Dead silence.
"I killed Lower Rank Five, Rui, on my own."
Sasuke's voice was not loud, but like an immense boulder cast into the still lake called the "Hashira Meeting," it stirred up towering waves.
Every Hashira present understood the weight of the words "single-handedly killing one of the Twelve Kizuki."
It was an honor, irrefutable proof of strength, and, more importantly, a stepping stone to the rank of Hashira.
The savagery and disdain on Sanemi Shinazugawa's face froze completely into a blank look mingled with disbelief.
Perched in a tree, Obanai Iguro fixed his mismatched, serpentine eyes on Sasuke, as if trying to see him through, inside and out.
The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his elaborately painted eyes for the first time and studied this "newcomer" with interest.
"I see."
The gentle smile on Oyakata-sama Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face did not change in the slightest.
He seemed to have anticipated everything long ago.
"My children, this is why I summoned Tanjiro and Sasuke here."
He turned toward the Hashira, his voice still gentle but carrying unquestionable authority.
"I received a letter from the former Water Hashira, Mr. Sakonji Urokodaki. In it, he pledged his own life and Giyu Tomioka's as guarantees that Nezuko would never attack humans."
"And now..."
Ubuyashiki turned his gaze toward Sasuke.
"We have another swordsman whose testimony is backed by the life of Lower Rank Five."
"There are two facts before us. We cannot deny them simply because of our own assumptions, can we?"
His words silenced every Hashira who had objected.
Mr. Urokodaki's guarantee, and Lower Rank Five's head.
Either one carried enough weight to make them reconsider their judgment.
"Even so..."
Kyojuro Rengoku's voice remained resounding, but now held a trace of hesitation.
"I still