Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Ubuyashiki Estate.
The vast courtyard was covered with white pebbles and surrounded by lush green pines and cypresses.
At this moment, several figures emitting powerful auras had already gathered in the center of the courtyard, either standing or sitting.
As the nine Hashira, the highest combat power of the Demon Slayer Corps, all of them had arrived today for the first time in a long while.
"Did Master call this special Hashira Meeting just to see a newcomer who just passed the Final Selection?"
A young man with white spiky hair and a body covered in scars was leaning against a tree trunk with a face full of irritation.
Wind Hashira Shinazugawa Sanemi.
His eyes held an undisguised violence. "A single person slaughtered everyone on Mount Fujikasane? Are you kidding me? I could kill everyone in that dump for raising trash with my eyes closed."
"Don't say that. To be able to get Master's attention, this person must have extremely outstanding talent. It's truly something that makes one's blood boil." Rengoku Kyojuro, who had yellow and red hair and bright, piercing eyes, crossed his arms and spoke loudly.
"Regardless, to directly disturb Master without going through levels of assessment is not flamboyant at all." Uzui Tengen touched the jeweled headband on his forehead and curled his lip.
On a tree branch, Iguro Obanai, with a white snake wrapped around his neck, sneered, "He's just an arrogant brat seeking attention. If he dares to show any disrespect in front of Master, I will snap his neck immediately."
Not far away, Kanroji Mitsuri covered her reddened cheeks, her heart racing wildly. "Oh my, I heard he's an extremely handsome young man. To have someone as proud as Shinobu-chan personally accompany him, I wonder what kind of person he is. I'm so looking forward to it."
At the very edge of the courtyard, Giyu stood there alone. He didn't participate in the discussion. His deep blue eyes were fixed on the entrance of the courtyard, and his hands subconsciously gripped the nichirin blade at his waist.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the gravel path outside the courtyard.
The Hashira who were still talking instantly fell silent. Several pairs of eyes, like physical swords, all stabbed towards the entrance.
Shinobu was the first to enter the courtyard.
Beside her, half a step behind, Yamada walked in lazily, one hand in his pocket and the other casually carrying the black straight sword over his shoulder.
Facing the terrifying pressure released by several Hashira simultaneously—enough to make an ordinary swordsman suffocate instantly—Yamada's pace didn't even pause, and his breathing rhythm didn't change.
"Oh? So these are the so-called Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Yamada's gaze swept over everyone, his lips curling into an undisguised, arrogant arc. "They don't seem like much. Other than being loud and dressed strangely, there doesn't seem to be anything special about them."
As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the courtyard instantly dropped to freezing point.
Sanemi immediately had several veins bulge on his forehead.
"You bastard... what did you say?!"
Boom!
The pebbles under Sanemi's feet exploded. He turned into a violent green gale, and using the terrifying momentum of his sprint, his right leg swept towards Yamada's head with a piercing sound of breaking air.
"Shut that foul mouth for me!"
Although he didn't use a Breathing Style, with his physical fitness as a Hashira, the power of this kick was enough to shatter a giant boulder.
Shinobu instinctively wanted to shout a warning, but before the words could come out, she swallowed them back.
Because she saw Yamada's eyes—they were the eyes of someone looking at a clown.
Facing Sanemi's heavy whip kick, Yamada didn't even blink.
Just as the leg was about to hit him, his left hand, which had been in his pocket, shot out extremely quickly.
Snap!
Sanemi's right leg, which was powerful enough to shatter a boulder, came to a sudden halt just five centimeters from Yamada's head.
Yamada's left hand firmly gripped Sanemi's ankle. No matter how much force Sanemi applied, that slender palm didn't shake in the slightest.
"How is this possible?!" Sanemi's pupils shrank, and he was horrified.
He was the Wind Hashira! In terms of pure physical strength, he was actually caught with one hand by a newcomer?!
"Too slow, unstable base, and your power delivery is full of openings." Yamada's cold voice rang in Sanemi's ear.
In the next second, Yamada's left hand yanked downwards while his right foot viciously kicked the back of Sanemi's knee, which was his supporting leg.
Bang!
Sanemi, having lost his balance, didn't have time to react. He was slammed into the ground by Yamada's irresistible monstrous strength while still in mid-air.
The pebbles on the ground were smashed into a large pit, and dust rose everywhere.
"Bastard!" Sanemi roared in rage, trying to struggle to his feet.
But Yamada had already stepped on his chest. The heavy pressure caused Sanemi to instantly exhale all the air he had just breathed into his lungs, his face turning purple-red.
In the entire courtyard, all the Hashira showed extremely unbelievable expressions.
From Sanemi's sudden attack to being flipped over and stepped on by Yamada, the entire process took less than a second.
The Wind Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps was actually crushed in physical combat by a newcomer?
"Let him go!"
On the tree branch, Obanai's eyes turned cold. He instantly leaped down from the tree, his right hand firmly gripping his sword hilt, preparing to draw his blade to force Yamada back.
However, just as Obanai was about to act—
Clang!
A blade suddenly flashed, appearing in front of Obanai and blocking his path.
Giyu!
At this moment, Giyu had already drawn half of his nichirin blade. His deep blue eyes held an unprecedented determination and coldness as he stared fixedly at Obanai and the other Hashira who were preparing to move.
"Whoever dares to touch him will be an enemy of me."
Giyu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve that echoed through the courtyard.
At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded.
Even Yamada raised an eyebrow, looking a bit surprised at this Water Hashira who was usually silent.
"Giyu! Are you crazy?! This kid injured Sanemi at the headquarters, and you're actually going to protect him?!" Obanai roared in frustration.
Giyu didn't explain. He just tightened his grip on his sword, and Water Breathing began to circulate.
Just at this tense moment, which could turn into internal strife among the Hashira at any time.
The sliding door of the room directly in front of the courtyard was slowly pulled open from the inside.
Two twin kids, one with white hair and one with black, supported a weak man with purple markings on his face and blind eyes as he walked onto the porch.
"Master has arrived."
As the gentle voices of the girls rang out, the Hashira, who were full of killing intent just a moment ago, were instantly paused.
Obanai quickly sheathed his sword, and Sanemi, who had been released and kicked away by Yamada, also endured the sharp pain in his chest to scramble up.
In the blink of an eye, the nine Hashira, including Shinobu and Giyu, all knelt on one knee, lowering their proud heads.
In the large courtyard, only Yamada remained, still carrying his black sword on one shoulder and standing tall, looking with interest at the supreme leader of the Demon Slayer Corps—Ubuyashiki Kagaya.