Word spread through the Demon Slayer Corps like wildfire.
The Kakushi, who usually only carried supplies and tended to the wounded, now acted as couriers for a different kind of message.
Soon, every Slayer who had either passed through or was currently enduring the brutal Hashira Training learned the news: the Forest Hashira, Shinichi Moriki, was preparing his own training session in the small woods behind the main estate.
The notice was simple: any Demon Slayer who wished to attend could come at night for special training.
The announcement immediately sparked a wave of excited chatter among the ranks.
"The Forest Hashira is holding a training session? What do you think he'll teach? Forest Breathing?" one Slayer asked his friend as they took a water break.
"I have no idea," his friend replied, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I tried to become his Tsuguko once, but I just couldn't grasp the core of his Breathing Style. It's way too complex."
"Come to think of it, isn't the Maple Hashira the only one who ever mastered it?" a third chimed in.
"Yeah, but Yuichiro-sama is a genius, that's a given. What about the rest of us…?"
"So, are you going tonight?" the first one asked.
"Are you kidding? Of course, I'm going!" his friend shot back, a new fire in his eyes.
"The Hashira Training is already killing me, but I'm not missing this for anything. We have to take every chance we get to become stronger!"
The news reached the other Hashira as well, and their reactions were unanimously positive.
....
In the Tokito twins' training yard, Yuichiro paused to watch his younger brother, Muichiro, effortlessly weave through a group of exhausted trainees.
"If I had the time," he said with a rare, small smile, "I'd want to join Master training too. It would be nice to relive the old days."
Muichiro tilted his head, his expression as calm as ever.
"If you want to go, I can handle your group for the night."
Yuichiro just grunted, a flicker of consideration in his eyes.
....
Elsewhere, Sanemi was berating a Slayer for his poor footwork when he overheard the news.
He glanced over at Giyu who was silently observing his own trainees.
"Hey, Tomioka. You hear that? Shinichi's finally getting off his ass. That's good news. With him in the mix, these guys might actually stand a chance."
Giyu, ever the man of few words, simply gave a firm nod of agreement.
....
From Tengen Uzui to Kyojuro Rengoku and Obanai Iguro, every single Hashira approved.
An unspoken agreement seemed to pass between them all.
They would intentionally dial back the intensity of their afternoon sessions, just a little, to ensure the Slayers had enough energy left to participate in the Forest Hashira's special training that evening.
...
After asking the Kakushi to spread the word for him, Shinichi found his own feet carrying him toward the temporary Butterfly Mansion set up on the estate grounds.
It was a habit, he supposed.
Back in the day, whenever he felt lost or conflicted, he would subconsciously find his way to the Butterfly Mansion.
He was never sure if he went there to clear his head, or if he just wanted to see Shinobu.
It was the same this time, a pull he didn't even recognize until he was standing at the doorway.
But as he looked at the familiar entrance, a cold weight settled in his stomach.
He vaguely realized the truth he'd been avoiding: Shinobu... wasn't here.
His heart sank, but after a moment's hesitation, he stepped inside.
The air was filled with the familiar, sharp scent of medicine.
But things were quieter now.
With the demons seemingly in hiding, there were fewer wounded Slayers to care for.
In the temporary ward, only a handful of trainees with minor injuries were being treated.
He saw Kanzaki Aoi and Kanao Tsuyuri quietly processing herbs with the three little helpers, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho.
Not wanting to disturb them, Shinichi walked past and headed straight for a secluded room that had been designated as a top-secret research area.
When he opened the door, a potent, complex smell of chemicals and herbs hit him.
The makeshift lab was cluttered with bottles, beakers, microscopes, and all sorts of instruments Shinichi couldn't begin to name.
The demon doctor, Tamayo, was bent over her desk, as she was utterly focus on her task.
Her slender fingers moved with swift, steady precision, transferring liquids with a dropper.
She seemed completely oblivious to the outside world, and the pale, drawn look on her face was a clear sign of the immense effort she was pouring into her work.
Yushiro stood not far from her, a silent, guardian statue cloaked in the shadows, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto Shinichi with vigilance.
