"How could this…"
Akaza spoke in disbelief. Before he could finish his sentence, his head slowly slid from his neck and fell to the ground at his feet, his expression frozen in shock.
"Why?!"
Even after being beheaded, Akaza roared unwillingly at Naruto.
"What just happened?! Why was my neck cut?! What did you do?!"
In that instant, Akaza had seen nothing at all. He had only felt a gentle breeze pass across his neck—then his head had fallen. He had no understanding of what had occurred.
He could accept defeat.
But he absolutely could not accept losing so inexplicably.
Bang!~
Naruto's body suddenly dropped straight down. His face landed perfectly aligned with Akaza's severed head. He was already unconscious, yet he still let out a foolish chuckle, muttering softly:
"I won… hehe~"
Hearing Naruto's muttering, Akaza stared at him—unconscious, battered, yet wearing a satisfied, childlike smile.
In that moment, Akaza's anger and confusion vanished completely.
They were replaced by relief.
"So that's it…" he murmured faintly. "I… lost."
Caw! Caw!~
A Kasugai Crow descended from the sky, landing beside Naruto's unconscious body and shouting loudly:
"Emergency! Emergency! Upper Moon Three defeated by Uzumaki Naruto!"
One week later
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters — Butterfly Mansion
"Ugh… hiss!~"
Naruto slowly regained consciousness. He tried to sit up—
—and immediately sucked in a sharp breath of pain, as if his entire body were about to fall apart.
Bang!~
Something fell to the floor. A sharp voice followed as someone rushed out, shouting:
"Lady Shinobu! Lord Naruto has woken up!"
"…"
Naruto lay there silently for a moment, carefully sensing his body.
He realized he couldn't move at all.
Slowly, he examined his surroundings. His memories lingered on the battle with Akaza…
He remembered winning.
As for his injuries—he must have sustained them during that fight.
At the time, he hadn't felt anything. Only now did he realize how severe they were.
And that demon—Upper Moon Three…
He should have slain it, right?
Uncertain, Naruto tried to move again, wanting to know what had happened after he lost consciousness.
"You can't move yet."
A gentle voice stopped him.
Naruto turned his head and saw Kochou Shinobu walking toward him with a soft smile, followed by three nurses with blank, dot-like eyes.
"It's Miss Shinobu…"
Naruto had met her at the Pillar Meeting. Seeing her immediately told him where he was, and his heart eased.
He was about to ask about the aftermath of the battle when Shinobu spoke first.
"You want to know the result of your fight with that Upper Moon demon, don't you?" she said gently. "You won.~"
She came to his bedside, examining his body as she continued:
"Your Kasugai Crow witnessed Upper Moon Three being slain by you. Although the details were incomplete, it was more than enough to confirm the truth."
She smiled faintly.
"I remember—you've only held a sword for less than two months. To slay an Upper Moon demon in that time… it's truly astonishing."
"Heh… hehe~"
Naruto's lips curved upward uncontrollably at her praise.
Then her voice suddenly turned cold.
"But you almost died. Do you realize that?"
"When we found you, your fever exceeded forty degrees. You had over a dozen fractures throughout your body—especially in both arms, which were nearly comminuted fractures."
Her smile remained gentle.
"Even after you recover, whether you'll be able to wield a sword again… is still unknown.~"
Kochou Shinobu stared at Naruto.
Her expression was kind.
Her words were terrifying.
"Am I… am I going to be crippled?"
Naruto's voice trembled. Images of spending the rest of his life bedridden flooded his mind, and sorrow welled up inside him.
"Shinobu, don't frighten Naruto."
A gentle voice intervened—warm, like a soft breeze, dispelling the chill that had settled over him.
Naruto turned his head and saw Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya, supported by his wife, approaching with a calm smile.
"Lord Master!"
Naruto tried to greet him and struggled to sit up, but Ubuyashiki Kagaya stopped him with a raised hand.
Supported by Amane Ubuyashiki, he sat beside Naruto's bed and spoke gently.
"Shinobu has already reported your condition to me. Your injuries are indeed severe… but not as dire as she made them sound."
"Or rather," he continued softly, "they are not that serious for you."
"Shinobu told me that your physique surpasses even Mitsuri's. Your physical endurance and recovery far exceed ordinary humans—beyond even our common understanding."
"Even with injuries of this magnitude, as long as you rest properly, you will recover completely. You don't need to worry."
"So that's it… you scared me to death!~"
Naruto let out a long breath of relief.
Then Master Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke again.
"Naruto… I want to thank you."
He took Naruto's hand, emotion evident in his voice.
"You have accomplished what we have pursued for over a hundred years—and failed to achieve. Slaying an Upper Moon demon is a monumental breakthrough for the Demon Slayer Corps… and for all humanity."
"This is a beginning. This 'omen' you have created will lead us toward our ultimate victory—"
"Cough, cough, cough!~"
Overcome by emotion, Ubuyashiki Kagaya suddenly began coughing violently, fresh blood spilling from his mouth.
"Lord Master!"
"Please, don't overexert yourself!"
Shinobu and the others rushed forward, but Ubuyashiki Kagaya waved them off and reached toward his wife.
Amane Ubuyashiki immediately placed a folded sheet of paper into his hand.
"Naruto."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya gently placed the paper into Naruto's palm, his voice filled with conviction.
"I have a premonition. The stagnant century-long struggle between demons and the Demon Slayer Corps will change because of you."
"You are the strong wind that will push this era forward—one that will ultimately overthrow that man…"
"…Kibutsuji Muzan, and every demon under his command."
"Cough, cough!~"
After coughing a few more times, he released Naruto's hand and stood.
"Rest well, Naruto. Once you have fully recovered… your true mission will begin."
With that, he left the ward, supported by Amane Ubuyashiki.
"Miss Shinobu…"
Naruto turned to her and spoke softly.
"Could you help me open this? I want to see what's written."
"Of course.~"
Shinobu nodded and gently unfolded the paper in front of him.
There was only a single word written upon it—
Uzumaki.