The sunlight was just right in the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard.
The scent of medicinal herbs mingled with sunshine in the air, dispelling all traces of blood and gloom.
Uesugi Sasuke sat cross-legged beneath the veranda, quietly wiping his Nichirin Blade with a soft white cloth.
It was a wakizashi, shorter than a standard katana and better suited to his swift fighting style. Its blade reflected a cool, clear gleam in the sunlight, its edge as sharp as ever.
Sasuke's movements were slow and focused, as though he were performing some ritual rather than maintaining a weapon.
His fingertips slid slowly over the blade.
Suddenly, his movements stopped.
At the blade's midpoint, an exceedingly fine, spiderweb-like crack marred its otherwise flawless surface.
The crack was so small that it would have been impossible to discover without such a careful inspection.
Sasuke's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Susanoo's power was too overwhelming. In the end, the Nichirin Blade was still made of ordinary steel. Especially when he had unleashed "Majestic Attire: Susanoo" at the end, pouring vast amounts of Lightning Release chakra into it and clashing head-on with Gyutaro's Blood Scythe, the blade's internal structure had already reached its limit.
It was still usable, but next time, it would probably break in battle.
Just as Sasuke was considering whether he needed to replace his weapon, an earth-shattering roar suddenly exploded like a thunderclap over the peaceful Butterfly Mansion!
"Tanjiro Kamado-!"
"You bastard, you broke my blade again! I'm going to kill you!!"
Accompanying that furious roar, a figure charged through the Butterfly Mansion's gates like a maddened wild boar.
The newcomer was powerfully built, his muscles bulging, looking nothing like a craftsman. He wore a comical Hyottoko Mask, yet held high in his hand a coldly gleaming... kitchen knife!
**"Mr. Haganezuka! Please calm