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In Caring Arms
Chapter V: It was all for You
The moment he arrived, they could feel it.
An overwhelming urge to devour.
Mukago shivered, tremors tingling up and down her spine. Just being in his proximity was enough to set her body ablaze. Atop their perch, she stared downward, enthralled by that glare he was giving them—giving her.
She met his gaze with wide, excited eyes. There was such anger, such fury, contained within those sea-blue orbs that she could hardly keep still. But his was a calm, controlled anger. One possessed by those who knew and breathed combat. Even now, she could tell he was analyzing them, sifting through possible strategies with every passing second.
This wouldn't be easy. Not without their help, at least. Mukago knew this, but she wasn't so sure that her fellow demons felt the same. To them, he was a just a human. Weak. Limited. Not even a Demon Slayer.
However, she'd seen what he could do. She'd seen his skill. His brutality. His efficiency.
He was a warrior, through and through, and she would not underestimate him—despite her pride as a demon telling her to.
Kamanue was shaking next to her. He was panting and drooling and sweating. His physical reaction was far more apparent than hers. He sniffed the air long and hard, breathing in the scent of their golden-haired target. He could hardly control himself, could hardly keep his claws and fangs from lengthening.
The roof began to harden around him, transmuted into a dense, crystal-like substance. His blood demon art. A simple, yet practical ability.
"Incredible," Rokuro finally said. He too had succumbed to the blond man's presence. His eyes were wide, and strands of saliva leaked from each corner of this mouth.
"Hm. How embarrassing." He wiped the drool away, shocked that a single human could elicit such a response from him. No one, not even those with Marechi blood, ever had him trembling and shivering with bloodlust. He turned to the smaller demon by his side, scrutinizing her with a long, sharp gaze. "I must admit, Mukago. I wasn't entirely convinced of what you told us. I merely thought you were exaggerating things. But this… this is even better than I imagined. What a unique specimen you've found. This blood, this flesh, it's calling out to me. And I must have it."
"I told you, didn't I?" Her voice was soft, laced with a twinge of smugness. "I have watched him for some time now, using only small rodents and insects. Animals that would arouse little suspicion. At first, I wanted to take him myself, but after seeing so many demons fall by his hand—left in the sun to die—I considered a different, more efficient approach to his capture. One involving both of you."
"Well, you certainly made a wise decision by not keeping this to yourself, Mukago." A threat, she realized. Rokuro then stroked his obsidian beard, locking eyes with the blond once more. "However, I do wonder. What is so different about this person? Why have I never encountered a human like this before?"
"I… I don't know." Mukago leveled her fellow demon with a stare; his previous threat hadn't left her mind. "But I believe that he is the key to increasing our strength."
It was a simple concept, really. The more humans you devoured, the stronger you became. And if you devoured humans with special blood, you became that much more powerful.
Another way to gain strength was to be given large amounts of Muzan's blood. But that in itself was a difficult thing to attain, and if a demon could not handle such high amounts of his blood, death and pain were certain.
For years, they'd toiled; they'd consumed humans, fought demon slayers, competed with the upper moons, all while following every one of master Muzan's orders.
Yet, nothing ever changed. Unlike them, the upper ranks had not lost a single member for over a century. The lower ranks, however, seemed to be replaced with every passing decade.
Mukago had clawed her way up for years and years, killing and killing and killing. All with the hope of gaining enough strength to secure her life—her future. Forever. And she'd thought that once she became a member of the Twelve that she would have enough power to survive indefinitely.
Oh. How wrong she was.
As a lower moon, she was still far from the strongest. She was still far from that pinnacle of strength that would prolong her life for many more years.
The upper moons were different, even compared to the lower. They were anomalies that transcended the strength of normal demons. No matter how many humans she'd consumed, her power never grew to the extent of the upper six.
And now, Mukago could sense it. Muzan's anger toward them. His displeasure at their failures. It was growing. And soon, his patience would run out. That is, if they weren't killed by a Hashira before that.
