The battle between the Upper Moons was a maelstrom of destruction.
The shockwaves alone shattered countless structures in the Infinity Castle.
Crescent-shaped blades of moonlight collided with a storm of blood-red spear thrusts, while fists of pure blue destruction met explosions of crystalline ice.
Through the chaos, a dull gray light would flash, the glint of a hidden weapon.
Swish!
The ever-smiling Kamaro gracefully sidestepped a stray slash of energy that would have bisected him, simultaneously raising a hand to deflect a shuriken aimed at his face.
"Such energetic companions," he mused, turning to the silent Nakime beside him.
"Wouldn't you agree, my dear lady?"
She ignored him completely, her gaze fixed on the melee.
The fight between Akaza and Douma was a whirlwind of pure hatred, while the peerless Kokushibo was single-handedly suppressing both Maito and Lee.
Clang!
The oppressive, resonant sound of the biwa suddenly cut through everything.
The next second, as if a universal pause button had been pressed, every Upper Moon froze mid-motion.
With an inferno of rage dancing in his scarlet eyes, Muzan Kibutsuji reappeared.
He surveyed the wreckage of his castle, the aftermath of his subordinates' petty squabble, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
The sheer force of his fury solidified the air, and the floor beneath his feet cracked and shattered.
"What," he seethed, "do you think you are doing!?"
He had been gone for mere minutes, and his "capable" commanders had already descended into this chaos.
"An apology is in order, Lord Muzan," Kokushibo's voice was as indifferent as ever.
The brief but intense battle had not even ruffled his samurai uniform.
In stark contrast, Maito and Lee were panting, their stances showing clear signs of exertion.
Akaza knelt on one knee silently.
As one of Muzan's more favored subordinates, he knew when to let his master's anger pass over him.
Douma was likely the only one present with a relaxed, even playful, expression.
He tilted his head, feigning a cute and innocent look.
"Ah, Muzan-sama, Akaza-dono and I were simply having a passionate discussion about our feelings! We Upper Moons so rarely get to meet, it's only natural for things to get a little heated."
"Be silent," Muzan snapped, his eyes flashing with disgust.
He had never liked the flippant Douma.
If not for the creature's absolute loyalty and immense power, he would have crushed this annoyance long ago.
"I have no more time to waste on this foolishness!" He shot a glare at Nakime.
She understood immediately.
Her slender fingers plucked a rapid series of notes from her biwa.
One by one, the figures of the Upper Moons distorted and vanished from the Infinity Castle.
After the last of them disappeared, Muzan slowly turned.
A cruel, predatory fire danced in his eyes.
"Demon Slayer Corps… Ubuyashiki… kehehehe."
******
Under the bright moonlight, Shinichi quietly approached the training grounds for the Breath of the Forest.
Even from a distance, he could hear the rhythmic shouts and the sharp crack of blades slicing through the air, more coordinated and powerful than he remembered.
He stood at the edge of the clearing, content to watch for a moment without disturbing them.
In the center of the grounds, more than a dozen slayers were practicing their forms in unison.
A palpable life force pulsed from each of them, intertwining into a collective current of energy.
In this state, their speed and power were significantly enhanced, their movements flowing together with increasing harmony.
At the very heart of it all, his own vitality the strongest and clearest, stood Tokito Yuichiro.
The boy's posture was as straight as a pine tree, his face having shed some of its childish softness for a sharper, calmer focus.
He held a Nichirin blade the color of maple leaves, but its edge flowed with an emerald green light.
The life force emanating from him was like a gentle spring breeze, guiding and synchronizing the energy of everyone around him.
Shinichi watched him as a wave of pride and emotion washing over him.
In the short time he'd been away, Yuichiro had grown tremendously.
He was managing the specialized training perfectly; he was becoming a leader.
As if sensing a new presence, Yuichiro, who was deep in concentration, paused.
He subconsciously turned his head toward the edge of the training grounds.
His eyes met a pair of familiar amber ones, filled with a gentle, smiling warmth.
For a second, Yuichiro froze completely.
The Nichirin blade nearly slipped from his grasp.
The serious, focused expression on his face melted away, replaced by utter, incredulous shock, which quickly morphed into immense, unbridled joy.
"Master...? Master?!" Yuichiro's voice cracked, rising in pure excitement.
In a flash, he become a blur, shooting across the training ground like an arrow and skidding to a halt directly in front of Shinichi.
"Master! You're back! When did you get back?!" he asked, his voice breathless and happy, his eyes wide as he looked Shinichi up and down, as if checking for any missing pieces.
The other slayers stopped their training, their initial surprise giving way to smiles of relief and respect.
The Forest Hashira had returned.
Shinichi met Yuichiro's concerned gaze and couldn't help but reach out to ruffle his student's hair.
"I just got back. I'm fine, Yuichiro. Sorry to have made you worry." He glanced around the training ground at the other slayers, who stood ready but relaxed, their auras still stable and strong.
He nodded in approval.
"You've done well. You've trained everyone splendidly while I was gone. You're more than capable of handling things on your own."
Receiving his master's praise, Yuichiro's face flushed.
He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed but unable to hide the proud grin on his face.
"It's only because you taught me so well, Master! Everyone… they've all been working really hard!"
He paused, a shadow suddenly crossing his face as he remembered something.
His excited energy vanished, replaced by a quiet anxiety.
"Master…" he asked, his voice low, "when you were out there… did you… did you find Shinobu-san?"
He didn't dare ask the rest of the question, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides.
Shinichi saw the desperate hope in his student's eyes.
His own smile softened.
He leaned in closer, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Don't worry. Shinobu is back, and she is safe. And Yuichiro… she never blamed you for a second. She's very, very proud of you."
The tension visibly drained from Yuichiro's shoulders.
A bright, relieved smile broke across his face, so wide it made his eyes water.
"That's great… That's really great… Master! This is… wonderful!"
He kept repeating the words, so overcome with joy he couldn't find any others.
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