Since Tamayo was treating Yae's father, Yuko would also be staying in the Butterfly Estate for now.
The Kocho sisters owned the estate and led the Corps' medical division, though it was Shinobu alone who managed it.
Because Yuko had altered history, the Taisho-era Nine Hashira had become Ten.
Despite being sisters, Shinobu did not inherit Kanae's physical gifts—or her height.
It was as if all of heaven's blessings had gone to Kanae alone, who was counted among the most gifted Hashira of her time.
Thus Kanae spent most of her years fighting demons on the front lines.
Shinobu, the opposite—short, talentless, physically weak—was entrusted with running the estate after becoming a Hashira.
Kanae had been overjoyed her little sister would no longer be in danger.
But Shinobu herself could not accept it.
…
Night fell. The cold moon hung high.
In the courtyard of the Butterfly Estate, Shinobu stood opposite Yuko.
Shinobu slowly drew her peculiar blade.
"Yuko, please don't hold back. I want to awaken my mark as soon as possible—push me to my limits."
Unable to dissuade her, Yuko had no choice but to agree.
After all, she had been eating and drinking here for free for a month.
Yes—including food.
The living expenses for all three demons—Tamayo, Yuko, and Yushiro—were paid entirely by the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even the blood was provided by Corps swordsmen.
And since this was the Butterfly Estate, gathering blood was easy.
Because of Tamayo's advice, Yuko no longer resisted it as much. Her body felt better than ever.
Yuko nodded.
"Don't worry about hitting me. I've already overcome the sun. Nichirin blades can't harm me anymore."
She hadn't overcome the neck-severing weakness—only sunlight.
Demons died from decapitation by Nichirin steel, but Yuko, immune to the sun, would not die even if her head were cut off.
As for wisteria poison—
She wasn't looking down on it, but the amount hidden in Shinobu's blade wasn't enough to harm her even tenfold.
She carried wisteria sachets around for years—she was experienced.
Shinobu nodded seriously. "I understand."
Yuko removed her Nichirin sword and set it on the walkway.
"Then, to help you experience it firsthand… I'll let you feel things more directly."
Shinobu was confused—until the wind lifted Yuko's long red hair, and in an instant, it turned white.
Two sharp, demonic horns pushed out from her skull.
Her red eyes transformed into golden vertical pupils—so striking they froze the breath of everyone watching.
And she wasn't done.
Yuko clasped her right hand over her left palm—
—and drew out a dripping blood-forged demon blade from her own flesh.
She spun it lightly, blood scattering across the floor.
When the blade finally settled, its true color emerged—pure white, unstained by even a single drop of blood.
Everyone watching from the corridor felt their hearts tighten.
Tamayo's eyes widened—this was the first time she had ever seen Yuko fully demonized.
The pressure alone…
It seemed her brother must have injected an incredible amount of Muzan's blood into her.
Tamayo would not be surprised if even the Upper Rank One—the one who stood unchanged for centuries—would lose face before Muzan himself.
But at the same time, she couldn't help admiring Yuko's transformed appearance.
To be honest… she didn't even look like a demon.
Setting aside the bloody moment just now—under the moonlight…
She looked divine.
That was what the onlookers felt.
But Shinobu, standing directly before her, felt something entirely different.
Shinobu didn't have the luxury to admire her appearance—the moment Yuko's demon form emerged, an indescribable pressure crashed down on her like a mountain.
Her lungs tightened.
She couldn't breathe.
Shinobu's body trembled slightly, even the hand holding her blade shaking uncontrollably as though she were shivering in terror.
She was afraid.
Even though she knew the person before her wouldn't hurt her…
She was terrified anyway—her body instinctively recoiling, recognizing an overwhelming predator.
Her instincts screamed at her that she was facing an enemy she could not overcome.
So this is what the Upper Ranks are like—the strongest of the Twelve Kizuki…
Was this the kind of monster my sister fought back then?
From the corridor, Aoi watched Shinobu trembling all over, confused.
What's wrong with Miss Shinobu…?
Under Yuko's deliberate pressure, Shinobu's thoughts were on the brink of collapse.
Within only a few seconds, sweat drenched her entire body, and she felt her control slipping away.
Move…
Shinobu bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, forcing her will to suppress the terror in her chest.
Sensing that she'd regained control of her body, Shinobu's heart leapt with relief. Her light figure sank low—then shot forward like an arrow.
"Insect Breathing · Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter!"
As the Hashira with the fastest thrust speed, Shinobu moved so quickly that the onlookers in the corridor could barely track her.
However…
Yuko watched that small figure rush toward her like a moth to a flame.
Her gaze was calm.
She slowly extended her arm.
In Shinobu's shocked eyes, Yuko caught the thin, rapidly approaching blade with her bare hand—then, a tremendous force surged against her, hurling her high into the air.
The strength was so overwhelming Shinobu nearly lost her grip on her sword.
Gritting her teeth midair, Shinobu forcibly twisted her body and landed lightly like a butterfly—only to rebound instantly like a fired projectile.
"Insect Breathing · Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon!"
Because of her lack of strength, most of Shinobu's sword forms focused on rapid thrusts—embedding the poison hidden in her blade into demons to kill them.
Normally, she could complete a six-strike combo in the blink of an eye.
But before the first strike could land, a streak of silver flashed.
Pain stabbed her wrist—her blade was knocked flying instantly.
Before she could react, a shadow fell over her.
Shinobu instinctively looked up—her pupils contracting sharply.
She met those soul-piercing golden slit pupils.
Yuko raised the long blade in her hand.
The snowy-white edge gleamed like moonlight… and came straight down toward her.
I'm going to die.
Shinobu completely forgot their training plan.
Her mind went blank.
Her body froze like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
The blade halted right before her eyes.
The wind pressure alone felt like it would tear her skin apart.
Yuko sheathed her blade and released her demon form.
The crushing aura vanished instantly.
Without that overwhelming pressure supporting her, Shinobu's legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees before Yuko.
Panting heavily, Shinobu couldn't tell whether the drops hitting the back of her hands were sweat or tears.
I'm too weak…
Like this… how could she possibly fight? She would only drag everyone down.
"Kocho-sama…" Aoi took a step forward, but Tamayo caught her arm.
Tamayo shook her head gently, signaling everyone to leave this to the two of them.
The others quietly withdrew.
Yuko crouched down and reached out her hand.
"Shinobu—come on, stand up."
Shinobu's lips trembled. She took Yuko's hand and let herself be pulled up, one arm curling around her body, head hanging low as she whispered, almost sobbing:
"…How embarrassing…"
Blurting out she wanted to awaken a mark, arrogantly demanding Yuko train with her…
Yet she couldn't even maintain her composure in front of Yuko.
---
Currently at chapter 423 for advance chapters
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