"Shunshin… so this guy was a ninja?"As a former shinobi himself, Uzui Tengen immediately recognized how Karasuma Reiyu appeared behind Sanemi Shinazugawa in an instant. That was a technique only real ninjas could pull off — the Body-Flicker Style.
"No way… Shinazugawa-san actually lost. That's unbelievable!"Hands pressed over her mouth, Mitsuri Kanroji stared wide-eyed at the sight of Sanemi flattened to the ground by a single strike. Her eyes were practically round as marbles.
Shinobu Kocho and Obanai Iguro also looked genuinely stunned.Everyone else — with the exception of Muichiro Tokito, who was still staring blankly at the sky — showed some level of shock.
"What was the result?"Hearing the sudden silence, Kagaya Ubuyashiki softly asked the two children beside him.
One answered, "Shinazugawa-san was defeated by Reiyu."
Kagaya didn't look particularly surprised. Instead, he spoke gently in the direction of the battlefield:"Sanemi… do you accept this?"
Sanemi struggled on the ground for a moment, half his face red and the other half green, clearly unable to accept what just happened.Sure, he hadn't gone all-out in that clash — but losing was losing. His pride as a Hashira had taken a solid punch to the gut.
Just as he planted his hand on the ground to push himself up, a hand suddenly appeared in front of him.He looked up.It was Karasuma Reiyu, face still marked with blood scratches, calmly offering him a hand.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"Sanemi's expression instantly darkened.
"Nothing weird," Reiyu said. "You're strong. If you hadn't underestimated me with that last strike, I probably would've lost. I'm not petty, and I know you're not nearly as unfriendly as you pretend to be. Otherwise, you wouldn't show so much respect toward Master Ubuyashiki."
"I should reintroduce myself. I'm Karasuma Reiyu, disciple of **Sakonji Urokodaki."He then glanced at the expressionless man standing nearby."And I guess that makes me Tomioka-senpai's junior disciple… kind of."
Sanemi lay motionless for a long moment, clearly hesitating — but in the end, he grabbed Reiyu's hand.
"I acknowledge you. But that doesn't mean I want to be friends or anything. You're just as annoying as Tomioka."Once standing, his expression had lost most of the previous ferocity.
Giyu Tomioka: "…I'm not annoying."
Hearing Sanemi formally acknowledge Reiyu, Kagaya finally spoke from under the eaves:"Sanemi has agreed to accept Reiyu as a Hashira. What do the rest of you think?"
"We have no objections."The eight remaining Hashira answered in unison.Before, they objected because Reiyu's strength seemed insufficient. But after seeing him fight Sanemi, they understood: while he wasn't on their level yet, he definitely met the qualifications.
"In that case…" Kagaya continued, "I hereby officially announce: Demon Slayer Karasuma Reiyu is now the Tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps — the Devouring Hashira."
"Devouring Hashira," huh?Reiyu actually kind of liked the title — not that he cared much.
Ding!"Congratulations, Host! You have become a Hashira. One reward will now be issued!"
The system's ringing tone instantly sharpened Reiyu's focus.Just like before, three glowing options appeared in his mind.
After hesitating briefly, Reiyu chose to evolve his Susanoo to the Third Form.
"Yeah, let's upgrade Susanoo. At this point, Second Form is as fragile as paper. Danzo could poke holes in it with a kunai."
Once his choice was made, the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, summoned him to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment.
Reiyu initially wanted to refuse — but after looking at the state of his injuries, he reluctantly agreed.If he ignored them and ended up with tetanus, that would be a real problem.
"Reiyu-kun, you really are incredible," Shinobu said cheerfully as they walked. "To think you could defeat Shinazugawa-san. You've impressed everyone."
"Ah—yeah…"Walking beside her, Reiyu was visibly tense.He barely had any experience talking to girls, and Shinobu was the talkative, friendly type — which only made him more awkward.
Noticing his stiffness, Shinobu smiled softly and asked:"Reiyu-kun, have you ever heard of the Twelve Kizuki?"
"I have," Reiyu answered. "Urokodaki-old— uh, I mean, Urokodaki-sensei told me. The Twelve Kizuki are demons who received a great quantity of Muzan's blood — the strongest demons, divided into Upper and Lower Ranks."
"So you already knew." Shinobu nodded."Let me give you a reminder, then. All nine of us Hashira have slain members of the Twelve Kizuki before — though only Lower Ranks. Until you kill one yourself, many people still won't fully acknowledge you."
Reiyu glanced at her curiously."And what about you? Do you acknowledge me?"
Shinobu blinked, caught off guard — then smiled."As for me… I believe in you, Reiyu-kun. You may be the weakest Hashira right now, but that doesn't mean you won't become the strongest someday."
"Heh. I'll take that blessing."
Shinobu's easygoing nature quickly wore down Reiyu's initial shyness. Soon enough, he found himself chatting freely with her.
Before long, they arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
Reiyu was immediately taken to the medical room by a girl named Aoi for treatment.
He stayed in the Butterfly Mansion for three full days.His Nichirin Blade had broken, and the swordsmiths needed fifteen days after receiving the Tamahagane to forge a new one — meaning he would be staying for at least another week.
Since he was now a newly appointed Hashira, no one in the Mansion dared treat him with anything less than respect. It actually made Reiyu feel a little uncomfortable.
He occasionally ran into Shinobu, and the two would chat lightly each time.
Finally, after several days, a swordsmith personally delivered Reiyu's brand-new Nichirin Blade.
He sat on his bed, admiring the weapon—
—when the door slid open.
A figure stepped into the room.
Reiyu froze the moment he saw who it was.