Fighting Shadow Hashira

--- Chapter 52 ---

Tenma and others rode their horses, galloping through the misty morning as the mountain breeze hit their faces. Although they had eaten Tenma's breakfast and warmed themselves by running a few times, the girls still felt the breeze uncomfortable.

"Brrr, so cold!" Eri's body trembled as she attempted to press herself into Tenma's body. "Nii-chan's body is so warm, so comfortable~!"

Tenma only smiled, "You should train more then. When you're strong, this coldness is nothing." 

"Don't wanna!" Eri pouted, hugging him tightly. 

Tenma wryly shook his head and patted Eri's head while driving the horse calmly. At the same time, using his sensitive sense, he could pinpoint the stalker who pursued them for an hour. 

What a stubborn guy!

He actually kept up with the pace of a fast horse. 

This guy has surpassed human limitations in some way.

Of course, Tenma knew the source of the chaser's speed and stamina and didn't comment about it the entire journey. 

They traveled for a few miles, and Tenma finally stopped. 

"Where are we?" Shinobu couldn't recognize the surrounding terrain. 

"Aren't we supposed to return to the Wakami Village, Tenma?" 

Shinobu looked at Tenma suspiciously. She knew he wasn't the type who ran around doing nothing. There must be a hidden agenda. 

Kanao similarly looked at Tenma weirdly, scanning the surrounding area with a frown. "Someone followed us?" 

"A demon? No, that can't be. No demon is foolish enough to follow us in the morning." 

"So, who is it?" asked Mitsuri curiously.

Tenma glanced at the bush near the running river ten meters away and commented, "You can come out now, mister. You know it's rude to stalk people like that." 

However, the bush is still not moving. 

Tenma sighed, "You're making this harder for yourself." 

He pulled a stick from his inventory, hiding it in his sleeve, and threw it to the bush. Although the throw looked normal, Shinobu and others could tell Tenma didn't hold back.

When the stick landed on the bush, the ground below sank, and the river burst due to the intensity. 

A fleeting shadow jumped out from the cloud of dust. It was none other than the masked Demon Slayer, the Shadow Hashira. 

Shinobu's eyes widened, "Shadow Hashira!" 

"Kagemaru-san!"

Mitsuri covered her mouth in disbelief, "No way, Kagemaru-san actually followed us all this time!"

Jin Kagemaru helplessly fixed his mask. He was embarrassed by Tenma because he would lose his leg if he didn't dodge on time.

However, he also becomes solemn.

'Internal Power.' Jin Kagemaru stared at Tenma deeply. 

He didn't expect this monstrous young man to master Internal Power at such an age. He deduced that the general-level demon was 'probably' killed by Tenma.

Even though Shinobu Kocho, the renowned girl gaining popularity in the Demon Slayer Corps due to her exceptional poison-making skills, has the potential to defeat a general-level demon, it is unlikely that she would survive the aftermath of the demon's final suicide attack.

Even Shinobu's sister, Kanae Kocho, didn't have such an ability. And she's the current Flower Hashira. 

Killing a demon is one thing, and surviving a suicide bomb is another.

Eri curiously stared at Jin Kagemaru, "Woah, cool mask, uncle!"

"Mm." Kanao nodded in agreement.

"..." Jin Kagemaru.

Why do I feel this group of youth is not serious at all? 

"Wait, I get sidetracked." 

He focused on Tenma again, "You're the one who killed the general-level demon last night, right?" 

Tenma chuckled and returned, "What if I am, what If I'm not?" 

"Are you going to fight me for it? Aih, how could the Demon Slayer Squad couldn't even detect demons running rampant under their nose? I feel like your organization isn't clean." 

"What are you saying..." Jin Kagemaru frowned behind the mask.

"There is a traitor in your organization." Tenma bluntly exposed.

Jin Kagemaru was shocked, "How could that be?!" 

Tenma shrugged, "That's not up to me to investigate. I haven't joined any organizations." 

"I'm only telling this because you're putting your nose on the wrong track." 

