[3rd Person POV- Tecchin, Tatsutaka, and the Forge]
The forge's fire roared, sparks leaping into the air as Tecchin sat cross legged before the anvil, his hyottoko mask bobbing slightly with each strike of his hammer.
Beside him stood Tetsutaka, hammering along in rhythm to his guide blow. Sweat making his arms shine, his movements sharp and full of restrained fury. He had not quite forgiven Satoru for "vaporising" one of his swords just yet.
Every strike of his hammer that came after Tecchin's, rang with both anger and pride. He would not, could not, forge something weak for a man who dared to wield his blade like it was disposable kindling.
"Pay attention Testu… this weapon will be unlike any other. Satoru infused this ore with his special energy. After confirming his fighting style with his betrothed, the two blades must be complimentary to one another." Tecchin said.
"That Love Hashira, she said he fights recklessly. His strange power provides a perfect defense for him." Tetsutaka replied.
"Then we shall make the perfect weapon to compliment his ultimate defense." Tecchin nodded.
"And if he breaks these too then I will bury him with the remains." Tetsutaka growled.
Tecchin chuckled, "… let us hurry then, the air is restless tonight."
[Scene Break] (POV Returned)
The evening air was a pleasant temperature, the faint scent of pine and smoke carried from the village's forges. I strolled along outside the perimeter wall. My hands tucked in my pocket, haori draped over my shoulder. A temporary nichirin blade tucked into my belt.
Most of the day had been spent in good company. Mainly Mitsuri and the other Hashira. Tanjiro and the rest of his impromptu squad had been buzzing with questions.
By now, the others had dispersed. Muichiro in the village with the Kamaboko squad backing him up. They were to defend the heart of the village. Sanemi, Mitsuri, Kyojuro, and I would be patrolling different quadrants of the village.
I had volunteer for the northern half of the village perimeter. No real reason behind it, other than the hopes that the demons would go for a frontal assault. Mitsuri had taken the forge area. Where smiths worked day and night to create and maintain the blades that the corps used.
Sanemi took the mountain pass, with Wind Breathing the terrain suited him more. Finally, Kyojuro took the southern half of the wall. He was one of the stronger Hashira and had insisted on taking one of the riskier positions like me.
The sun had dipped below the treeline, shadows from the surrounding forest stretching. My Sunglasses were tucked away in one of my pockets. My Six Eyes scanning every possible attack angle.
I could feel it in the air, something was going to happen. It was only a matter of time before shit hits the fan. My instincts were flaring, I had gotten the same feeling in my past life, a tingling on the back of my neck just before I had almost gotten hit by a car.
I yawned, 'Maybe I've gotten paranoid during my time here… then again, Muzan has had this village on his shitlist for decades.'
Then the night burst into light. A flare, from the south. My body moved before the thought could be formed.
'Kyojuro's position… of course it would be him. Dude like that raises a flag every day… whatever, time to go crash the party.'
Space warped around me as Blue shifted the world according to my will. I had memorised a few different spots during the day. One in each quadrant of the village, marked in my mind like a coordinate system.
With a pulse of cursed energy I vanished and reappeared. The southern gate, I saw Kyojuro silhouetted by the flare. Standing proud with his sword braced in front of him like a cane. Both his hands on the pommel as he posed like some shonen protagonist.
I looked beyond him, towards the treeline. There, dozens of demons snarled at the unmoving Kyojuro. Hiroto, Kyojuro's kasugai crow flew over. I whistled sharply and raised my arm. The crow landed and tilted it head at me.
"What is it caw caw!?"
"Notify the other Hashira that Kyojuro and I have this. Also, have Tanjiro keep an eye out on the Northern Entrance. I doubt there will be another group of demons but it helps to be cautious."
Hiroto cawed in confirmation and flew off just as the first demons screeched and rushed forward. I stepped next to Kyojuro while drawing my temporary sword.
"Guess the party just started." I grinned.
Kyojuro turned to me looking puzzled. "SATORU-SAN, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS A PARTY."
[Scene Break]
The first of the demons reached us, I performed an iaido strike perfectly decapitating the demon, then flowed into a diagonal strike. The strike landed, and turned another demon into a Kit Kat.
I glanced over to Kyojuro who had cut through two demons as well. He grinned at me, then I pointed behind him at one of the demons he hadn't quite defeated with his slash.
"Two plus two, that's four, minus one, that's three… quick maths." I called out to him.
His eyes lit up, as if the meaning of life had been revealed to him.
"OH, I SEE. A COMPETITION! I ACCEPT!!"
"Wha- no… never mind…" I sighed, as I casually flicked my blade.
Three more demons fell to my blade. I looked over to Kyojuro. His blade glinted as he swung at some demons.
"I AM RENGOKU KYOJURO! FLAME HASHIRA OF THE DEMON SLAYER CORPS," he roared, voice booming like a drum, "COME! FACE THE FLAMES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!"
I sighed, shaking my head, 'There he goes again… I have a feeling he'd get along real well with Maito Gai if we were in the Naruto world.'
"Six!" I called out as I dispatched another demon.
I glanced over to Kyojuro again, just as he decapitated five demons at the same time.
"THAT IS TEN!" Kyojuro shouted.
"BRO HOW?!" I stared in disbelief.
"FOCUS SATORU-SAN!" Kyojuro laughed as he dashed towards another group of demons.
I chuckled, "At least I won't feel bad for using my powers then…"
Grinning, I flipped the sword into reverse grip. That sword channel on YouTube would have cried if they could see me effectively using reverse grip on a katana.
