"Understood!" 

"Understood!" 

Both Shinobu and Giyu responded at the same time.

"Go forth, my children, and may you have great success in battle." Master Ubuyashiki gave the orders to move out.

"Yes, master!"

Shinobu and Giyu bowed respectfuly.

Since it's an emergency, they have to depart as soon as possible meaning the meeting will also end. They both got the necessary information about the situation on the Mt. Natagumo as they both left.

Kenshi also followed behind Shinobu as he also decided to go with her. Since his injuries are healed, Shinobu also agreed, she wanted to observe his skills in real battle.

"It would be great if humans and demons could get along in a friendly manner. Don't you think so, Giyu-san?" Shinobu's voice remained as gentle as always, as if she was really fantasizing about such a thing.

"That's just wishful thinking as long as demons keep eating people. The only thing we can do is to slay them." In contrast, Giyu responded in a cold and curt manner.

Outside the headquarters' courtyard, Kanao had arrived geared up fully armed with their swords just in a few minutes.

Her crow seems to be quite fast at passing information.

Around them, countless Kakushi members were nervously preparing various medical supplies.

Having heard they would be facing the probably one of the Twelve Demon Moons this time, they had to make thorough preparations to support the swordsmen at the frontlines. They couldn't afford to lack anything from stretchers, bandages, to antidotes.

"Yosh!" Shinobu clapped her hands. "Looks like everyone's ready. It's time to head out!"

"Yes!" 

Everyone responded loudly.

...

Mt. Natagumo - 

After hurriedly traveling for some time, everyone finally arrived at the foot of Mt. Natagumo.

"Giyu-san, shall we split into two groups? You go clear out the remaining demons while I lead the other members to rescue any injured." Kocho suggested.

Without a word, Giyu immediately charged in, not bothering to even acknowledge Shinobu's proposal. 

Seeing him rush in alone, the remaining squad members looked at each other in dismay.

Seemingly losing face with how he was blatantly ignored in public, kenshi saw a vein bulge on Shinobu's forehead.

But looking at Giyu's retreating figure, he was somewhat tempted to fight the demon. He didn't know how his current strength compared to Lower Moon Five.

After all, the strongest demon he had slain was Sakurai town demon. Based on feats alone, that demon was already comparable to Lower Moon Five in the anime.

If he could take out Rui directly, wouldn't that qualify him to become a Hashira immediately?

Thinking of this, kenshi couldn't help but say, "Shinohu, can I..."

"No you can't!" 

"But I haven't said anything yet!"

She turned around with a dangerous smile on her face. "If Mr. kenshi wants to go that badly, I won't stop you! But don't bother coming back to the Butterfly mansion afterwards!"

"Huh"

"Do you know how worried I was when you came back with all those injuries? After all that, do you really think I would let you go after possibly one of the twelve moon demons. Absolutely not!

"But-"

"No buts! You're my student even though we're the same age, if you want to defy my orders you have to defeat me-"

"Okay Okay! Alright. Everyone is looking towards us." Kenshi said as his eyes darted around.

Shinobu suddenly stopped her schooling, feeling awkward, she quickly launched into the air and went on to the mountain to search for the injured.

Just as she left, the dispersed crows brought back a sparrow.

The only sparrow that could be with the Crows was probably Zenitsu's pet.

Sure enough, the sparrow chirped urgently at at kenshi about something.

Although he did not understand anything, he knew what it was telling him. He immediately launched himself into air. After a few minutes, with difficulty he cought up to Shinobu and showed the sparrow.

Shinobu kept nodding as she listened to the bird."I see...there are survivors."

Behind her, Kenshi watched on black-faced. How could she understand bird language? Other than sensing the sparrow's anxious human-like tone, he didn't get what it was trying to convey at all.

"Let's go!" Shinobu followed the sparrow's lead in a direction.

Along the way, Crows kept bringing back intel as Shinobu continued issuing orders, allocating some people to rescue any potential survivors.

Finally, led by the sparrow, they arrived at a wide open field covered in spider webs.

Suspended in midair here by webs was a house.

