The Fox Masked Boy

Mount Sagiri.

This great mountain is perpetually shrouded in mist, hence its name.

Sakontzi Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira, lives in seclusion here. After retiring from the front lines, he has continued to quietly offer his remaining influence as one of the trainers of Water Breathing.

Today, he is once again sending a disciple to participate in the Final Selection.

At the foot of the mountain, two youths stand side by side. One beams with a confident, sunny smile, while the other wears a dejected expression, as if the world owes him a fortune.

Sabito and Giyu Tomioka, historically the most talented duo in the lineage of Water Breathing, especially Sabito.

Before them stands their master, Sakontzi Urokodaki, an old man wearing a red Tengu Mask.

"Master, Master!" Sabito calls out several times, but Sakontzi Urokodaki doesn't respond. No one notices Sakontzi's trembling hand.

For him, the Final Selection is a nightmare, a nightmare from which no disciple, no matter how talented, ever returns.

Not a single one of Sabito and Giyu's seniors has ever returned.

"Children, you must really go?" Sakontzi Urokodaki snaps back to reality, his hoarse voice ringing out. He intends to make one last attempt to dissuade them, not wanting his disciples to go to their deaths in vain.

"Master, I definitely have to go, and I want to carry on our lineage! I will definitely take your place and become the Water Hashira!" Sabito's short, flesh-colored hair flutters, speaking of the youth's confidence.

As he speaks, he nudges his good friend beside him, "Giyu, you agree, right?"

Giyu stares with his dead fish eyes, speaking in a flat tone, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "Sabito, I can't. You go ahead!"

"Ah!" Sabito throws an arm around Giyu, giving him a playful whack on the head, and encourages him with youthful vigor, "Giyu, you can definitely do it! Trust me, it's no problem!"

Sakontzi Urokodaki knows that more words are useless. All he can do is trust his disciples.

This time, he is filled with hope, because Sabito is definitely the most talented disciple he has ever trained.

Giyu is no less capable. He has only been training for over half a year, yet he has completed the trial of cutting a boulder, far surpassing his senior sister Makomo, who joined earlier.

Sakontzi Urokodaki takes two Fox Masks from his pocket and gives them to his two disciples. These are Disaster Averting Masks he made himself.

"Go wearing the Disaster Averting Masks!"

"Be sure to return safely. Master awaits your good news!"

Sabito and Giyu put on the masks, and they fit perfectly.

"Master, believe me, I'm very strong!" Sabito flexes his arm, striking a muscle-showing pose, his smile as confident as ever.

Giyu nods silently.

"Strong, my foot! You two scatterbrained fellows, how can anyone feel reassured!"

"Sigh!"

An angry voice erupts from the mist. It's a girl's voice, sounding full of spirit.

Immediately after, two bundles are precisely guided, hitting Sabito and Giyu on the head.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Sabito cries out, clutching his head and jumping around as if the ground were too hot for his feet.

In contrast, Giyu remains unfazed as the bundle lands on his head, his composure rock-solid, though inwardly he's about to die.

A young girl emerges from the mist. She wears a short kimono with a plum blossom pattern, has shoulder-length hair, and her hands are on her hips. Her dark green eyes shoot out two gazes of disappointment, wishing they were better.

The girl is named Makomo, Sabito's junior disciple, Giyu's senior disciple, and the de facto manager of Mount Sagiri.

She walks past her master and heads straight for the duo. Sabito, frightened, hides behind Giyu, while Giyu steps back a few paces.

This is Makomo's oppressive aura, terrifyingly strong.

"Makomo, stop!"

"I won't stop!" Makomo glares at Sabito, then reaches out and pinches Giyu's cheek, "Little junior, smile a little!"

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

Taking advantage of Makomo's distraction, Sabito decisively grabs Giyu and bolts. His heart can't take it; after all, her killing intent is too strong. It's not like they didn't grab their bundles.

"Sigh!" Looking at his senior disciple and junior disciple running off, Makomo sighs, and the worry in her eyes becomes apparent. She cups her hands by her mouth and shouts, "You two, keep it up! Be sure to come back, or I absolutely won't forgive you!"

"We'll definitely come back, just you wait!" Sabito waves his hand and shouts loudly.

Mount Fujikasane.

From afar, the mountain is divided into two colors. Below the mountainside, it's a sparkling purple, while above, it's a dark green.

The purple is a vast expanse of wisteria forest, a prison built by the Demon Slayer Corps with a great deal of time and countless resources.

However, it's not humans confined within, but demons.

The wisteria on Mount Fujikasane blooms year-round, like an eternal purple flame. These vines intertwine and coil, forming a massive purple scarf that seems to envelop half the mountainside.

On the mountain path, the Hiruma trio walks at a steady pace.

Occasionally, peers pass by them. Most of them keep their heads down, appearing uneasy, their eyes filled with helplessness and confusion.

Fear engulfs them, because what is about to happen could be fatal.

It's normal for people to be scared and nervous.

Suddenly, a boy in a hurry bumped into Hiruma. Even though he was the one who caused the collision, the boy ended up sitting on the ground.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to!" the boy apologized repeatedly, bowing his head. His voice was flustered, showing he was truly frightened.

"It's alright!" Hiruma pulled the boy up and got a clear look at his face.

He had short, black hair parted in the middle, black eyes, and a well-featured face. He was wearing a tight-fitting black outfit that made him look like an utterly unremarkable passerby.

What the heck!?

Isn't that Murata?

Even though he wasn't old, Hiruma recognized him instantly.

"Huh?" Murata trembled. The person had been staring at him, and he wondered if they were going to hit him.

"Big brother, I was wrong, okay!"

"Don't hit me!"

Hiruma's lips twitched, and he asked, "Do I look like a bad guy?"

Murata gave a wry smile and replied in a very small voice, "Big brother, when the three of you lined up, you looked as happy as if you were going on an outing. It's hard not to be scared!"

"Ahahaha!" Hiruma chuckled awkwardly. Now that Murata mentioned it, they had indeed been quite conspicuous.

He patted Murata's shoulder and said, "Keep up the good work, see ya!"

Relieved that he wasn't beaten, Murata quickly ran up the mountain.

Hiruma and the other two continued their leisurely walk up the mountain, as if they were truly there for an outing.

Just then, an anxious voice called out from behind them.

"Giyu, hurry up!"

"Or we'll be late!"

Hiruma's heart leaped, and he quickly looked back. He saw two figures rapidly approaching not far behind him.

Just at that moment, a gentle breeze blew, causing the wisteria flowers to sway softly, releasing waves of fragrance. The petals fluttered down like snow, creating a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere.

Amidst the falling blossoms were two boys wearing fox masks.

Sensing their gaze, Sabito and Giyu looked up simultaneously, their eyes meeting Hiruma's.