CHAPTER 19: HASHIRA TRAINING ARC PT.II

Zenitsu strolled toward the Butterfly Mansion, humming nervously to himself, twirling a flower he had picked from the roadside.

As he turned the corner, his heart skipped a beat.

There she was—Nezuko Kamado, standing by the garden with Aoi, her smile radiant under the afternoon sun.

"-Goodmorning'" Nezuko waved warmly.

Zenitsu's face flushed red. She… she said can speak?!

He rushed forward dramatically, arms spread like he was about to hug destiny itself.

But her next words shattered him.

"Welcome back, Inosuke!"

Zenitsu froze.

"…Wha… WHAT?!"

His eyes twitched. The flower dropped.

"Where's that wild boar…?" he muttered, his voice colder than the North Wind.

Aoi giggled from the side. "He just left. Want to spar with him later?"

Zenitsu slumped, muttering to himself. "I'll spar with his face…"

—

Elsewhere…

At the base of a wide plateau, Tanjiro stood shoulder-to-shoulder with several lower-ranked slayers, sweat dripping from their brows as they watched their newest trainer appear in full flash.

Uzui Tengen, still flamboyant as ever despite retirement, leapt down from the rocky outcrop with flair.

"Alright, you unflashy worms!" he shouted. "Welcome to hell—I mean, your training!"

Tanjiro grinned. "It's good to see you again, Tengen-san!"

Uzui smirked. "I'll say this once. Strength isn't just muscle. It's presence. Flash. Spirit. You'll learn all three."

That day, between drills, he shared stories of his days as a Shinobi, of battles in the Entertainment District, and of the three wives who grounded his chaotic soul.

"Every move you make," he said to Tanjiro during a break, "should honor the people you protect. Remember that."

—

Days later…

The wind was crisp atop the cliffs where Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, awaited them.

As Tanjiro approached, Muichiro's usual blank expression shifted ever so slightly.

"…Tanjiro," he said softly, a rare smile forming, "I was hoping you'd come."

Training under Tokito was silent and precise—misty footwork, blade control, mental focus. It was like dancing through clouds.

One night, as they sat near a campfire, Muichiro opened up.

"I had a brother once," he said quietly. "I lost him to demons. I lost my memories too… for a time. But fighting brought it back. The pain and the strength."

Tanjiro listened in silence, feeling the weight behind each word.

"I see something in you," Muichiro said, looking into the fire. "Maybe it's that same fire we both lost."

Tanjiro nodded. "Then I'll keep it burning."