"Look closely…" Urokodaki Sakonji brandished his blade and leaped forward, his body flipping gracefully in the air. "Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"
Haku nodded lightly, mimicking the motion with his wooden sword. "Second Form: Water Wheel!"
Though one led and the other followed, their movements were nearly identical, even down to the whistling sound of the air stirred by their swings.
"Don't stop!" Urokodaki Sakonji shouted as he transitioned into the next technique.
His body moved like flowing water, leaving afterimages as he traced arcs of sword strikes resembling rippling waves.
Undoubtedly, this was the Third Form of Water Breathing: Flowing Dance, a technique that seamlessly blended offense and defense.
Haku followed closely, his movements fluid and precise, his sword weaving through the air like a shuttle. In terms of speed and skill, he was not the least bit inferior to Urokodaki Sakonji.
In this manner, with one teaching and the other learning, Haku mastered all eleven forms of Water Breathing in just one day.
By evening, Urokodaki Sakonji sheathed his blade, catching his breath while nodding with satisfaction. "Haku, you were born to join the Demon Slayer Corps! Your future achievements might even rival that of the legend himself!"
Haku asked curiously, "The legend?"
Urokodaki Sakonji explained, "The legendary swordsman who created the Breathing Styles, giving us the power to stand against demons! There are many tales about him, and I'll tell you more when we have time. For now, your task is to diligently train in Water Breathing, master Total Concentration, and then I'll recommend you to become the new Water Hashira and attend the new Hashira Meeting!"
The Ubuyashiki clan, the former leaders of the Demon Slayer Corps, had been wiped out decades ago.
In their place, an institution called the Hashira Meeting had been established to lead the new Demon Slayer Corps. As the name suggested, the Hashira Meeting consisted of the nine Hashira.
Due to the collective betrayal of the previous nine Hashira, the Demon Slayer Corps was left as if beheaded, thrown into a state of leaderless chaos.
Fortunately, the Twelve Kizuki on the demon side had also vanished, and with veteran trainers like Urokodaki Sakonji still in the Corps, the Demon Slayer Corps managed to stabilize after the initial turmoil. They were now preparing to convene a new Hashira Meeting to address the increasingly dire situation.
There were only nine Hashira positions, but there were many Breathing Style schools.
Thus, being recommended by a trainer did not guarantee a Hashira position. Before meeting Haku, Urokodaki Sakonji had no intention of recommending anyone for Water Hashira, as none of the trainees on Sagiri Mountain or the official Corps members possessed the strength to become a Hashira.
But after meeting Haku, he changed his mind. He even believed Haku might be the savior destined to end the centuries-long demon scourge. Thus, he resolved to support Haku's ascension to the Water Hashira position.
"The Hashira Meeting, huh…" Haku quickly realized its significance.
From the start, he had never fully trusted Urokodaki Sakonji—or rather, he had never fully trusted the Demon Slayer Corps, which fought against demons.
Based on the strength of the Upper Rank demons that had invaded the shinobi world and the mysterious figure behind them, the Demon Slayer Corps' capabilities seemed insufficient to have contended with them for centuries. In Haku's initial estimation, the Demon Slayer world should have long since become a paradise for demons, not maintained the basic framework of human society as it currently did.
However, over the past few days of observation, Urokodaki Sakonji showed no signs of abnormality. Everything on Sagiri Mountain seemed normal, with the Corps' trainees continuing their grueling daily training. There were no demons infiltrating to spy, nor any suspicious figures coming or going.
As for the trainees in the mountain, Haku had discreetly inquired about them.
Without exception, these youths all bore deep grudges against demons—either they had been attacked by demons themselves, or their loved ones had perished in a demon's jaws. That was why they had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, staking everything on seeking justice from the demons.
"It seems only by attending the Hashira Meeting can I discern the truth about the Demon Slayer Corps…" Haku mused.
If the Demon Slayer Corps was colluding with demons and secretly controlled by the mysterious figure, then attending the Hashira Meeting would surely lead to an ambush.
If so, he could follow the trail and uncover clues about the mysterious figure.
If the Corps wasn't colluding with demons, then he could leverage the Demon Slayer Corps, a native force in the Demon Slayer world, to help his leader track down the mysterious figure's whereabouts.
Thus, Haku quietly resolved to become one of the nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
On another front, following the clues, Karin quickly zeroed in on several suspicious individuals. Among them, the wife of the president of the Asahi Newspaper Agency was the first to catch her attention.
The Asahi Newspaper Agency was one of the largest newspaper companies.
Unlike other agencies, this one never published any news related to demons. Even when submissions were made, they vanished without a trace, suggesting someone in the agency's leadership was deliberately covering for demons.
What drew Karin's attention was that the president's wife reportedly suffered from a strange illness that prevented her from being exposed to sunlight, so she was only active at night.
This characteristic perfectly matched the behavior of demons. Combined with the agency's efforts to conceal demon activity, these factors led Karin to decide to pay a visit to this supposedly ill president's wife to determine if she was a demon.
At night, Karin easily evaded the guards outside the estate and infiltrated the president's grand mansion.
At that moment, the alluring president's wife was lounging lazily on a sofa, berating a subordinate. "You fools! The blood you've been supplying lately is getting worse and worse! I asked for virgin blood, and look at this garbage you've brought me!"
"My deepest apologies, Madam!" The subordinate bowed his head, trembling.
The president's wife said coldly, "I don't want to hear it. I want blood!"
The subordinate, an ordinary human, wiped the sweat from his brow and explained nervously, "Recently, there have been numerous reports of demon attacks in the city. The populace is in a panic, and the security bureau can barely keep things under control, so our supply channels have been affected."
"Another pathetic excuse for your incompetence!" The president's wife sneered, then furrowed her brow slightly. "This can't go on. Investigate where those rogue demons are hiding and find them for me!"
"Yes, Madam!" The subordinate replied.
The president's wife waved dismissively. "Get out!"
The subordinate carefully closed the door and retreated.
Just as the president's wife was about to partake in fresh blood, footsteps echoed outside again. Her expression turned icy. "Who's out there? Didn't I say not to disturb me at this hour?"
The door opened, and the subordinate who had just left walked back in, his face blank.
Behind him, Karin leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head as she studied the president's wife drinking blood on the sofa. "A demon?"