At the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, once the screen's image faded, everyone's attention once again turned to Tanjiro—and the box containing Nezuko.
To be honest, the scene of their mother's soul calling on Nezuko to help Tanjiro had shaken everyone deeply.
Even the Master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima—both of whom could only hear the voice—were clearly moved by its gentleness.
Seizing the moment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki took another letter from his robes and handed it to Shinobu Kocho, who had been describing the images to him the whole time.
"This letter was sent by former Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki."
"Shinobu, please read part of it aloud."
"Yes, Master."
Shinobu accepted the letter, unfolded it, glanced over it once, and began to read:
"I humbly ask that Tanjiro be permitted to remain with his sister, even though she is a demon.
Nezuko, through sheer force of will, has retained her human reason.
Even when suffering from hunger, she has not eaten a human.
She has endured like this for over two years.
Though it is difficult to believe at once, this is an undeniable fact.
If Nezuko ever attacks a human, then Kamado Tanjiro, Urokodaki Sakonji, and Tomioka Giyu will commit seppuku in apology."
"Huh?"
Tanjiro looked up at the letter in Shinobu's hand in disbelief, then turned to stare at his senior, Giyu Tomioka, who still hadn't said a word.
Tears slowly streamed from Tanjiro's eyes.
"If you want to die, then go right ahead!"
A harsh voice suddenly rang out.
Though Sanemi Shinazugawa had indeed been moved by the sight of Tanjiro's mother's spirit, he still refused to budge from his stance.
"That doesn't count as a guarantee at all!"
The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, also spoke up in agreement:
"Exactly as Shinazugawa says—if we wait until she kills and eats someone, then it will already be too late!
The people who are killed will never come back!"
"You are right. I am glad that all of you are capable of thinking this far ahead.
It is true that we cannot guarantee she will never attack a human.
But…"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said calmly,
"Neither can anyone prove that she will."
Sanemi's expression froze.
Kagaya continued:
"It is a fact that Nezuko has not eaten a human for over two years.
And three men are willing to stake their lives on her.
If you wish to deny that, then the side doing the denying must also bring forth something of even greater value.
Does anyone here possess that kind of resolve?"
At those words, all nine Hashira were stunned into silence.
"And there is one more thing I must tell you.
This Tanjiro… has encountered Kibutsuji."
Kagaya dropped another bombshell in the same calm tone.
"How is that possible?! Even no Hashira has ever come into contact with him!"
The Hashira immediately erupted into an uproar. They crowded around Tanjiro, repeatedly asking about Muzan Kibutsuji's appearance and abilities.
Sanemi, even more impatient than the rest, grabbed Tanjiro by the hair and shook him while questioning him.
"Shh…"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki lightly raised one finger to his lips. The noisy Hashira noticed at once and immediately knelt back in their original places.
"Kibutsuji… is currently sending people to kill Tanjiro.
Though his reason is likely nothing more than silencing a witness.
Still, this is the first time I have ever managed to catch hold of a trail left by Kibutsuji.
I do not wish to let go of it.
I suspect something has also happened to Nezuko—something even Kibutsuji did not foresee.
Do you understand now?"
Once Kagaya finished speaking, the courtyard fell into silence.
But it did not last long before Sanemi's voice rang out again.
"I do not understand, Master!"
Everyone turned toward him in confusion.
With a fierce expression, Sanemi continued:
"If it were a human, then perhaps I could let it pass—but a demon? Absolutely not!
All this time, with what kind of conviction has the Demon Slayer Corps fought against demons?
And how many have died because of them?
That is why I cannot accept this!"
"Shing!"
As he spoke, Sanemi suddenly drew his Nichirin Blade. The green blade sliced across his skin, and blood splattered onto the pebbled stones of the courtyard.
"Huh? Huh? What is he doing? What is he doing now? He's going to dirty the courtyard!"
The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, looked at Sanemi in confusion, unable to understand what he was trying to do.
"Master! I will prove to you right now… the ugliness of demons!"
"Bang!"
Sanemi snatched up the wooden box holding Nezuko and slammed it to the ground. Planting a foot on top, he pointed his bleeding wound toward the box and let his blood drip down.
"Hey, demon! It's mealtime! Come and eat!"
"Shinazugawa, that won't work under the sun.
If there isn't any shade, a demon won't come out."
His friend, the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro, spoke up to remind him.
"Master, forgive my rudeness!"
Finding Obanai's point perfectly reasonable, Sanemi first apologized to Kagaya, then grabbed the box and leapt into a shaded room.
Once he landed, he stabbed Nezuko inside the box twice before using the tip of his blade to pry it open.
