Why... Tanjirou was a little embarrassed. Mr. Uzui is so tall and handsome, so he thought it was quite normal.
It was just that the resentment emanating from Zenitsu was too strong, forcing everyone to temporarily avoid his sharp edge.
Facing Kochou Shinobu's concern, Mizuki gave a somewhat stiff smile: "I'm fine."
"That's good." Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly and said to everyone, "Come in first."
Although everyone seemed mostly unharmed, their exhausted expressions were not fake.
They should get some good rest.
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the people behind her, and her eyes involuntarily fell on the Nichirin Blade at Tanjirou's waist.
The tsuba's design... has changed.
Is it Mizuki's blade?
Kochou Shinobu quickly realized this and said nothing more... Back at the Butterfly Mansion, time seemed to slow down again.
Although everyone had no major injuries, they still stayed in the Butterfly Mansion's infirmary for a few days, though a certain Pig-headed Boy would bounce around the room after lying down, making it impossible for others to rest properly.
But fortunately, there were many 'pig butchers' at the Butterfly Mansion; after each beating, he would calm down for a while.
Including Uzui Tengen and his three wives, everyone rested well at the Butterfly Mansion for several days.
Early this morning.
Mizuki awoke from her meditation.
Demons are different from humans; with the exception of Nezuko, a special existence, they do not require sleep to recover from physical exertion.
Mizuki would occasionally rest like a human, but now that the struggle between humans and demons was gradually entering a fever pitch, she had no choice but to rededicate herself to training.
Meditation training helps significantly in improving and developing swordsmanship.
Mizuki exhaled a long breath. The rest these past few days had mostly replenished what she had expended during her trip to the Entertainment District.
She opened her room door, and a suspicious figure was half-kneeling outside.
Mizuki glanced left and right down the corridor, then blinked: "What are you doing?"
Uzui Tengen half-knelt at the door and respectfully said, "Please teach me! The method to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark!"
Mizuki's eyelid twitched: "...I'd teach you even if you didn't do this."
Uzui Tengen quickly shook his head: "No, no, after all, you're quite stingy, I think it's best to..."
Mizuki interrupted expressionlessly: "Do you want to die?"
"Cough, cough, anyway, I'm counting on you!" Uzui Tengen clasped his hands together.
To be honest, he was dealt a blow.
As a Hashira, although he didn't consider himself the strongest and never expected to easily slay an Upper Rank Demon, he couldn't accept the fact that he was utterly powerless against an Upper Rank Demon.
Facing that monster... the fact that he could only tremble helplessly, he didn't want to experience that again.
Only by confronting fear can one understand its true meaning.
"I accept. Come find me when you're free." Mizuki casually pulled the room door shut. "I'll help you with the Demon Slayer Mark awakening training."
"I'm free right now!"
"...Then wait for me to wash up first." Mizuki could somewhat understand his eagerness.
Back then, Yoriichi tormented her to death; after every training session, she still wanted to drag him to continue, and Yoriichi would always drag her home.
Then every day after dinner, before Yoriichi could even put down his dishes, Mizuki would drag him out.
The main point was being proactive.
Arriving at the courtyard, Uzui Tengen's three wives were training in ninjutsu, with kunai flying everywhere.
Seeing the two of them, Suma, who was seriously sparring with her two sisters just a second ago, instantly forgot the kunai flying at her from Makio's hand and waved happily at Lord Tengen with a silly grin.
"Lord Tengen..."
Uzui Tengen's eyes widened: "idiot..."
He flashed in front of Suma, catching the flying kunai for her.
Uzui Tengen turned and gave Suma a flick on the head, scolding her, "Be serious during training!"
"Ehehe." Suma covered her head with both hands, sticking out her tongue foolishly.
Mizuki: "..."
She wasn't here to watch them show off their affection.
But speaking of which, she was so focused on fighting earlier that she didn't pay much attention, but now that she looks closely, these three look quite similar to Tanjirou and the others.
Especially Suma and Makio, they are practically carbon copies of Inosuke and Zenitsu.
Only their personalities are completely opposite.
Hinatsuru and Tanjirou aren't as similar in appearance, but their personalities are alike.
After Uzui Tengen explained the situation to his three wives, he returned to the corridor: "Let's begin."
The three women left the courtyard, Suma walking last and happily greeting Mizuki, "I'll leave Lord Tengen to you~"
Mizuki smiled slightly: "Mm, leave him to me~"
Uzui Tengen inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.
What's going on?
...Time flew by. When Tanjirou finished lunch and strolled into the courtyard, he saw Uzui Tengen sitting on the veranda from afar.
"Mr. Uzui, good after..." Tanjirou, who was about to greet Uzui Tengen, paused.
Woah, what happened to him?
Why is he completely gray and lifeless?
Uzui Tengen struggled to lift his head, looking utterly exhausted: "Ah, it's Tanjirou..."
Tanjirou asked with concern, "What's wrong, Mr. Uzui...?"
Uzui Tengen sighed: "Tell me..."
"Mm." Tanjirou sat beside him, ready to listen.
"Do you think I'm not qualified enough as a Hashira?"
Tanjirou: "..."
..."Ahahaha, Tanpachirou! You're here! Come and..." When Inosuke, full of energy after lunch, arrived at the courtyard, he saw the two of them sitting by the side, looking utterly gray and lifeless.
Tanjirou scratched his Pig Head in confusion: "What's wrong with you two?"
Tanjirou looked up, exhausted: "Inosuke... do you think I'm too weak?"
Inosuke: "..."
..."What are you three doing sitting here?" When Zenitsu arrived at the courtyard after lunch, "By the way, have you seen Nezu... Woah, what's wrong with you guys?"
Facing their numb gazes, Zenitsu trembled all over.
Inosuke grumbled, "Zenitsu, do you think we're a bit too weak?"
Zenitsu's face went blank for a moment: "Are you idiots!"
"Nezuko-chan~ I'm here~"
He walked away with cheerful steps... "Oh, quite flashy, isn't it?" Uzui Tengen narcissistically looked in the mirror, stroking the musical note-like mark on his face. "this great lord was a bit worried about being disfigured..."
Uzui Tengen awakened his Demon Slayer Mark faster than Rengoku, succeeding in just three days.
Mizuki estimated it was related to his previous direct confrontation with Kokushibou, having already experienced a moment of crisis.
So it would be faster than Rengoku.
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