Those damned Demon Slayers.
She'd almost died fighting one of them. A woman with pink hair and warm, green eyes.
With few choices left, she needed a way to survive. To grow stronger. And this human was the key.
She just knew it.
Survive, Mukago.
A voice rang in her head, whispered from a past she no longer remembered.
There was a feral growl rising from the throat of Kamanue. Mukago was pulled from her thoughts, and she glanced his way. He went on all fours, veins covering his entire body. He twitched and spasmed with desire.
"I'm done waiting around!" he howled. "He's mine. Stay out of it!"
"Fine." Rokuro shook his head. "Try not to harm him too much."
Mukago said nothing. This was the plan, after all. A test-run. A way to see just how well he would fare against the weakest of the lower moons. If her observations were correct, then she and Rokuro would need to get involved. If not, then this would be over in seconds, providing them with a meal unlike any other.
The crystal-like substance erupted next to Kamanue, forming into a spear. He grinned hungrily as his gazed settle on the man below them. He grabbed his newly made weapon, twirling it with impressive expertise.
Mukago directed her animals to encircle their foes, ensuring a tactical advantage.
Just as Kamanue made his move, Mukago finally took notice of the orange-haired woman standing beside their target.
Her eyes grew wide, horns sparking with intrigue.
A demon?
…
Naruto gazed up at all three of them, eyes narrowing to slits. He studied them carefully, taking in the appearance of each demon. He considered the way they stood, their postures, their expressions, painstakingly considering what actions to take against them.
He was no coward, mind you. Naruto was fully confident in his abilities, but he would not be arrogant. Every threat had to be taken seriously, lest he falter and fall pray to the unknown capabilities of these beings.
Demons were powerful, no doubt, but compared to the people he had faced back home? They barely scratched the surface of what was considered extremely dangerous in the elemental nations. At least, the average demon. The real danger, however, came with the Blood Demon Art: a variety of abilities that, if utilized properly, could take objectively stronger opponents by surprise.
So he had to be on guard. Especially now, considering the fact that a massive amount of his and Kurama's chakra was being diverted to his clones in order to keep the portal home expanding.
Right now, by a rough estimate, he had less than ten percent of his chakra available for combat. If he wanted to use more, he would risk losing months of progress. Because if he diverted the energy he was feeding into the portal, it would begin to close—a frustrating outcome for all his hard work.
Not only was this a factor, but these three demons in particular seemed much more powerful than the ones that usually attacked him.
I wonder…
"The Twelve Kizuki," Susamaru suddenly said. She shivered with apprehension, a worried look painting her features.
"Is that so?" Naruto crossed his arms, suspicions confirmed. "I thought something felt different about them."
The amount of negative emotions was palpable, mingling with the air around them. He took a step forward, putting himself between the demons and the three people behind him.
Ozaki quickly stood up, clutching her injured arm.
"You're not going to fight them, are you?" The concern in her voice was evident, so much so that his features softened.
"I am, Ozaki," he said gently. "I have to."
"Y-you can't," urged Murata. He too found his footing, the cut on his side bleeding. "This is our job. We won't allow you to get hurt for our sake—for our failure."
Naruto turned to them, still keeping an eye on the three demons above. It appeared as though they were conversing among themselves. Planning their next move, no doubt. "I understand where you're coming from, Murata. But you're in no shape to fight. Plus, you've done more than enough. Both of you have. You protected so many people, and it's okay to rest for now."
Ozaki gritted her teeth. "But—"
"Hey." Murata had moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. In those moments, he accepted the situation, slumping with defeat. "I think… we should just let it go. It's not like we can stop him, anyway."
Ozaki deflated, sadness in her gaze. But she didn't protest, calmed by Murata's gentle touch.
"Thanks, Murata," Naruto said. He pulled out two kunai from a holster. "No matter what happens to me, I want both of you to get to safety."
