36. Tengen Uzui

It had been four months since Rengoku's death. Hana and Tanjiro had been training non-stop, running through the mountains at sunrise, sparring for hours, and practicing their breathing  until their lungs ached and their bodies gave out.

Hana had grown immensely. She moved differently now, sharper and faster. Her strikes were precise and deadly. Her presence carried a quiet weight, a strength that hadn't been there before. She had climbed through the Demon Slayer ranks faster than anyone expected.

"I believe in you."

Rengoku's voice often echoed in her heart during her hardest days, pushing her past exhaustion and injuries. The guilt of the Mugen Train battle, the helplessness that clawed at her chest every night, was the very guilt that motivated her to break every limit. She had promised herself she'd never be that powerless again.

Tanjiro returned from a mission one evening, only to find Uzui Tengen holding Aoi and Naho over his shoulders like they were sacks of rice.

"Please don't!" Aoi cried, her voice cracking with fear.

"Please let us go!" Naho begged, her small hands hitting his back.

Uzui groaned in annoyance. "So annoying. Just shut up," he muttered, tone sharp and dismissive.

Kanao stood frozen nearby, her eyes wide. Beside her, Kiyo and Sumi shouted in panic. "Let them go!"

Aoi reached out toward Kanao, her voice trembling. "Kanao!"

Kanao's hand twitched, she wanted to help, to act, but hesitation bounded her. She had always followed orders, never once acted on her own.

Uzui grumbled and started walking away, gripping Aoi and Naho tightly.

Then she remembered Tanjiro's words, as his smile appeared before her, "Follow your heart."

Her eyes widened. Something inside her shifted. She rushed forward and gripped Aoi's hand firmly.

Uzui's head turned to her, his eyes narrowing.

Kiyo and Sumi stared at her in admiration as Kanao faced the Sound Hashira.

"Do not pull so plainly. You have your orders," he said coldly.

Kanao lowered her head, her lips trembling. Fear burned in her chest, but she didn't let go.

"Kanao..." Aoi whispered softly, her voice full of gratitude.

"Say something, you plain, boring girl!" Uzui barked, irritation flaring.

Kanao stayed silent.

Then, suddenly, "Charge!" Sumi and Kiyo hurled themselves at Uzui, tugging at his arms with all their strength.

"Cut it out, dammit!" he snapped, trying to shake them off.

"What are you doing to the girls?! Get your hands off them!" Tanjiro's voice boomed across the courtyard as he sprinted toward them.

"It's a kidnapping! Save them!" Kiyo cried desperately.

"You dumb little brat!" Uzui shot back, scaring the girls into silence.

Tanjiro leaped upward, aiming to headbutt the Hashira, but in a flash, Uzui was gone.

In the next moment, he stood on the roof, still holding Aoi and Naho, his eyes glinting with dismay.

"You fool! I am the former shinobi, Uzui Tengen-sama!" he declared proudly. "Did you really think a brat like you could land a hit on me?"

"Give Aoi-san and the others back! You kidnapper? What do you want with them?!" Tanjiro demanded.

"That's right!" Naho cried.

"You pervert! You pervert!" Sumi added.

Kanao quietly nodded with her fist raised.

Uzui's face darkened. "The hell is wrong with you brats? Who do you think you're talking to? I'm a Hashira!"

"I don't acknowledge you as a Hashira!" Tanjiro snapped back, huffing defiantly.

Uzui blinked, baffled. "Don't pout at me! WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! You don't acknowledge me?! YOU LOWLY BRAT! ARE YOU THAT BRAINDEAD?!"

"I need a female member for this mission, so they're coming with me! I don't need Kocho's permission if they aren't Tsuguko!"

"But Naho-chan isn't even a demon hunter!" Sumi protested.

Uzui glanced down at the small girl. "Huh. Don't need her then."

Without hesitation, he tossed the girl off the roof.

Tanjiro's eyes widened. "WHAT?!" He leapt forward, catching her mid-fall. His heart pounding. "What are you doing, you inhumane bastard?!"