Tanjiro's eyes practically split open with rage as he tried to rush over and stop him, only to be effortlessly subdued by Obanai.
When Nezuko stumbled out of the box, Sanemi thrust his wounded arm in front of her once more.
"This is the blood you demons love most! Come on!"
Seeing the blood right before her eyes, saliva began dripping constantly from the corner of Nezuko's mouth.
Below, the gathered Hashira watched the scene tensely.
Tanjiro, meanwhile, kept shouting Nezuko's name over and over.
"Mm…"
Nezuko recalled all the times her brother had protected her.
Then she abruptly shut her eyes and turned her head away.
If she couldn't see it, she wouldn't be tempted!
"What happened?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who had heard no movement for a while, suddenly asked.
"That demon girl turned her head away."
One of the white-haired little girls supporting Kagaya described what was happening.
"Even after Shinazugawa-sama stabbed her twice, and even with his bleeding arm placed right before her, she endured it and didn't bite."
"In that case, doesn't this prove that Nezuko will not attack humans?"
After Kagaya asked that question, no one objected this time.
"Since no one objects, then let us move to the next matter.
Why is there… a glowing little square in front of my 'eyes'?
Do all of you have one as well?"
Only then did everyone finally react to the small screen that had appeared before them after the video ended.
Because all of their attention had been focused on arguing over whether Nezuko would eat humans, the little screen had almost seemed to disappear on its own.
But once they noticed it again, it reappeared.
Just like Kagaya, even Gyomei Himejima—though blind—could also 'see' the strange glowing screen.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!!!"
"Now that is a real swordsman!"
"Nezuko-chaaaaan! Uwaaaah! I'm so moved! My Nezuko-chan!!!"
On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, while Luffy and the others were still glaring with sparkling eyes and criticizing Zoro, Sanji and Brook—the two hopeless perverts—were weeping and shouting Nezuko's name.
Before long, the Straw Hat Pirates split into two factions.
One faction, led by Luffy, believed that it was Tanjiro's indomitable spirit and dazzling swordsmanship that defeated the great villain Rui.
The other faction, consisting solely of Sanji and Brook, firmly believed that it was Nezuko's final clutch contribution that secured victory.
While the two sides argued heatedly, the three who had not joined the debate—Nami, Robin, and Zoro—quietly noticed the small glowing screens before them.
Ignoring the others' commotion, the three of them began studying the mysterious little display in thought.
In the world of Naruto—
"This is awesome! Tanjiro beat that awful white-haired bastard!
And Nezuko is so cute!
Hmm… maybe even cuter than Sakura…"
Naruto was the first to leap up and cheer once the video ended.
After he shouted, the other students in the Ninja Academy snapped out of it and also began cheering excitedly.
Sakura had been about to join in as well, but the moment Naruto said the girl in the video was cuter than her, veins bulged on her forehead and she punched him in the head.
"You idiot! What are you saying? What do you mean cuter than me?
At most… at most she's only about as cute as I am…"
Watching the students descend into chaos, Iruka Umino quickly raised his voice to stop them.
"Alright! Quiet down!"
"Now that the video is over, everyone can continue the graduation exam from earlier.
Naruto, it's your turn. Clone Technique. Hurry up."
"Huh?"
The moment Naruto heard that the exam was continuing—and that it was the Clone Technique, the one he was worst at—he immediately hesitated.
'Huh' what? Move it!"
Iruka urged.
"Why not wait a little before continuing? After watching that whole clip, everyone's emotions are still running high. It'll be easy to make mistakes."
Standing beside Iruka, Mizuki tried to persuade him.
"No. Watching that has already delayed us for too long. We need to continue the exam right away.
Naruto, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up!"
"…Okay…"
Reluctantly, Naruto walked to stand in front of Iruka and Mizuki. His hands formed seals awkwardly, as though they had a grudge against each other.
Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with several elite jonin, were all staring in puzzlement at the small glowing screen that had suddenly appeared before them.
Among them, Kakashi Hatake lifted his forehead protector and inspected it with his Sharingan, but detected nothing unusual.
"The trials of youth are things one must face without fear of hardship! Then let me be the first brave explorer!"
Might Guy's heroic voice rang out in the silent Hokage office.
Unfortunately, aside from Kakashi glancing at him once, no one paid him any attention.
"Hokage-sama, shall I test it first?"
Since no one except Guy had spoken, Kakashi finally volunteered.
"Very well. Kakashi, we'll have you investigate it first.
You, I trust."
The instant Kakashi spoke, Hiruzen slapped the desk and made the decision on the spot.
Guy felt somewhat slighted—but he was also a little worried for his good friend Kakashi.