Upon reaching, the sparrow immediately flew towards the house. 

Shinobu give her orders to the demon slayers, after that she leapt up into the air powerfully like a fluttering butterfly, landing on the house's roof.

Kenshi sighed and followed suit.

He was the only one left with no assigned duties. Kanao and the other swordsmen brought along had all been dispatched to search for residual demons.

Sigh-

Shinobu nimbly landed on the roof and saw the barely breathing Zenitsu lying there.

"Are you okay?" She covered her mouth and softly asked, seemingly concerned.

Zenitsu looked at Shinobu, his lips moving as if trying to say something.

Suddenly, a slap landed on his belly, hurting him so much he nearly curled up.

Zenitsu immediately looked towards his assailant, kenshi who had just arrived.

"Hurts?" He asked.

Zenitsu weakly replied. "No duh...of course it hurts..." 

"Good that it hurts! It means you're still alive! There's still hope!"

Hearing kenshi's explanation, Zenitsu's mouth twitched.

Shinobu knocked her own forehead in exasperation beside them. "Kenshi, can you stop messing with the patient?"

"Don't worry Shinobu! He's using the thunder breathing to slow the poison. He won't die so soon, so I can tease him a bit more." He revealed an innocent smile.

Zenitsu's bloodshot eyes widened as he started struggling restlessly.

"There there, don't worry, kenshi was just joking!" 

Shinobu soothed the agitated Zenitsu before taking out the prepared antidote and injecting it into Zenitsu's swollen and stubby arm poisoned by the toxin.

 

"Yosh!" 

After injecting the antidote, Shinobu put away the syringe and instructed, "Kenshi, please bring him down first. I'll go check if there are any other injured."

"Leave it to me, Shinobu!"

Receiving an affirmative reply, Shinobu lightly leapt down.

Only Kenshi and Zenitsu were left staring at each other on the roof. 

Then he revealed a smile that made Zenitsu very afraid.

"What's your name again?" He asked.

"I...I'm Zenitsu Agatsuma." Zenitsu answered tremblingly. 

"I see! Then I'll just call you Zenitsu! After all, your family name is a bit... Anyway, no problem right?" Kenshi continued asking.

"No problem at all! Call me whatever you want!"

As long as you don't torment me, it's fine! Zenitsu revealed an uglier-than-crying smile.

Though with his current state, he didn't look good anyway...

Kenshi nodded. "Alright, I'll bring you down first then!"

Saying so, he grabbed Zenitsu's clothes on his belly and lifted him up.

Just as Kenshi was about to descend, Zenitsu's sparrow suddenly flew before him, chirping urgently.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Your master's fine now!"

Held in Kenshi's hand, Zenitsu weakly said. "I think...it feels you're being too rough with me..."

"Oh? You understand bird language?"

"Uhh...I don't, but can roughly guess the meaning." Zenitsu carefully replied, afraid the other would angrily throw him down on a whim.

Though the current posture was uncomfortable, it was still within his endurance.

"Hmmm..." Kenshi pondered briefly before giving Zenitsu a shake, wedging him at his own waist. He then told the sparrow. "This is the gentlest I can be. Don't expect me to hug him. My embrace is reserved for girls!"

Hearing this, Zenitsu nodded profusely, "Yes! A man's embrace should be reserved for girls!" 

After saying so, though there was still fear in Zenitsu's eyes towards Kenshi, there was also a trace of mutual understanding.

Kenshi looked at him black-lined. 

Seeing its master didn't object, the sparrow stopped obstructing Kenshi too, but still worriedly perched on his shoulder.

Kenshi pointed his finger at the sparrow's little head, only for it to arrogantly dodge away. 

Kenshi smiled. Compared to ravens, he still preferred sparrows.

Though unable to speak, sparrows had higher beauty stats and smaller builds. Just looking at them was more pleasing than ravens.

No longer teasing the sparrow, Kenshi took a step and leapt down from above, throwing Zenitsu to the Kakushi members in charge of medical aid.