Jin Kagemaru glanced at Shinobu and Mitsuri and discovered the younger sister of Flower Hashira nodding her head weakly. He was shocked as their Demon Slayer Squad vowed to slay all demons in Japan.

They have been doing it for centuries.

Yet there is actually a mole of demons in their group.

How ironic!

Tenma added, "Even then, I don't recommend you investigate this matter aggressively. God knows how long the Demon Slayer Squad was in the dark about this matter." 

"A year? Decades? Centuries?" 

"Demon's influence ran too deep in current society." 

"Very well..." said Jin Kagemaru in a deep voice.

"I will take your words seriously." 

"Nevertheless, I must discipline you first for the general-level demon's problem!" 

"..." Tenma's mouth twitched slightly. I should have known better. This man's character is too stubborn. 

Jin Kagemaru pulled his katana out and caused the dark-gleaming edge to shine under the morning sun. His figure cast a shadow on the ground as he vanished instantly.

Tenma threw Eri toward Kanao and jumped from the horse, twisting his body mid-air as a sharp blade missed his heart. 

"Aaaaaaaaaaahh~!" Eri was flying in the air, and Kanao caught her skillfully.

"Got you!" Kanao sighed in relief. 

She cast a dark look at the Shadow Hashira for attacking Tenma out of nowhere. How unreasonable!

Shinobu patted her forehead helplessly, "This is going to be a problem now." 

"What do you mean? I thought Tenma-kun was related to Demon Slayer Squad?" Mitsuri was confused.

Shinobu smiled weakly, "That's the problem. He didn't." 

"According to laws, Tenma and others are vigilantes." 

"Normally, it would be fine if we don't get caught, but we are unlucky today. We met the most stringent Hashira." 

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Tenma pulled [White Fang] from his sleeve, exchanging blows with the Shadow Hashira. He expertly dodged each deadly attack and returned them with accurate thrust.

'Hmm, wait. Maybe this is my chance!' 

Tenma remembered something.

He slowed his pace and kicked Jin Kagemaru to make him retreat a few meters. They stared at each other, and the mountain breeze hit their face gently.

"It's not always about speed..." Tenma murmured, smiling carelessly as he seemed to realize something.

Jin Kagemaru misunderstood Tenma's words as an insult, "No, speed is everything." 

Swoosh!

Tenma realized that Jin Kagemaru seemed to take his words seriously. He could only sigh at this stubborn fellow and enter an enhanced focus, causing his surroundings to turn colorless and slow.

"Shadow Breathing - 1st Form: Chasing Shadow..." Jin Kagemaru rushed at Tenma, creating three afterimages with his extreme speed.

"This is the infamous Shadow Breathing?" Mitsuri sucked a cold breath because she couldn't imagine facing someone with such mastery over Breathing Style.

"Mm, the branch of Wind Breathing. However, Kagemaru-san pushed it to the limit with his physique and became Shadow Hashira after mastering it in just five years." Shinobu commented, praising the Shadow Hashira but not too committed because Tenma wouldn't lose.

Tenma closed his eyes and leisurely thrust [White Fang] into one of the Shadow Hashira's afterimages. The target sneered as the short spear's movement was too slow. 

However, Jin Kagemaru regretted it real quick. Although Tenma's spear looks slow, it is full of a suffocating intent to kill. 

Not to mention, Tenma's spear move is always heavy. 

"Spear Breathing - 1st Move's Variation: Tsunoou (Horn King)!" 

Tenma's spear transformed into an illusory white rhino charging at Jin Kagemaru. 

Every step the rhino made seems able to shake the earth and suck the Shadow Hashira in. He couldn't dodge on time because the pressure on his body was too heavy.

In the end, Jin Kagemaru could only place his sword forward.

Crack! 

BAM!

Jin Kagemaru was 'heavily' sent flying away, crashing into the river. He gasped for air and stood up with some difficulty.

He looked down on his katana, "My sword..." 

There are web-like cracks all over his sword.

"That attack, you focused all your energy into one point." 

"What kind of physical strength is this?" He stared at Tenma with a complicated emotion.

Tenma laughed and answered confidently, "Haha, this is the result of my grinding."