His chakra flared to life, filling the air with an energy foreign to this world. Behind him, all three of his companions froze. Ozaki's eyes were wide. Murata's legs quivered. And a chill ran down Susamaru's spine.
To them, it felt… strange. Like tiny needles prickling against their skin. Like the sensation of snow against exposed flesh. It was subtle, but also bold. Alive, but lacking sapience. This energy flowed from the core of Naruto's being, bringing with it a wave of feelings they could not describe.
An otherworldly feeling.
"Susamaru," Naruto said. His voice pulled her from her trance. "Protect Ozaki and Murata. No matter what."
She nodded firmly, taking a defensive stance in front of the two injured slayers. By now, the demon bears, dogs, and birds not beheaded by a nichirin blade began to rise, their wounds healing after an extended period of time.
"I wish I could give you my sword," said Ozaki. "But mine's chipped so badly it's basically unusable."
Murata frowned, inspecting his blade. "Damn. So is mine."
Naruto grinned.
"No worries, you two. I have my own ways of dealing with demons."
One: injure them continuously until sunrise came.
Two: immobilize them, then leave them in the sun.
Or option three: Use a Rasenshuriken, destroying every cell in their body, rendering them unable to regenerate.
Perhaps not the most efficient way of handling it, but it was his way of doing so. But of course, option three wasn't something he wanted attempt, especially around such a populated area. Even so, his Rasenshuriken theory was an untested one. Because he didn't know how far a demon's regeneration went. Was it strictly cellular, or something entirely different?
Still, Susamaru remained worried for his sake. That apprehensive looked hadn't left her features since this ordeal began.
Naruto was strong. She knew this. But against three of the Twelve? Surely, even he would struggle.
Should they retreat?
She didn't know.
Susamaru glanced upward. Her eyes narrowed to slits. The three lower ranks had yet to leave their perch. Instead, they were all staring at them—clearly focused on one person.
Naruto.
Everything clicked in that moment. These attacks. The hungry looks in their eyes. They were after Naruto, of course. They were after his flesh and blood. Just like that day when she'd first met him—intent on eating him. A cold sweat fell down her brow, and a feeling of guilt washed over her. Because she'd been like them, so full of hunger for human flesh that she would do whatever it took to get it.
Before she could voice her concern, Naruto asked, "Do you know their abilities?"
"I… don't. I've never even met them." Susamaru frowned deeply, disappointed that she couldn't be of help. "And some of these members seem new," she whispered. "Sorry…"
Naruto nudged her gently, smiling. "It's alright. I just have to be a bit more careful, then."
Above, something was forming in the hands of one of the demons. It was a crystal-like substance, transformed into a spear. The demon grabbed it, stepping forward.
Five more spears formed above him, floating.
Kamanue stretched out his hands, and all three spears shot forward, breaking the sound barrier as they raced toward them.
Naruto grimaced, eyes tracking the projectiles careening through the air.
A pulse of chakra flooded his body.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Naruto moved in a blur speed, tearing forward like a rocket. He flew through a series of hand signs, molding chakra for his first technique.
Air Bullet.
He exhaled a compressed gust of wind that threw all five crystal spears off their trajectory.
Then, Kamanue met him on the street below. Naruto weaved past a mighty swing, tossing a wind-imbued kunai through the demon's neck. It was like a knife through butter. Blood splatted from the sudden wound, a gaping hole left in his throat.
Shock gripped the demon, eyes widening, even as his injury began to heal. Naruto advanced forward, a heavy fist careening into the demon's skull.
A notable crack echoed around them as his temple was broken to pieces. Kamanue growled, teeth gritting in rage and pain. The five spears from earlier returned, controlled by his will. They soared through the air, whizzing about as they flew toward Naruto like heating-seeking missiles.
He dodged every spear that came his way, undeterred by the demon's predictable attacks.
He'd end this, now.
In that moment, a sphere came to life above his palm. It glowed in the darkened city street, spinning, and spinning as it grew.