Those Kakushi had twisted expressions seeing Kenshi walk over carrying Zenitsu like that.

Bro...this is an injured patient...Can you be more gentle...

They immediately took Zenitsu from Kenshi's hands and urgently treated him, soon wrapping Zenitsu up like a burrito.

Having completed his task, Kenshi looked around and finally found Shinobu on the other side.

Currently, Shinobu was comforting the victims who had been turned into human-faced spiders. 

Moonlight shone on her, making her appear like a saint who had come to save the world.

Kenshi looked at her in a daze.

"Umm..." Zenitsu's weak voice sounded from behind, "Could you please go rescue my other two companions?"

"Oh? You have companions?"

Though Kenshi knew who they were, since they were still strangers now, he followed protocol and asked.

Zenitsu hurriedly nodded, "Yes! One's called Inosuke Hashibira, wearing a boar's head mask and no shirt. The other's Tanjiro Kamado with red hair, earrings, and a prominent scar on his forehead! Please go save them!"

From the moment he saw Kenshi, Zenitsu had heard his irregular heartbeat.

Kenshi's heartbeat was like a bottomless abyss, lonely yet seeming to contain some ancient primal beast still slumbering. 

This was also why Zenitsu feared Kenshi. Listening to his heartbeat beside him was like staring into an abyss, so how could he not be afraid?

Kenshi was oblivious to all that. He turned and reassured Zenitsu. "Don't worry! We've already sent a Hashira as backup. Those two will definitely be fine!"

"Is that so? Then...good..." Having received a satisfactory reply, Zenitsu finally couldn't resist his exhaustion and fell asleep.

...

In the forest at this time, a white figure was sprinting quickly.

'I've failed! Failed! Even though I'm the only one who hasn't made a mistake so far!'

Spider Demon Sister anxiously ran.

She had just provoked Rui's anger earlier. Now, she could only regain her standing in Rui's eyes by killing the Demon Slaying Corps members who had entered their "home". 

Finally, she saw a lone Demon Slaying Corps swordsman and charged at him recklessly.

On the other side, Murata who had just been rescued immediately turned back upon hearing the commotion. He then saw Spider Demon Sister hurtling towards him.

"What!!"

"Blood Demon Art - Silk Cocoon!"

Spider Demon Sister directly unleashed her Blood Demon Art. Countless threads instantly enveloped Murata, forming a massive cocoon!

Looking at the Demon Slayer she had captured, Spider Demon Sister sighed in relief. This way, Rui wouldn't scold her.

Suddenly, a soft hissing sound. Spider Demon Sister's eyes shot wide open. She discovered a Demon Slayer had appeared beside the giant cocoon at some point and used a long glowing blue blade to slice open her prided Blood Demon Art, rescuing the one inside.

"When did he..."

Spider Demon Sister immediately assumed a battle stance, but a gentle voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

"Wow! You're so amazing! The threads all come out of your palms?"

Spider Demon Sister whipped around. Behind her was actually a woman with butterfly ornaments whom she had completely failed to notice!

"Good evening!" Shinobu greeted with a smile. "The moonlight tonight is truly beautiful!"

Spider Demon Sister instantly lashed out with countless threads, all nimbly dodged by Shinobu.

"Looks like you don't want to get along...friendly-like!" Leaping into midair, Shinobu's aura abruptly turned sharp and terrifying.

Spider Demon Sister couldn't help but shiver.

Such an oppressive feeling! And it was more frightening than Rui!

"Wai...wait a minute!" Spider Demon Sister hurriedly yelled. "I'm being forced! If I don't obey orders, I'll be shredded by the threads!" 

Shinobu was taken aback, then smiled. "Is that so? How pitiful! Don't worry, I'll help you. You just need to...cooperate with me a little."

"Really?" Spider Demon Sister  asked full of hope.

"Of course it's true!" Shinobu smilingly replied.

This heartwarming scene made Kenshi question Shinobu's career choices.

If not for knowing the truth, that these two women were itching for the other to hurry up and die, he probably would've been fooled by this act too.

What's called acting?

This is called acting!