Using a combination of Blue, and my Limitless. I flashed around the demon ranks. A mental counter pinging off in my mind as I recreated the Flying Thunder God technique from Naruto with Cursed Energy instead of Chakra.
Kyojuro laughed as he watched me butcher dozens of demons. My nichirin blade flashing as I teleported between groups of demons.
"MOST IMPRESSIVE SATORU-SAN! BUT MY PASSION SHALL BURN BRIGHTER!"
"Passion doesn't stop math Kyojuro-kun… I'm ahead."
He spun, his own sword singing through the air as he cut apart a dozen demons with a single slash.
"Huh… maybe it does stop some math."
We fought side by side, the night around us melting into chaos. Then, slowly, it became quieter and quieter as we killed the last of the demon. Kyojuro was breathing heavily, fighting so many without stopping had taken a bit out of him.
I stabbed my katana into the ground, "So how many did you get?"
"I HAVE SLAIN THIRTY SEVEN DEMONS SATORU-SAN!"
"Huh… impressive, I myself have obliterated forty nine."
Kyojuro glanced at me, "I DIDN'T SEE YOU TAKE DOWN FORTY NINE."
"You blinked…"
"I DON'T BLINK SATORU-SAN, MY FLAMES OF YOUTH BURN TOO BRIGHT!"
'Please don't do that… a certain bushy brow green spandex wearing Bruce Lee reference will get summoned here.'
"I'm just that fast Kyojuro-kun."
Kyojuro let out a booming laugh, "HAHA VERY WELL, IT IS YOUR VICTORY, I SHALL NOT BE BEATEN NEXT TIME."
"Sure Fireball-kun, drinks are on you when we get out of this then."
He nodded firmly. "I ACCEPT!"
Then, as if on cue, another flare went up, from Muichiro's sector.
Our smiles faded, I sighed. "Back to work then… At least the south is clear for now," I picked up my sword, "let's move."
"RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" Kyojuro shouted, his fiery personality reigniting around him as we dashed back towards the village.
Buildings flew past us as we ran through the quiet streets of the Swordsmith Village. Most of the smiths themselves have been evacuated to a large building at the edge of the small town. The Kamaboko Squad guarding them along with Genya.
The sound of fighting drew closer as we neared the position the flare had gone up from. Houses and forges shook as the battle raged. My Six Eyes picked up the fight before we arrived.
Mitsuri, Sanemi, and Muichiro were fighting a demon who wielded a sword. Arcs of glimmering moonlight shot from the demons blade.
'Kokoshibo… Koku? Ah whatever… I have exactly the props for this.'
I grinned and turned to Kyojuro, "Kojuro… but me some time, maybe five minutes. The other three Hashira are fighting Upper Moon One, I need to make some preparations.'
Kyojuro hesitated but nodded, "WE WILL HOLD HIM UNTIL YOU JOIN US SATORU-SAN."
He continued to rush forward to join our fellow Pillars. I quickly ducked into a darkened corner behind a house. I rummaged around my dimensional pocket. Then I took out a bundle of cloth.
Unwrapping the cloth I expose the contents to the moonlight and my grin widens to mischievous levels.
"Lets see… wig, check. Make up, check. Costume, check. Earrings… right where I left them. Good… goood, heheheh."
"Hehe… kukuku, all according to keikaku… fufufu, hehehe.'
[Scene Break]
Moments I had completed my transformation from, 'The Strongest Sorcerer' into 'The Strongest Demon Slayer'. The long crimson wig hiding my white hair, secured with clips and some hair wax.
The hanafuda earrings tickled my neck as I walked towards the fight wearing a simple red haori over a pale orange kimono and black hakama pants. I had swapped my normal shoes for white tabi socks and zori sandals with red straps.
I coughed lightly, applying a bit of Cursed Energy to my throat to get my voice how I wanted it. I stepped out into the open, focusing all my will into being calm, in constant a state concentration.
"Breathe… shine like the morning sun…" I gave my disguised voice a test whisper.
The moonlight washed over me as I stepped into the street where the fight was ongoing. Mitsuri noticed me first, I tried not to look at her. I had a cosplay to sell, still I saw her mouth. 'Satoru-kun?'
'Of course she'd recognise me instantly… let's hope the others are easier to fool.'
Sanemi blinked, confusion crossing his scarred features. "What the hell—
Kyojuro faltered, "KAMI… IS THAT…"
But Kokushibo's reaction was the one that mattered.
The Upper Moons eyes trembled, the blade in his hand trembled as all six of his eyes dilated. "…No. No, that cannot be!" His voice rising. "You- how are you here!?"
I didn't answer immediately, I let everyone stew. Only Mitsuri had recognised me and thankfully she was playing along.
When I did speak, Kokushibo recoiled as if he was struck. My voice was calm, no hint of emotion. Perfect.
"It's been a long time… brother."
The air stilled, silence hung. Kokushibo stepped back, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Yoriichi…?!" Kokushibo hissed.
Sanemi gawked, "What did he just say?"
Mitsuri raised her hand to her mouth, trying not to giggle. In a low voice she whispered. "Oh no… he's doing it again."
I kept my face calm, breathing deeply. The air shifted as I moved my sheathed katana to draw it. My chest rose and fell in sync with the world around me.
Then without warning I burst forward, sword already drawn. Kokushibo barely raised his sword in time, but by then I was already behind him. Flicking my sword to the side to clear the blood off of it.