"He dropped me," Naho whimpered.

Uzui just clicked his tongue. "Anyway, this one's mine," he said, gripping Aoi tighter. "Even though I doubt she'll be useful."

Tanjiro's fury burned bright. "People have their own circumstances! Stop being so insensitive! Let her go!"

Uzui looked unimpressed. "Soft. You're too soft. Fussing over a thing like this is why the Corps is getting weaker."

Then suddenly, he froze as his senses flared.

Before Uzui could react, Aoi slipped from his grasp. A sharp movement followed as he tried to grab her back, but a knee slammed into his jaw, forcing him back a few steps.

Uzui's eyes widened.

Hana landed beside Tanjiro, Aoi safely in her arms.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly, setting Aoi down.

Aoi nodded weakly, her eyes wide. "Th-thank you, Hana-san..."

Hana smiled faintly and patted her head.

Tanjiro's eyes widened in relief. "Hana!" He couldn't hide the joy in his voice. He had missed her, missed seeing her. She had thrown herself so deeply into training and missions that she had unknowingly distanced herself from everyone.

He looked at her in awe. There was no doubt that she had become stronger. Her aura was sharper, more controlled, and her presence felt almost overwhelming.

Hana's expression softened as soon as her gaze met Tanjiro's. The darkness from earlier disappeared like it was never there. Her lips curved into a warm, gentle smile. "Hello, brother."

Tanjiro's smile brightened. "Welcome back, Hana! How are you? How was the mission? I missed you so much!"

"I'm fine," she said gently. "Sorry for worrying you."

Uzui's eye twitched in irritation. The siblings talked like he wasn't even there. Completely ignoring his presence. His pride flared. How dare they disregard him like that?

"You!" he barked, pointing at her.

Hana slowly turned to him, with a bored expression on her face.

"Do you not know how to respect your superiors?! I am a Hashira!" Uzui roared.

Hana tilted her head slightly, her voice calm and low. "Oh? And what makes you think your title means anything to me, Hashira?"

Uzui froze, disbelief flashing in his eyes. No one ever spoke to him like that.

He jumped down from the roof, towering over her. Tanjiro stepped forward defensively in front of his sister, but Uzui pushed him aside easily.

"Well," Uzui sneered, "since you're so eager to play hero, why don't you come instead? You're female, perfect for my mission, aren't you?"

Hana crossed her arms, voice dangerously calm. "You need a female member, right? Fine. If it means you'll stop harassing Aoi and the others, I'll come." She took a step forward, meeting his glare. "But don't mistake my compliance for weakness. I don't answer to your ego. Only to necessity."

Uzui blinked. Her confidence rattled him. He could tell she was strong, useful even, but infuriatingly defiant. That didn't sit well with him.

Tanjiro quickly stood beside her. "I won't let Hana go alone with you! We'll come too."

"We?" Uzui repeated, incredulous.

Two figures appeared beside them in perfect timing. Zenitsu trembled slightly, while Inosuke cracked his knuckles.

"D-don't you dare bother Hana-chan!" Zenitsu stammered, pointing at Uzui. "E-even if you're some muscle freak, I'm not backing off!"

Uzui blinked. "What?"

Inosuke grinned wildly. "I was just on my way back, but I got some strength left! I'll come too!"

The air shifted, a gust sweeping across the courtyard.

Uzui sighed loudly. "Fine. You'll all come. But don't you dare defy me."

----

Behind them, Naho sniffled softly. "Hana...Tanjiro..."

The four slayers stood behind the towering Sound Hashira, ready for whatever awaited.

"He's huge..." Zenitsu muttered under his breath.

"Where are we going, old man?" Inosuke asked.

Uzui smirked and turned toward them, his jewels glittering in the dim light.

"We're going," he said with a grin, "to the most flamboyant place in all of Japan, a place filled with lust and greed. The perfect place for demons to hide."

His voice dropped slightly, almost excited.

"The Entertainment District."