At noon, Sui arrived at the Ubuyashiki estate.
It was June, and wildflowers bloomed in abundance around the residence.
Giyu Tomioka had brought Sui here, and the journey could only be described as crossing mountains and wading through rivers.
Looking at the ancient structure known as the Ubuyashiki estate, Sui let out a soft sigh.
She and the Water Hashira had first ridden a train, then "transferred" midway by proceeding on foot into the deep mountains. In truth, that so-called transfer had consisted of opening the window and jumping off the train. Every time Sui remembered the stunned looks on the passengers' faces, she felt secondhand embarrassment.
The girl glanced at the man in front of her.
Really, it had been terribly rude.
Did he have no concept of dignity whatsoever?
"We're here. This is the Master's residence. Aside from the core members of the Kakushi, only the Hashira know this location. Everyone else must come here blindfolded so they cannot remember the route." After saying that, Giyu reached out to open the gate—
But it was pulled open first from the other side.
He paused in slight surprise.
Standing behind the gate was a beautiful woman in a haori patterned with butterflies. She stood beneath the veranda, draped in hanging wisteria blossoms, her black hair unbound save for a silver hairpin at her temple, with a butterfly ornament of emerald green edged in pale pink nestled in her hair.
Unlike Sui, the woman wore a completely standard Demon Slayer Corps uniform, not Sui's modified crow-blue long skirt.
Smiling gently, the woman's gaze fell on Sui behind Giyu, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
"So although the Master told me long ago that Miss Sui was a rare beauty, I hadn't expected such peerless grace. Welcome to the Hashira meeting. I am Kanae Kocho, the Flower Hashira."
"Good day, Lady Flower Hashira," Sui greeted politely.
She could sense the woman's aura—it carried the fragrance of flowers, soft and gentle.
"That's far too formal. Calling me 'Lady Flower Hashira' and all that. You're the Thunder Hashira too now, Miss Sui." The woman stepped aside, leading Giyu and Sui deeper into the estate.
The midday sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, scattering flecks of light across the Flower Hashira's butterfly-patterned haori.
The corridors of the estate were covered by century-old wisteria trees, their pale purple blooms hanging down like curtains.
They were led to the rear garden of the Ubuyashiki estate, where two more figures were already waiting.
One was a powerfully built man leaning lazily against a veranda pillar, a massive jeweled headband set upon his brow. He held his chin high, the gemstones flashing in the summer light as though he had draped all the brilliance of midsummer upon himself. At Kanae's arrival, he turned his head and looked over the newcomer, his high silver ponytail cascading over one shoulder like melted metal.
"Oh? So this is the new Thunder Hashira? As the main branch from which Sound Breathing was derived, Thunder Breathing doesn't look very flashy at all!"
"Namu Amida Butsu!"
The man seated in the center of the courtyard was even more astonishing in stature. His huge frame rose like an ancient tree rooted in the garden, his rough monk's robes stretched taut over sharply defined muscles, the prayer beads around his wrists each as large as a baby's fist. He was the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima—someone Sui had met before during her training at Momoyama.
"Ah… it is Lady Sui. Only six months have passed, and yet you have already trained yourself into a Hashira. Truly astonishing."
"It has been some time, Mr. Himejima." Sui lifted the hem of her long skirt in greeting.
"How has Master Kuwajima been of late?" Gyomei asked.
"Quite well. He's busy to the point of exhaustion looking after two students."
"Amitabha, blessed indeed." The massive monk pressed his hands together and murmured a Buddhist prayer.
"Oi, woman—you've gone and ignored me in a most unflashy manner!"
The flamboyantly dressed man darted forward in an instant, stopping right in front of Sui.
"I am Uzui Tengen-sama! The Sound Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! The flashiest man in the entire organization!"
"A good day to you as well, Mr. Uzui." Sui bowed again.
Uzui Tengen froze.
He had very clearly come looking for trouble. Since Sound Breathing had originated from Thunder Breathing, he felt it was only right to test the woman before him. If the Thunder Hashira were to one day die at the hands of a demon, wouldn't that be a disgrace? How would he then continue to flamboyantly proclaim Sound Breathing's proud origins?
But Sui's impeccable courtesy left him with nowhere to begin.
He noticed her eyes remained closed and sharply realized that she wasn't blind at all—this was some sort of deliberate training.
Was she training even now?
The Sound Hashira grinned. With a flick of his hand, he hurled three kunai at Sui.
The moment he moved, both Giyu Tomioka and Kanae Kocho reached for their swords—
But someone else moved faster than either of them.
Sui's fingers turned lightly, and she caught all three kunai.
The air stilled again.
She remained utterly calm.
So she's got some skill, this woman.
Uzui Tengen felt his excitement rise.
"Wait—"
The woman vanished.
In the next moment, her crimson haori swept up and obscured his vision, the golden crane embroidery upon it seeming to come alive as it spread its wings.
"So fast!"
Only then did Uzui react. He twisted around, catching a glimpse of dark violet sparks at the edge of his vision.
Sui had already passed by him, slipping the three kunai neatly back into the pouch at his back.
"Are you satisfied now, Mr. Uzui?" Sui circled him slowly, her skirt flaring with each step.
"What astounding speed!" Kanae Kocho exclaimed in surprise.
Her curiosity toward Sui deepened even further.
At the same time, this was the first time she had seen another female swordswoman standing here as a Hashira.
A demon's neck had to be cut through. That demanded tremendous strength. Many women swordsmen, lacking that power, were either killed by demons or eliminated during Final Selection. Having reached the rank of Hashira herself, Kanae knew better than anyone what kind of effort was required to rise to this level.
And as a Hashira, Kanae also knew very well the gap between herself and the others.
The Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka—who had entered the Corps in the same era as she had—surpassed her in martial ability by more than one level.
Giyu remained expressionless, only loosening the hand he had placed on his blade. He had already experienced Sui's speed for himself. If he had not managed to bring out the final form of Water Breathing that day, he would not have been able to block that strike.
Uzui Tengen, meanwhile, stood stiff as stone.
A moment later, he burst into loud laughter.
"Flashy! That was truly flashy! So this is a swordsman who uses Thunder Breathing? Hahahaha! I, the God of Festivals, Uzui-sama, flamboyantly acknowledge your title as Thunder Hashira!"
Hands on his hips, he laughed heartily—then fixed his gaze on Sui again.
"Is there something else, Mr. Uzui?" Sui asked gently. She could hear the high energy in his tone, and she could feel his enthusiasm.
"Hm…" The man stroked his chin.
Kanae seemed to predict what was about to happen. She immediately stepped forward and put herself between Uzui and Sui.
"You have the perfect childbearing hips."
"You really are…" The Flower Hashira pressed a hand to her forehead in helplessness.
"Thank you for the compliment." From the sound of his voice, Sui could tell that Uzui was not being vulgar, but offering what he sincerely regarded as praise. So she answered with equal sincerity.
Kanae sighed.
By now, she had roughly understood what kind of person this new Thunder Hashira was.
She was the complete opposite of Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka.
The sort of person who would be overwhelmingly well liked wherever she went.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
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Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
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From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
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