Screen 1– Captured by the Hashira
The smoke from Rui's ashes fades.
The forest is quiet again, but the team is battered.
Tanjiro carries Nezuko gently on his back.
Sans walks beside him with hands in his pockets, exhausted but alert.
Papyrus supports Inosuke, who refuses help but can barely stand.
Zenitsu limps behind them on trembling legs, crying quietly.
"I think I'm dying… I really think this time I'm dying…"
Papyrus pats his shoulder.
"FEAR NOT! I SHALL CARRY YOU IF NEEDED!"
"Noooo don't touch me—!"
A crow lands on a branch above them.
"Attention! Tanjiro Kamado and companions! Return to base immediately!"
Sans looks up at the crow.
"Your voice is too loud, man."
Tanjiro frowns.
"Return to the Demon Slayer Corps…? Why now?"
Before they can think, someone drops in front of them.
Shinobu Kocho.
The Insect Hashira.
She smiles politely.
"Oh my. What a strange group we have here. A boy… a demon girl… two skeletons… and three injured children."
Papyrus waves brightly.
"HELLO! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
Shinobu tilts her head.
"A polite skeleton. How refreshing."
Inosuke screams and charges her—
but she sidesteps effortlessly.
"Please don't run," she says in a calm voice.
"You are all under arrest."
Tanjiro stiffens.
"Arrest!? Why—?"
Shinobu turns her eyes toward Nezuko on his back.
"You are traveling with a demon."
Sans steps forward, eye glowing faintly.
"Hey. She's not hurting anyone."
Shinobu keeps smiling.
"Oh? And should I simply believe a skeleton?"
Papyrus gasps.
"YES! BELIEVE US!"
Shinobu ignores him and signals.
Suddenly, several hidden Demon Slayers emerge from the trees, surrounding them.
Zenitsu collapses.
"I KNEW IT! THIS IS HOW I DIE!"
Inosuke tries to fight but nearly faints.
Papyrus blocks him from falling.
Tanjiro grits his teeth.
"We don't want to fight. Just let us explain."
Shinobu gives a small bow.
"You can explain to the Master. All of you will come with us."
Sans looks around the circle of Slayers.
His grin fades.
"Wow. We're really outnumbered, huh?"
Tanjiro nods.
"We'll go. Peacefully."
With the team too injured to resist, they are taken down the mountain in restraints.
Tanjiro carries Nezuko tightly.
Zenitsu cries the whole time.
Inosuke growls at everyone.
Papyrus tries giving heroic speeches.
Sans stays quiet, eyes watching the shadows.
The Hashira have summoned them.
And the judgment is waiting.
End of Mount Natagumo Arc
To be continued…