One Piece: With Sign-in System

Dusk settled across the land.

In the grassy clearing behind the mountain—

"Haah!"

With a fierce shout, Tanjiro met the flurry of sword strikes from the six-armed Yoriichi Type Zero head-on. His eyes were razor-focused, both hands gripping his blade as he surged forward rather than backing down, slashing straight ahead with unwavering resolve.

In the blink of an eye, he was already behind the puppet.

Clang!

Two of the blades in Yoriichi Type Zero's hands snapped in half.

"They… they broke?!"

Zenitsu, sitting off to the side, widened his eyes in disbelief.

Inosuke, arms crossed, huffed indignantly. "Tch! That's nothing. I could've done that too!"

Under a tree nearby, Kanao sat with her knees hugged to her chest, quietly watching Tanjiro with thoughtful eyes.

Genya Shinazugawa stood off in silence, his gaze heavy as it followed Tanjiro.

This guy… is improving way too fast!

Tanjiro finally snapped out of his daze and looked down at the Nichirin Blade in his hands, his expression dazed.

"That feeling just now…"

"A solid strike."

A familiar voice whispered at his ear.

Tanjiro turned around, surprised and delighted. "Mr. Tomioka!"

It was none other than Giyu Tomioka, the reserved and solemn Water Hashira, standing silently like a phantom. His aloof presence hadn't changed one bit.

"Mr. Tomioka, you're back!" Tanjiro ran up to him with bright eyes.

Giyu gave a subtle nod and handed him a wrapped box.

Tanjiro took it curiously. "This is…?"

"A gift. Steamed buns. Share them with the others."

As always, Giyu kept it short and to the point.

"Do I get a gift too?"

A calm, amused voice chimed in, followed by a hand clapping firmly on Giyu's shoulder.

Draped in a teal haori and with an ancient katana hanging at his waist, Ron suddenly appeared beside them like a shadow out of nowhere.

Giyu glanced at him.

"No."

"But—" Giyu added, "I can offer you a drink."

"That's more like it."

Ron gave Giyu a hearty pat on the shoulder, grinning in satisfaction. "Let's go, then."

He glanced at Tanjiro and said, "That's enough special training for today. You guys should head back and get some rest."

With that, he and Giyu turned and walked off in the same direction, leaving a confused group of demon slayers staring after them.

…

On the road—

Ron, a head taller than Giyu, walked beside him in quiet stride.

"We really have a lead on Muzan Kibutsuji… right?"

Giyu's question came without warning.

"Of course."

After a moment of silence, Giyu asked again, "Do we… really have the strength to kill Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki?"

He had seen the power of the Upper Moons with his own eyes. That memory still weighed heavily on him.

Ron took a swig from his Endless Flask and smiled. "Don't worry. You guys are definitely going to win."

Giyu glanced sideways at him.

Ron lifted his free hand, thumbed at his own chest with confidence, and flashed a wink.

"Because I'm on your side."

…

The seventh day arrived.

The special training had officially concluded.

All the Demon Slayer Corps members who had been out on missions were recalled to headquarters.

The Nine Hashira gathered before the Ubuyashiki estate.

And when Kagaya Ubuyashiki appeared alongside Tamayo, who had rushed over upon receiving the summons—

Ron stepped forward to face them all. After exchanging a warm greeting with Tamayo, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, he began to lay out the plan to eradicate Muzan Kibutsuji.

"I've identified where Muzan is currently hiding—he's taken human form. But relying solely on that to strike him down here in the physical world… isn't realistic."

"That's because Muzan can retreat at any time into the extradimensional space known as the Infinity Castle, created through the Blood Demon Art of one of his followers."

"The Infinity Castle's space is completely manipulated by a demon named Nakime. Facing Muzan and the Upper Moons inside that twisted, ever-shifting realm would put all of you at a tremendous disadvantage."

"So…"

Standing with his arms folded, Ron raised his right hand and extended two fingers.

"Before we take Muzan down… there are two things we need to do."

…

At the Butterfly Mansion.

Tanjiro and the others were still puzzled about why Ron had told them to "get ready"—and more importantly, what exactly they were supposed to prepare for.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the entire building.

The wall blew apart.

And through the smoking wreckage, a towering figure stepped through as dust and debris swirled behind him.

It was the Sound Hashira—Tengen Uzui.

He looked at the three stunned occupants and declared boldly:

"Kamado Tanjiro. Agatsuma Zenitsu. And Nezuko… you three are coming with me to Yoshiwara Entertainment District."

…

Elsewhere—

The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, departed on a separate mission with his successor, Genya Shinazugawa, and his older brother, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa.

Their target: Upper Rank Four—Hantengu.

…

Meanwhile, Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, and Obanai Iguro were dispatched to confront Upper Rank Five—Gyokko.

…

Outside the headquarters of the Eternal Paradise Cult—

Perched atop a small mountain overlooking the town, four figures stood on a windy cliff:

Kyojuro Rengoku, Shinobu Kocho, Kanao Tsuyuri, and a recently summoned Inosuke Hashibira.

"That's where Upper Rank Two—Doma, the Ice Demon—is hiding?"

Kyojuro Rengoku's voice cut through the wind as he stared down at the town below.

Shinobu and Kanao stood at his side, hands tightly gripping their Nichirin Blades. Their usual gentle smiles were nowhere to be seen. In their place was an icy intensity.

Within their violet eyes burned one thing—murderous intent.

Shinobu closed her eyes, exhaled slowly, then flashed a faint smile once again. "Let's go."

…

Night had fallen in a bustling town.

The streets sparkled with lantern light, filled with crowds and chatter.

"Muzan Kibutsuji… is really hiding here?"

Giyu Tomioka glanced at Ron beside him.

Ron casually nodded, chewing on a skewer of spicy meatballs he'd bought from a street vendor.

Tamayo, walking with them, said nothing—but her eyes burned with deep, unquenchable hatred.

Muzan Kibutsuji… This time…

We will end you.

…

And somewhere within that same town—

Muzan Kibutsuji, disguised as a child and living among a family of medicinal merchants, remained deep in research, obsessively studying how to conquer the sunlight.

Utterly unaware…

That the hour of his death was drawing near.