The Waiting Period: New Bonds and Hard Training
While Tanjiro Kamado was away at the Final Selection, Kanami Reire assumed the role of the house's silent, super-powered caretaker. He ran errands for Sakonji Urokodaki and diligently watched over the sleeping Nezuko.
Nezuko's Awakenings and New Bonds
During the weeks Tanjiro was absent, Nezuko stirred and woke up a few times. Instead of the bloodthirsty monster, she was docile, her demonic aggression suppressed.
One afternoon, Kanami was struggling to neatly stack a large pile of freshly chopped logs. He was focused on technique rather than raw Strength to conserve energy.
"Practicing techniques on a log, did you reduce to a log slayer Kanami!? (Talking to his self).
Suddenly, a small, cooing sound caught his attention. He turned to see Nezuko out of her box.
Nezuko, curious about the logs, waddled up. She looked at the top log, then at Kanami's frustrated expression. In a flash of playful demonic energy, she effortlessly flicked the bottom-most log with her foot. The entire massive stack, which had been perfectly balanced, immediately collapsed with a huge, echoing CRASH, burying Kanami under a mountain of timber.
"NEZUKO! Are you kidding me right now?!" Kanami sputtered, digging himself out from the timber heap, covered in sawdust. Nezuko just tilted her head innocently, her eyes wide, making a happy, muffled giggle behind her muzzle. Kanami sighed, pulling a splinter out of his ear. "Okay, new house rule: don't play on the stacking."
Despite the chaos, these brief, comedic scenes were vital; they cemented Kanami in Nezuko's mind as a trusted, goofy figure, part of her new family.
The Water Hashira's Challenge
Urokodaki, however, was concerned by the potent, conflicting energies Kanami held. He knew Kanami possessed immense, volatile power and needed to know if it could be controlled.
One misty morning, Urokodaki approached Kanami with an ultimatum. "Reire. I need to know the true depth of that 'Devouring' power. Draw your sword. You will face my relentless attacks for the next three hours. Survive, and I'll consider your intentions pure."
Kanami knew this was a Hashira-level challenge he couldn't back down from.
> SYSTEM (New Mission): Hashira's Judgement.
> Goal: Survive Urokodaki's Relentless Attack for 3 hours.
> Duration: 3:00:00
> Reward: Nichirin Ore x3; Demon Slayer Uniform (Black/Red, Gold Dragon Pattern) x1; Gold Dragon Hair Tie x1.
"Understood, Urokodaki-sama," Kanami said, drawing his Strongest Nichirin Sword.
The First Epic Duel
The fight began instantly. Urokodaki, moving with blinding speed, immediately launched the Water Breathing forms he was famous for.
Urokodaki: "Water Breathing, Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought!"
Kanami, relying on his system-enhanced Speed (16) and his newly acquired Breathing Technique Comprehension, countered with a borrowed form.
Kanami: He activated Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slice!
The clash was powerful, but Kanami lacked the true fluid mastery. Urokodaki pressed the attack, combining the Tenth Form (Constant Flux) with the Second Form (Water Wheel)—a non-stop torrent of strikes that pushed Kanami to his absolute limit.
Kanami was forced to transition to his own style, using the Devouring technique's movements but carefully avoiding consuming any blood. He defended with a desperate flurry of Heavenly Demonic Devouring, Form 2: Crimson Soul - Blood Feast, using the rapid chain slashes to block every incoming attack. The sheer volume of his swings kept the veteran Hashira at bay.
For nearly three hours, the duel raged. Kanami fought with raw, explosive power, taking several minor cuts that demanded total control of his Will (13). As the clock ticked down to the final minute, Urokodaki launched one final, disarming technique. Kanami responded with a desperate, wild, Devouring Gale – First Fang (non-lethal). The violent, jarring force of the move momentarily staggered Urokodaki, buying Kanami the second he needed.
> SYSTEM: Mission Complete: Hashira's Judgement successful.
> Reward: Nichirin Ore x3; Demon Slayer Uniform (Black/Red, Gold Dragon Pattern) x1; Gold Dragon Hair pin x1.
Urokodaki stopped, breathing heavily, but his mask hid any sign of fatigue. "You possess incredible reserves of endurance, Reire. And a terrifying technique. You pass."Kanami, exhausted but triumphant, accepted the judgment.
The Second Challenge and the Reward.
Kanami continued to practice his Water Breathing, trying to fuse its principles with his Devouring style. Urokodaki, now testing Kanami's control over his non-physical senses, devised a new trial.
One afternoon, Urokodaki led Kanami to a small, enclosed cavern. "Reire," Urokodaki said, holding a cloth bag. "Demons use poisons and debilitating substances. Your will must be able to overcome them. You will sit inside this cave for one hour."
Urokodaki then threw a handful of dried herbs onto a small, smoky fire he had prepared, releasing a potent, purple Wisteria Poison Mist. The smoke was not immediately lethal, but it was intensely disorienting, toxic, and designed to induce vertigo and nausea—a perfect sensory attack.
Kanami was forced to endure the mind-bending pain and confusion, fighting off the intense sickness using his heightened Will.
> SYSTEM (New Mission): Sensory Overload Endurance.
> Goal: Endure Urokodaki's Wisteria Mist Test without losing consciousness for 60 minutes.
> Reward: Stats: Luck +2, Charm +8; Free Stat Points x2.
>
Kanami endured the full hour, emerging from the cavern shaking and retching, but still conscious.
> SYSTEM (Mission Complete): Sensory Overload Endurance successful.
He felt an immediate influx of power and stability. He mentally assigned his 2 free stat points to Strength (+1) and Speed (+1).
| Strength (STR): 18
| Speed (SPD): 17
| Luck (LUK): 7
| Charm (CHM): | 5 + 8 = 13
With his physical strength and endurance now bordering on that of a Hashira, and his ability to interact with the world significantly boosted by his high Charm and Luck, Kanami felt ready for whatever came next. He knew Tanjiro would be returning soon, and the next unpredictable phase of the story would begin.