Tanjiro?
Uchiha Hikari froze for a moment before it clicked.
Not *Calabash Brothers*, but *Demon Slayer*?
Kamado Tanjiro, the protagonist of *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba*. His head… yeah, it's pretty darn hard. No wonder he's the Head Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.
**Iron Head Kid: I don't really get what you guys were talking about earlier, but you all seem like super amazing seniors. Can I ask you a question?**
**Nameless: …Go ahead.**
**Iron Head Kid: How do I cut through this rock with a sword? [Rock.jpg]**
"…"
A brief silence.
**Forever Little Sister: In my world, or Hikari-san's, you'd coat the blade with wind-natured chakra to slice through it. But cutting a rock that big in one go requires serious swordsmanship and chakra control. In a world without chakra, though, I'm not too sure.**
**Forever Little Sister @Nameless: Hikari-san, any ideas?**
**Nameless: A little.**
**Nameless @Iron Head Kid: Your world is called the 'Demon Slayer World.' There are creatures called demons that lurk at night, feeding on humans. To fight them, you need to master 'Breathing Techniques' and the swordsmanship that goes with them. As for how to train in Breathing Techniques, your master, Urokodaki, should've taught you. Just follow his instructions.**
Uchiha Hikari dredged up her memories of the *Demon Slayer* plot as she replied.
On the other side…
**Iron Head Kid: Breathing Techniques, huh… Got it! Thank you so much for the advice, Nameless-san and Forever Little Sister-san!**
Polite kid.
Hikari mused for a moment.
From Tanjiro's words, it seemed the *Demon Slayer* world was at the very start of its story.
The Kamado family had been slaughtered by a demon, leaving only Tanjiro, who'd been out selling charcoal, and his demon-turned sister, Nezuko. Guided by the Water Hashira, Tanjiro found Urokodaki, his mentor, to train in swordsmanship and Breathing Techniques to join the Demon Slayer Corps. Cutting the boulder was the final test Urokodaki had set for him.
In the original story, Tanjiro would receive guidance from the spirits of Urokodaki's late disciples, like Sabito, and pass the trial. Hikari's nudge wouldn't change much.
Still…
Considering the *Demon Slayer* world's overall setup, Hikari added:
**Nameless @Iron Head Kid: If you run into any tough problems, just say so in the group. Everyone here's happy to help.**
Demons were dangerous and tricky for ordinary people.
But for Uchiha Hikari, with her Mangekyō Sharingan? They were nothing.
She was actually a bit curious about the Breathing Techniques in Tanjiro's world. Maybe in a few days, when she had time, she could ask Tanjiro if she could pop over for a look.
For now, though…
Hikari tilted her head, listening to the faint rustle of wind through the forest.
"Someone's coming… Did they hear the explosion earlier?"
She stood her ground, waiting patiently.
Soon enough, several shadowy figures appeared in the nearby trees. They observed from a distance before leaping down, approaching the massive crater caused by the earlier blast and surrounding Hikari.
"Who are you?"
"That explosion was your doing, wasn't it? What village are you from, and why are you sneaking into Konoha?"
"Hmph, the evidence is clear. She's obviously some evil spy from another village! Let's drag her to the interrogation room and get answers!"
"…"
Hikari narrowed her eyes, scanning the group.
They were clearly Anbu, their faces hidden behind animal masks, making it impossible to identify them. One thing was certain: Hatake Kakashi wasn't among them. None had his signature white hair.
"Who's your leader?"
Hikari's gaze settled as she spoke calmly. "I'm not from any ninja village, and I have no intention of fighting you. I just want to talk. Can you tell me who the current Hokage of Konoha is?"
"?"
The Anbu exchanged glances.
Hikari genuinely wanted to know, but her question was clearly taken as a taunt.
"Heh, asking something that stupid—are you mocking us? Looks like we'll have to take you in for questioning. Come with us!"
At the lead Anbu's command, two of them rushed forward with kunai drawn.
Hikari instinctively stepped back.
But she was already surrounded. The moment she moved, an Anbu behind her drew a short blade and lunged from the rear.
The wind whistled!
The gap—less than ten meters—closed in an instant. The blade was nearly upon her, and Hikari could feel the prickling sting of its approach.
In that critical moment, she ducked low, narrowly dodging the blade at her back. With a flicker of a Body Flicker Technique, she surged forward, her hand snapping out to grab the wrist of another ninja. Her fist slammed into his stomach.
"Urgh—"
It was a delicate-looking fist, seemingly weak, but the ninja's face twisted in pain, his grip on his kunai faltering.
Hikari didn't pause. She snatched the kunai from his hand and spun, sweeping the blade in a dazzling arc. The flat of the blade clashed with a volley of incoming shuriken, sparking a burst of blinding light!
"…Earth Release: Mud Wall!"
"Water Release: Water Whip!"
While the melee unfolded, the Anbu leader finished his hand signs. As his hands slammed into the ground, a surge of chakra roiled through the earth, causing the ground within a dozen meters to churn wildly. In moments, towering earthen walls rose from the soil, and even the ground beneath Hikari's feet buckled, lifting her into the air!
At the same time, a torrent of water lashed toward her, aiming for her waist!
It was clear they wanted to capture her alive, not kill her.
But…
"Looks like you're not interested in talking."
Hikari's expression darkened, and a scarlet glow flickered in her eyes.
"?!"
"Those eyes… could they be—?"
Before the words "Sharingan" could escape their lips, Hikari's hands blurred through a dizzying sequence of seals: Rat–Ox–Dog–Horse–Monkey–Boar–Tiger!
"Fire Release: Majestic Flame Destroyer!!"
In an instant!
A searing line of fire erupted from Hikari's mouth, spreading in the blink of an eye into a boundless wave of crimson flames that roared skyward. It was like a sun rising in the night, illuminating hundreds of meters around her in a blaze as bright as day!
*Boom!!*
The flames crashed against the earthen walls. The leader's Mud Wall held for a single second before crumbling under the onslaught. The torrent of water evaporated in an instant, turning into a white haze of steam that spread outward. The scorching heat warped the air, twisting the space within dozens of meters!
Flames danced wildly!
The heat surged!!
In the firelight, Hikari's hair fluttered, her pale face bathed in a fiery red glow.
"Mere pebbles… not even half my equal!"
*(End of Chapter)*