Chapter 70: Chapter 68: Aftermath of the Hashira Training
The sun had long set, casting a soft glow over the Butterfly Mansion. In the training hall, three battered warriors lay sprawled on the wooden floor, limbs twitching, eyes hollow, and minds broken.
Zenitsu's hair was sticking out in all directions, face pale as paper. "Poison… blades… everywhere…" he muttered like a haunted ghost.
Inosuke was covered in scratches, dirt, and… somehow, pieces of broken ramen bowls. He clenched his fists, eyes gleaming with madness. "That scar-face bastard! Next time, I'll throw him into the pit!"
Tanjiro sat calmly, but his body was trembling from exhaustion. Giyu's silent yet relentless training had pushed him to his absolute limits. The sound of rushing water still echoed in his ears.
The doors slid open, and Saitama strolled in with a towel around his neck. "Yo. How's training going?"
The three just stared at him like traumatized children.
"Uh… okay then." Saitama awkwardly scratched his head. "Anyway, I found this cool hot spring nearby. Want to go soak? It's got a snack stall too."
At the word snack, Inosuke shot up like a possessed beast. "MEAT STICKS?!"
Zenitsu suddenly had a second life. "Candy apples?! Sweet dumplings?!"
Tanjiro smiled gently. "A hot spring sounds really nice right now."
Saitama blinked. "...Why does everyone forget I'm the Sensei here?"
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Hot Spring Madness
The team arrived at the hot spring—a secluded spot surrounded by trees, lit by paper lanterns that swayed in the breeze. The water was warm, steam curling into the night sky.
Saitama dunked himself in with zero hesitation, sighing loudly. "Man, nothing beats this after training."
Inosuke cannonballed into the spring, creating a tidal wave that nearly knocked Tanjiro over. Zenitsu sat at the edge, feet in the water, already snacking on dumplings.
"Oi, Baldy Sensei!" Inosuke shouted. "Why do you train us so hard if you're just gonna relax like this?"
Saitama gave him a blank look. "Because I'm already strong."
Zenitsu spat out his dumpling. "That's the worst answer I've ever heard!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the trees.
"Found you."
The group froze. Standing at the edge of the clearing was Akaza, Upper Moon Three, his sharp eyes locked directly on Tanjiro.
"Upper Moon?!" Zenitsu screamed, dropping his food.
"GREAT! I'M STILL FIRED UP FROM TRAINING!" Inosuke roared, grabbing his swords.
But Saitama stood up, completely ignoring the dramatic tension. "Hey, you're interrupting bath time."
Akaza squinted at him. "...Who are you?"
"Just a guy who's a hero for fun."
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the bubbling of the hot spring. Then—
BOOM.
In the blink of an eye, Saitama punched the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Akaza back into the trees. The demon groaned, more confused than hurt.
"Okay, bath time's over," Saitama said. "Let's head back before more weirdos show up."
Tanjiro and the others stood in stunned silence, until Inosuke broke it with, "BALDY SENSEI IS THE STRONGEST!"
Zenitsu sobbed tears of joy. "He's our bath-time guardian angel…"
Even Akaza, still lying in a broken tree, couldn't process what just happened.
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To Be Continued…
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