Night-blooming cherry blossoms fluttered down into the Bluestone Courtyard of the Ubuyashiki Estate. The evening breeze carried the mountain chill, but could not dispel the tension thickening the air.
The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps stood in a fan-shaped formation, the cold gleam of their Nichirin Blades weaving a net beneath the moonlight. Every gaze fixed on the courtyard entrance like a blade.
The first to enter their sight was a tall, straight-backed figure dressed in a black dragon robe. His gentle features bore the composure and authority of a powerful man.
Four others followed at his side, each with an equally imposing presence!
The young Hiruzen Sarutobi had sharp eyes and an air of steadiness;
Shimura Danzō's face lay in shadow, a hidden edge lurking at his fingertips;
Uchiha Hikari looked around curiously, skipping as she walked;
Otsutsuki Toneri's robes fluttered, his expression lively despite his closed eyes.
Carrying a teenage boy over his shoulder, Giyu watched them with a stony expression. They were supposed to be teammates, on the same side, so why did this feel like a confrontation?
The Wind Hashira was about to demand an explanation when his pupils suddenly contracted!
He spotted the girl clutched tightly in the boy's arms: Nezuko, dressed in rags and biting a bamboo tube, yet giving off the foul stench of a demon.
"Is that... a demon?!!"
Clang! Cries of alarm rang out as everyone drew their Nichirin Blades.
Sanemi Shinazugawa was the first to step forward, his Wind Breathing laced with savagery. "Giyu Tomioka! How dare you bring a demon into Oyakata-sama's estate?!"
Giyu Tomioka remained calm. He was about to speak when a gentle yet unquestionable voice interrupted him. "Sanemi, calm yourself."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki stepped out from behind the Hashira. His plain white kimono made his face