Xia Xi had been away from the north for two or three days.</p>
Sabito and Giyu guarded the dojo, their nerves stretched taut as fully drawn bowstrings, afraid that a Lower Rank might suddenly turn up for a dojo challenge at any moment.</p>
Even though Seiko repeatedly reassured them, "There aren't that many Lower Ranks in the north."</p>
It did little to ease their tension.</p>
Two newcomers who had only recently joined were guarding a dojo for one of the Nine Hashira.</p>
Expecting them to stay calm was asking rather too much.</p>
And sure enough, on the fourth day, a "big guy" came calling.</p>
At nearly two meters tall, he stood out like a monster in the Far East.</p>
So much so that, upon spotting him from a distance, Giyu instinctively said, "Look, Sabito. Is that big guy a demon?"</p>
Sabito followed the boy's gaze.</p>
Though the man had an imposing presence and strange makeup on his face...</p>
"He's wearing our uniform. The style's a little different, but he's a fellow corps member."</p>
And someone he knew, at that.</p>
Outside the gates of the Special Duty Ninth Division · Sendai Kendo Dojo.</p>
"Yo, anyone here?"</p>
The big guy sounded flippant, his smile radiant, his entire being exuding the confidence that "everyone ought to think I'm flamboyant."</p>
The two swordsmen at the entrance exchanged a glance and silently tightened their grips on their sword hilts.</p>
This man... why did he look so dubious?</p>
A spiky-haired swordsman asked, "Who are you?"</p>
"Tengen Uzui," he introduced himself. "I'm here for Xia Xi."</p>
The swordsman frowned. "How rude of you to address Lord Dawn Hashira by name!"</p>
Uzui extended his right hand and waved the [Kinoe] character on it in front of him.</p>
Flashy Bro smiled. "Your boss and I go way back. He's