His gaze was still distant, but after their time together in the Corps, most of the initial hostility was gone.
On the other side of the lab, Kanae Kocho sat quietly in a chair.
Spread out on the table before her were several thick, beautifully organized notebooks—the priceless research notes on herbs, poisons, and demons left behind by her sister, Shinobu.
Kanae's fingers gently traced the familiar, neat handwriting, an unmistakable sadness clouding her eyes.
She looked haggard, like a beautiful flower deprived of water, her gentle spirit shrouded in a profound, lingering sorrow.
Seeing her like that, Shinichi's fists clenched at his sides.
He approached her quietly and whispered.
"Kanae..."
She slowly looked up, her mournful purple eyes meeting his.
Her voice was as soft as ever, though it trembled with a sadness that wouldn't fade.
"Shinichi-kun. I heard you're joining the Hashira training. That's wonderful. I'm sure you'll help everyone grow stronger. It's just... I feel a little useless. If Shinobu were here, she would be a much better help to Lady Tamayo."
"Please, don't say that," Tamayo's voice cut in gently.
Hearing Kanae's self-deprecating words, the busy doctor had finally looked up.
"Miss Kanae, you have helped me a great deal. And the research notes Miss Shinobu left behind have been invaluable."
Tamayo seemed to have just finished a stage of her experiment.
She let out a soft sigh, rubbing her tired brow before her eyes landed on Shinichi.
"Shinichi-san, you're here just in time." Her voice was hoarse with fatigue, but her eyes held a brilliant light, the kind of light that signaled the dawn of hope.
"Lady Tamayo," Shinichi asked, a nervousness he hadn't realized was there creeping into his voice,
"is there... any progress?"
At his question, a rare, tired smile of relief graced Tamayo's lips.
She picked up a small test tube containing a few milliliters of a pale purple liquid that seemed to glow with a faint, inner light.
"Yes, Shinichi-san," she said, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Though there is still a long way to go, I have finally… found a key direction. Through my analysis of Nezuko's blood, combined with my own centuries of research into Muzan's blood curse, and… some of the theories on neurotoxins and cell regeneration that Miss Shinobu left behind… I have synthesized a preliminary 'neutralizing agent'!"
She carefully swirled the purple liquid.
"It can't reverse the demonic transformation directly. But it acts like a key, allowing us to stabilize cells contaminated by demon blood and guide them to faintly 'resonate' with their human origins. More importantly," she added, her eyes gleaming, "it seems to be able to temporarily suppress the intense bloodlust and the extreme fear of sunlight that are hallmarks of demon blood! This gives us the foundation we need to eventually develop a true cure!"
'A neutralizing agent? Suppress bloodlust? Suppress the fear of sunlight?!'
The words exploded in Shinichi's mind like thunder.
In the corner, even Yushiro's stoic expression cracked with shock.
Kanae and Tamayo couldn't know the true reason for his earth-shattering reaction.
He hadn't told a soul about his fear that Shinobu had been turned into a demon; he couldn't bear to burden them with that possibility.
His plan had been simple: find her, no matter the cost.
But what he would do after he found her… he never let himself think about it.
He never dared to.
But now, Tamayo's words had ignited a spark in that hopeless darkness.
Shinichi felt his breath catch in his throat.
He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug deep into his palms.
Tamayo thought this was a breakthrough for Nezuko, a weapon against Muzan.
But for Shinichi, it was a lifeline for Shinobu.
It might only be a temporary solution for now, but it proved they were on the right path! It proved that hope was not just a fantasy!
"That's… that's incredible, Lady Tamayo!" he managed to get out, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Tamayo nodded, her expression happy but still serious.
"This is only the first step. The drug's stability and effectiveness still require extensive testing. And this can only suppress the symptoms. The true antidote… that will require more research. Perhaps the key lies in whatever allows Miss Nezuko to conquer the sun."
A single ray of hope now pierced the deepest despair.
Shinichi stared at the small purple test tube, and slowly, his clenched fists began to loosen.
The road ahead was still long and fraught with peril, but for the first time in a long time, it was no longer hopeless.
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