"Natagumo Mountain, Mission Complete"
As Aoki was about to move, Giyu Tomioka stopped him.
"Take them. I'll handle her," Giyu Tomioka said calmly.
Aoki hesitated, then nodded. Susanoo materialized, evolving into its second form. Its massive arms lifted Tanjiro and Nezuko. Aoki swiftly ran deeper into the forest.
"Senior Aoki, my box!" Tanjiro gestured. Aoki retrieved the box and increased his speed.
Shinobu Kocho tried to follow, but Giyu Tomioka stopped her.
Shinobu Kocho's smile faded, replaced by anger. "Giyu, are you serious? A Hashira protecting a demon? And Aoki, I'll get even with him later."
Giyu Tomioka didn't respond, raising his Nichirin Sword.
"Clang!"
Their blades clashed.
Aoki, carrying Tanjiro and Nezuko in Susanoo, felt fatigue but couldn't slow down. He didn't want to fight Shinobu Kocho; he'd worked hard to improve their relationship. A fight would drastically lower her favorability.
Suddenly, Aoki stopped, drawing his sword and slashing behind him.
"Clang!"
A girl with black hair, purple eyes, pink hair tips, and a side ponytail appeared. She wore a green butterfly hairpin with pink edges, white boots, and a white cape with a pink bow. She wielded a pink Nichirin Sword.
She aimed at Nezuko, clearly intending to kill her.
Aoki deflected her attack with a swift movement. The girl landed gracefully on a tree.
The girl, showing no surprise, stared at Aoki with intensity, recognizing him as the Devour Hashira.
"Ding!"
Kanao Tsuyuri:
Identity: Shinobu Kocho's adopted sister
Personality: Quiet, reserved
Skills possessed: Flower Breathing
Combat Power: 1715 points
Overall Rating: A-level
Favorability towards host: 0
Aoki's thoughts: "Kanao Tsuyuri, Shinobu's adopted sister. She was sent by Shinobu."
"Senior Aoki, what do we do?" Tanjiro asked.
Aoki sighed. "I don't want to fight her. She's Shinobu's adopted sister. How would I explain it to Shinobu?"
Kanao Tsuyuri twitched. Who are you, calling my teacher "Shinobu" so casually? Ugh!
"Tanjiro, I'm risking my position for you and your sister. Later, you'll have to let me beat you up a few times to vent," Aoki said, preparing to fight.
But a crow interrupted him.
"Order! Order! Headquarters' order! Apprehend Tanjiro and Nezuko. Bring them back to headquarters!"
"Apprehend Tanjiro and the demon Nezuko. Bring them back to headquarters!"
"Tanjiro: Plaid shirt, forehead scar. Nezuko: Demon, bamboo mouthpiece."
Aoki was stunned, then sighed.
"It's over."
Tanjiro sensed something was wrong. "Senior Aoki, what's happening?"
Aoki didn't answer. Susanoo released Tanjiro, who fell to the ground.
"Senior Ao—"
"Shut up!"
Aoki punched Tanjiro unconscious. Susanoo dissipated. Aoki made Nezuko shrink and placed her in the box. He looked at Kanao Tsuyuri, who, understanding his surrender, leaped from the tree.
Two Demon Slayers with "Hidden" tattooed on their backs arrived. Aoki handed over Tanjiro and Nezuko and left.
The rising sun marked the end of the Natagumo Mountain mission.
"Chirp, chirp!"
Zenitsu, bandaged from a battle and poisoned, sat with a sparrow on his head.
"I'm a mummy," Zenitsu said, looking at the "Hidden" Demon Slayers cleaning up. "Who are they? They're so efficient. And her…"
He stared at Kanao Tsuyuri, directing the cleanup. "I saw her during the final selection. That hairpin… it's similar to the woman who wrapped us into mummies."
Elsewhere, two Demon Slayers found Inosuke bound to a tree.
"What's this guy? Not a demon… a human?"
A slayer poked Inosuke's mask with a stick. "He's wearing the corps pants… it's just a mask. He's human. Let's get him down. He's badly hurt."
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