The morning sun cut through the misty forest as Tanjiro and Jinwoo walked along the gravel path. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, though their tune felt too calm for where they were heading.
Tanjiro stretched his shoulders and smiled faintly.
"It's been a while since I trained with Wind Hashira Sanemi. He's rough, but he's strong."
Jinwoo nodded quietly, his hands in his pockets.
"Rough, huh? I'll keep that in mind."
As they rounded the corner, the faint thud of punches and screams echoed through the clearing ahead.
But then—something yellow flashed past them, tripping over a rock and tumbling onto the path.
"WAAAAHHHHH! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" Zenitsu cried, face pale as snow, sprinting in the opposite direction. His sword clanged against the stones, his voice cracking from terror.
Tanjiro blinked. "Zenitsu?! What are you—"
Before he could finish, Zenitsu spotted them and hurled himself at Jinwoo, wrapping his arms around him like a lifeline.
"DON'T GO IN THERE! HE'S A MONSTER! HE'LL KILL YOU! HE DOESN'T TRAIN—HE DESTROYS!"
Jinwoo's eyes twitched. "Get off me."
"I'M WARNING YOU!" Zenitsu sobbed, gripping tighter. "THE WIND HASHIRA—HE—HE—!!"
A shadow fell over them.
The wind went still.
Jinwoo looked up, and his gaze met a tall figure standing behind Zenitsu. A white haori flapped in the breeze, stained with blood.
Sanemi Shinazugawa's grin was sharp enough to cut glass.
"So," Sanemi muttered, cracking his knuckles. "You were running away again, blondie."
Zenitsu froze.
His eyes slowly turned toward the source of the voice — and then his scream shattered the silence.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH—!!!"
THUD!
Sanemi's fist chopped down on Zenitsu's neck like lightning. The boy's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed in Jinwoo's arms.
"Pathetic," Sanemi said, brushing his hand off. "You two! Get over here. Training doesn't wait."
Jinwoo sighed and slung Zenitsu over his shoulder like a bag of rice. "You've got quite the welcoming ceremony."
Tanjiro followed beside him, nervous but determined. "Let's do our best."
---
When they reached the clearing, Jinwoo's eyes narrowed.
Dozens of Demon Slayer Corps members were sprawled across the ground — bleeding, bruised, and gasping for breath.
Some tried to stand again, only to collapse under Sanemi's brutal pace.
The Wind Hashira barked commands, veins bulging at his neck. "Faster! You call that a block?! You're supposed to kill demons, not hug them!"
A trainee stuttered, "B-but sir, my arm—"
Sanemi's boot hit the ground next to the boy's head.
"Then use the other one."
Tanjiro swallowed hard. "Is… this really training?"
Jinwoo's lips curved slightly. "Looks more like a warzone."
Sanemi turned to them. "Alright. Next! The redhead and the quiet one. Step up."
Tanjiro blinked. "Uh, shouldn't we warm up first?"
Sanemi smirked. "You'll warm up when I start hitting you."
Before Tanjiro could even react, Sanemi's fist shot forward. BAM!
An uppercut struck his chin, sending him flying backward into the dirt.
Jinwoo blinked in disbelief. "Well… that escalated quickly."
Tanjiro groaned, sprawled across the ground. "Ugh… his punches… feel like wind blades…"
Then Zenitsu groaned awake, his head throbbing. "Where am I…? Oh no… am I dead…?"
He glanced up and froze.
He saw Sanemi standing there, glaring down at him.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!! NOT AGAIN!!" Zenitsu screamed, crawling away.
Sanemi sighed, his hand twitching. "GET BACK HERE, YOU YELLOW RAT!!"
One more uppercut. WHAM! Zenitsu's body lifted off the ground like a paper doll and landed face-first beside Tanjiro.
Jinwoo rubbed the back of his neck. "That's two bodies in under a minute. Impressive efficiency."
Sanemi cracked his neck. "You're next."
Jinwoo raised his hands lazily. "I'm just watching today."
