To show his sincerity, Uzui Tengen took off the gem-encrusted headband he wore, offering it as "tuition."
Uchiha Hikari pondered for a moment. "You're okay learning something that's not flashy?"
"…Sure."
Uzui Tengen nodded.
Though he was always chasing "flashiness," he knew that many useful skills weren't glamorous. His own "Sound Breathing" was fairly unremarkable among the nine Hashira, paling in comparison to Flame, Thunder, or even Love. If he could pick up a few tricks from Hikari, he didn't need to be picky.
"Alright then."
Partly out of camaraderie as fellow ninja and partly to experiment, Hikari tried teaching Uzui Tengen how to refine chakra.
The results were underwhelming.
No matter how hard Uzui Tengen tried, he couldn't produce a single wisp of chakra.
However…
When Hikari switched tactics, using her "Yasaka no Magatama" ability to channel a small amount of her own chakra into Uzui Tengen's body and guiding him to mold it with hand signs, something incredible happened—he actually pulled off a Bunshin no Jutsu!
The effect was pretty rough, but it was undeniably a real ninjutsu!
Now *that* was interesting.
"So, as long as they have chakra… even people from the *Demon Slayer* world can use ninjutsu?"
With a let's-see-what-happens attitude, Hikari infused a bit more chakra and taught Uzui Tengen some basic ninjutsu knowledge.
By the second week…
Uzui Tengen could clumsily perform the Henge no Jutsu and Kawarimi no Jutsu from the Three Basic Techniques. He was especially convincing when transforming into his three wives, almost passing for the real thing. The downside? The transformation only lasted a dozen seconds before he reverted.
As for the Bunshin no Jutsu… it was still a mess.
"Hm…"
Hikari suddenly thought he might have something in common with Naruto.
Mastering the Henge no Jutsu fastest among the Three Basic Techniques, and excelling at transforming into women… maybe he could try developing the Sexy Jutsu?
Regardless.
For a ninja from the *Demon Slayer* world to perform ninjutsu from the *Naruto* world was already mind-blowing. As for truly "flashy" techniques like Water Dragon Bullet or Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation, those were advanced ninjutsu even in the *Naruto* world, reserved for elite ninja. Expecting Uzui Tengen to learn them in a short time was unrealistic.
"Not bad," Hikari finally said. "The Three Basic Techniques are just the fundamentals, but in your world… they might actually be pretty useful. There's still plenty of my chakra left in you—enough for a thousand or two uses of the Three Basic Techniques. You can keep practicing the feeling and try refining your own chakra.
"I've taught you the method. How far you go is up to you."
"…Got it."
Uzui Tengen hesitated, then gave a formal disciple's bow. "Thank you, Master Hikari."
"Huh?"
…
During this time, Ubuyashiki Kagaya wasn't idle either.
On one hand…
Based on Hikari's intel about Kaigaku, the Demon Slayer Corps launched an investigation. Though Kaigaku vehemently denied luring demons into homes, signs of deception were detected, and he was temporarily detained.
—Kaigaku's true crime was his future betrayal of the Corps, joining Muzan and causing his master, Kuwajima Jigoro, to commit seppuku in shame. Since that hadn't happened yet, his past misdeeds as a child would likely earn him leniency, not execution.
But that was the Corps' business.
Hikari had done her part by mentioning it and wasn't about to meddle further.
On the other hand…
Using Hikari's Twelve Kizuki intel from their trade, the Corps conducted a wide-ranging search.
Hikari knew mainly the Blood Demon Arts of the Twelve Kizuki and how to kill them. But since most didn't travel in groups and their whereabouts were often unpredictable, pinpointing them with just this info was no easy task.
Still…
At least two Kizuki were traceable.
Upper Rank Two, Douma, was the leader of the Eternal Paradise Cult and hadn't stepped down even after becoming a demon, often lingering within the cult. In theory, he could be tracked through the cult.
Upper Rank Six, the Daki and Gyutaro siblings, posed as the oiran "Warabihime" in Edo's Yoshiwara District, living long-term as a human. They'd gone undetected because every Demon Slayer, including Hashira, who encountered them was killed.
After some investigation…
The Corps located a few Eternal Paradise Cult members, but they were clueless commoners who knew nothing about the cult's structure.
However, scouts sent to Yoshiwara quickly zeroed in on "Kyogoku House"—the hideout where "Warabihime" was concealed.
So…
Under Ubuyashiki Kagaya's orders, the Flame, Sound, and Serpent Hashira assembled swiftly, leading nearly twenty lower-ranking members, including Tanjiro's trio, and a large group of Kakushi for support, heading to Yoshiwara.
Hikari waited three or four days after their departure, confirming the situation and planning her move. That evening, she sent a shadow clone with half her chakra, riding the Somersault Cloud, to catch up.
That same night…
A significant battle erupted in Yoshiwara.
Despite the Corps' prior intel, Yoshiwara was one of Edo's most densely populated areas, teeming with people at night. Plus, Kyogoku House's underground held hostages. To evacuate civilians and minimize casualties, the Corps left openings, alerting the Daki and Gyutaro siblings. Gyutaro emerged earlier than expected.
During the clash, half a street near Kyogoku House was leveled, and Tanjiro and the others were briefly in grave danger.
Of course…
There was no way this battle could be lost.
Three Hashira against Upper Rank Six, armed with key intel, meant victory was only a matter of time.
So, at the critical moment when the tide was about to turn…
Red-haired, blazing-eyed Uchiha Yoriichi Hikari descended from the sky once more, overwhelming the Daki and Gyutaro siblings with devastating force before sealing them away… or rather, with a single glance, the Upper Rank Six siblings gave up resistance, standing still as they were sealed into a scroll.
The process was so smooth that Rengoku Kyojuro and the others briefly wondered if the siblings were throwing the fight.
*(End of Chapter)*