This one was larger than normal, but not to the extent of an Odama Rasengan. Still, it would deal great damage if landed properly.
Kamanue looked on—surprised yet fascinated. Obviously, he had never seen a human produce something quiet like this. So, Naruto took this opportunity. With that instance of hesitation, he shot forward.
He appeared before the shocked demon, thrusting the Rasengan into his chest.
A shockwave exploded around them, cracking nearby windows and streetlamps.
Kamanue's mouth opened in a horrified scream, features contorting with agony. The rasengan drilled and drilled, tearing his flesh apart, shattering his ribs, and turning his torso into mangle flesh.
Another shockwave expanded outward, launching the howling demon into an empty building. He broke through its walls. Wood splintered and cracked beneath the force of the rasengan. The building groaned, then collapsed in on itself. A cloud of dust filled the street, and Kamanue's screams finally died down until no sound was left.
There was silence. Utter silence. Both from the three behind him and the demons still observing from above.
Naruto then glared upward, almost as if to say: you're next.
…
"That fool," Rokuro hissed. "He was far too overconfident."
Mukago tilted her head, and she halted her animal's advancement.
What just happened?
It was all she could think. She looked on, perplexed. The fight had ended in less than a minute. And that strange orb of energy he had produced—what was that?
"Well, this was all within expectations," Rokuro said. A wraith of darkness began to rise around him, like shadows coming to life from the ground. "Kamanue is the weakest of us. If this man is as strong as you claim, then his defeat is not too surprising."
The shadows around Rokuro grew in size, taking the form of undulating tendrils of darkness. This blackness moved as though alive, slamming downward unto the street.
Akin to a whip, it tore into the ground, slicing an entire building in half.
"I thought we wouldn't make too much of a scene," whispered Mukago, annoyed by the increasing destruction. They'd already done enough to draw unwanted attention.
Rokuro chuckled. "Oh, right. I nearly forgot."
His shadow retreated to a tamer form. And as the dust of his attack cleared, Naruto could be seen protecting his three companions with what appeared to be a rotating wall of air.
Suddenly, a frustrated howl tore through the silent night.
Kamanue pulled himself from the rubble his body had formed, limping with both hands nursing his chest. His clothes were ruined, and the crater in his torso was still healing—much slower than normal, it seemed.
He screamed: "It hurts! It hurts! What did you do to me, you bastard?"
The blond replied with a kick that sent Kamanue flying back toward the rooftop. Reacting quickly, Rokuro caught him before he could crash into them, using his shadow to cushion the impact of that human's leg.
Such… power, Rokuro mused. Sweat slid down his brow. He couldn't help it. For an instant, doubt crept into his mind.
Even with three of them here, could they defeat this human?
Of course they could, he affirmed, rejecting such pitiful thoughts.
"Mukago—"
He was cut short by a blur landing on the roof in front of them. The blond man had appeared, seemingly from nowhere, twirling that same weapon with his finger.
Up close, those feelings of desire exploded from within him. Rokuro could almost taste the human now standing before him. His heart pulsed in his chest, saliva flooding his mouth.
Normally calm and collected, he lost all reason as his demonic drive momentarily consumed him. He stretched out both hands, calling upon his shadows once more. Six of them, this time. They shot forward at dizzying speeds, intent on harming (but not killing) their target.
But like before, that strange sphere had formed in the human's palm. Much bigger now, it destroyed Rokuro's shadows, blasting them away the instant they made contact with the spherical technique.
Kamanue was upon him once more, a crystal sword in his grasp. But the results were the same. He was sent flying away with a powerful punch to the stomach. And this time, Rokuro did not cushion the blow with his shadows. Instead, Kamanue crashed through the roof and into the building below them.
A burst of excitement soon flooded Rokuro's veins. He suddenly wanted to keep this going. He wanted to test the abilities of this strange human—he wanted toy with him until he ran out of stamina.