"Then watch how a real swordsman moves." Sanemi drew his blade, the steel shimmering in the sun. "Tanjiro! On your feet! You're not done yet!"
Tanjiro pushed himself up, blood trickling from his nose, his spirit still burning. "Yes… sir!"
The next hour was merciless.
Blades clashed, wind roared, and Tanjiro endured blow after blow.
Every mistake earned him a strike, every hesitation another bruise.
Even the trainees watching winced.
Sanemi's voice boomed through the courtyard. "A demon won't wait for you to breathe! You hesitate once — you DIE!"
Tanjiro gasped, barely keeping his stance. His knuckles were torn, his uniform ripped.
And then came the slap.
A loud, echoing SMACK cracked across the training field. Tanjiro's head whipped to the side, blood spraying from his lip. The sound hung in the air like thunder.
Everyone froze.
Even the wind went silent.
Then, Sanemi straightened and barked, "Again!"
---
By the time the sun began to set, the training ground was littered with exhausted slayers.
Sanemi wiped blood from his arm and turned away, heading toward the washroom to clean up.
Tanjiro collapsed to one knee, panting. "He's… tough… but… I learned… a lot…"
Jinwoo crouched beside him. "Hold still."
He pulled a small vial from his system inventory — a glowing blue potion swirling with light.
He uncorked it and poured it gently into Tanjiro's hand.
The liquid shimmered like liquid starlight. As Tanjiro drank, a faint aura spread over him. His cuts began to close, bruises faded, and strength returned.
Tanjiro blinked in awe. "I feel… brand new. How—"
Jinwoo smiled faintly. "Just a small trick I know. Now rest. I'll check on the Wind Hashira."
---
Jinwoo's body flickered.
Stealth Mode — Activated.
His form shimmered into transparency, vanishing from sight.
He slipped through the corridors of Sanemi's mansion like a shadow, silent and unseen.
From one room, he could hear water running — the sound of Sanemi washing his blood-stained hands.
Moments later, the door slid open, and Sanemi stepped out, wiping his hands dry.
Jinwoo (whispers to himself):
"Let's check his Honor… I need to know how he is doing."
A blue screen pops up.
[SYSTEM — HONOR CHECK IN PROGRESS…]
Target name: Sanemi Shinazugawa
Calculating: + Training discipline, + Demon essences, + Team contribution, - Emotional impulses…
.
.
Progress: 41%… 42%…
Jinwoo waits patiently — the wind sounds like static.
He holds his breath.
50%… 51%…
But before Jinwoo could study him further, another figure appeared at the end of the hall.
"Big brother…"
Jinwoo's eyes widened slightly. That's Guy...
I seen him..
The younger Shinazugawa, genya.. stood nervously, his hands gripping his double-barreled Nichirin shotgun. His voice trembled, but his eyes held determination.
"I'm sorry," Genya said softly. "I failed again. I couldn't master breathing techniques… couldn't protect anyone…"
Sanemi stopped walking, his back facing Genya.
For a long moment, silence hung heavy between them.
Then Sanemi's voice came, cold and sharp.
"You're not my brother....anymore....."
Genya flinched. "But—!"
"You're a disgrace," Sanemi spat. "A Shinazugawa who can't even use or learn breathing techniques? Pathetic."
Jinwoo's fists clenched. His jaw tightened. That's your brother you're talking to…??
Genya stepped forward. "I'm not weak anymore! I found a way to fight back!"
Sanemi turned slightly, his expression unreadable. "Oh? And what way is that?"
Genya hesitated — then whispered, "I eat demons...to...increase my...physical strength..."
The air snapped like lightning.
Sanemi froze. His eyes went wide for just a second — then filled with rage.
"…What?"
He turned fully now, his haori whipping around him. "You… EAT DEMONS?!"
Genya opened his mouth to explain, but he never got the chance.
In a blur of motion, Sanemi's hand shot out.
Two fingers extended like blades, aiming straight for Genya's eyes.
Time slowed.
Jinwoo's shadow flared under his feet, spreading across the floor like dark smoke.
His eyes glowed faintly.
And he whispered one word—
"Enough."
To be continued…