair. Sabito was so frightened that he hid behind Giyu, while Giyu backed away several steps in fear.

That was Makomo's oppressive presence. It was terrifyingly powerful.

"Makomo, stop!"

"I won't!" Makomo glared at Sabito, then reached out and pinched Giyu's cheek. "Little junior brother, give me a smile!"

"Makomo, we're leaving. Bye-bye!"

While Makomo was distracted, Sabito decisively grabbed Giyu and slipped away. Their poor hearts could not take it anymore—her killing intent was simply too intense. They had only forgotten to bring their bundles.

Sigh! Watching her senior brother and junior brother run away, Makomo sighed. Worry appeared in her eyes as she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "You two, do your best! You have to come back, or I'll never forgive you!"

"We'll definitely come back! Just wait for us!" Sabito shouted, waving his hand.

Mount Fujikasane.

From afar, the mountain seemed divided into two colors. Below the mountainside, it shimmered bright purple; above it, the greenery was tinged almost black.

The purple part was a vast forest of Wisteria Flowers, a prison created by the Demon Slayer Corps at the cost of immense time and countless resources.

Only, the things imprisoned here were not people, but demons.

The Wisteria Flowers on Mount Fujikasane bloomed all year round, like an everlasting purple flame. Their vines twisted and intertwined, forming a huge purple collar that seemed to envelop half the mountain range.

On the mountain path, Hiruma's group of three strolled along at an unhurried pace.

People their age passed them from time to time. Most kept their heads lowered, looking deeply uneasy, their eyes filled with helplessness and confusion.

Fear hung over them, because what came next might kill them.

For ordinary people, fear and nervousness were only natural.

Suddenly, a hurried boy bumped into Hiruma. Though he was clearly the one who had run into someone else, the boy plopped down on the ground.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to!" The boy kept his head down and apologized repeatedly, his voice panicked. He was truly terrified.

"It's fine!" Hiruma pulled the boy up, only then getting a clear look at him.

He had short black hair parted down the middle, black eyes, regular features, and a tight black outfit. He looked exactly like an utterly unremarkable background extra.

Holy crap! (?'?'? ?)?

Wasn't this Murata?

Though he was still young, Hiruma recognized him at a glance.

"Huh?" Murata trembled. This guy had been staring at him the whole time. Was he going to beat him up?

"Big brother, isn't it enough that I admitted I was wrong?"

"Please don't hit me!"

The corner of Hiruma's mouth twitched. "Do I look like a bad guy?"

Murata gave a bitter smile and answered in a tiny voice, "Big brother, you three are walking in a row, looking as happy as if you came here on a picnic. It's hard not to be scared!"

"Hahaha!" Hiruma laughed awkwardly. Now that Murata mentioned it, they really were being a little too conspicuous.

He patted Murata on the shoulder. "Do your best. See you!"

Having avoided a beating, Murata breathed a sigh of relief and hurried up the mountain.

Hiruma's group continued walking uphill as though taking a leisurely stroll, as if they really had come for a picnic.

Just then, an anxious voice urged someone along from behind them.

"Giyu, hurry up!"

"Otherwise, we'll be late!"

Hiruma's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned around. Two figures were rapidly approaching from not far behind.

At that very moment, a breeze swept by. The Wisteria Flowers swayed gently, releasing waves of fragrance. Their petals drifted down like snow, creating a dreamlike scene.

Amid the falling blossoms stood two boys wearing Fox Masks.

Sensing someone's gaze, Sabito and Giyu raised their heads together, their eyes meeting Hiruma's.