However, time was short, and soon, the streets would be filled with human authorities, which would only serve as a greater distraction from the mission.
But in that moment, the blond decided to speak to them.
"Normally," he began, "I try to talk to most demons. I try to understand them, their actions, and their reasons for these actions." The blond glared at both him and Mukago, gaze flashing crimson. "So, tell me. I want to know. Why exactly did you decide to attack so many innocent people?"
Mukago was the first to speak, a small smile on her face, and a hungry spark in her eyes.
She looked on shyly.
"It… it was all for you."
Silence reigned, and Rokuro nearly chuckled. The duality of Mukago. One moment, she was ruthless and blood thirsty. Then another, she was a subdued, seemingly unconfident demon.
Though, how much of this personality was an act—he did not know.
"For me?" echoed the blond. His face, though hardened, was suddenly full of confusion.
Mukago nodded, a blush tinting her cheeks. "Y-yes," she answered, pressing her fingers together. "Your name is Naruto… right?"
"And how would you know that?" He was on edge now, inching closer, a strange aura flaring around him, sending pleasant chills down Mukago's spine.
"Because I've been watching you," she explained. "And you're… you're very famous around here."
"What does this have to do with attacking innocent people?" Naruto asked. "If you wanted me, then why not find me? Why involve all these civilians?"
Rokuro smirked. "To make a scene, to draw you out, and most importantly, for this."
His shadows flared to life once more, revealing something that managed to anger the blond to such a degree that the ground began to crack and fracture beneath his feet.
Hostages. Many of them. Families. Children.
And someone else, someone Naruto knew all too well.
Rokuro's shadows formed into a dream-like projection, displaying dozens of humans being held captive in a cave-like structure outside the city. And one particular hostage had caught Naruto's gaze.
Mukago giggled, features shifting. "Your friends did their best to protect fleeing humans, but I had my animals take some of them during the commotion, including the boy that works at your clinic."
The rage in Naruto's eyes was indescribable. For a moment, crimson wisps of energy seemed to swirl around him, kicking up debris on the damaged roof. But his anger quickly subsided. Then he took a deep, calming breath.
Like many humans, he had a weakness: other humans. He was powerful, yes. But he still had empathy for those around him. This was their ticket to capturing him without resorting to a battle that would destroy most of the city block.
Mukago never did like fighting, after all.
So Naruto sighed. He didn't appear defeated, but he did seem disappointed in himself. For being unable to protect his student, perhaps.
"Is Yuichiro safe?" he asked.
"Yes," Mukago answered warmly. "Your student is safe for the time being. But that is entirely up to what you do next."
Naruto crossed his arms. "What exactly do you want?"
Rokuro's shadows retreated. "As Mukago said earlier, all we want is you. I'm sure you know what that entails. And it won't be pleasant, mind you. However, if you come with us now, we will release every single human we captured, including your student. If you don't, I will kill them remotely with my shadows, even from this distance, and it won't be a pleasant death for them, either. Likewise, if you take another step forward, I will also start killing them."
"I… I know it's a difficult decision to make," Mukago spoke gently. Behind her soft voice, a sadistic aura poured from her very being. "But think of all the lives you'll save if you—"
"Fine."
"Hm?" Rokuro tilted his head. "That easily? You're aware of what will happen to you if you come with us, correct?"
Naruto shrugged. "As long as you promise to release all the hostages, I'll gladly come with you."
"R-really?" Mukago blurted out, bubbling with excitement. Her mouth watered against her will. "Don't worry! We only did this to get your attention. All those other humans are worthless compared to you, Naruto."
"You'll release them, right?" he repeated, ignoring her obvious desire to devour him.
"Of course," Rokuro lied. "Only if you cooperate with us."
"Then I'm your prisoner," Naruto said. Though, to them, he didn't seem very afraid.
Rokuro ignored that unsettling feeling suddenly rising in his chest.
"My only caveat is that you must give me evidence that you've released them. After that, you can do with me as you wish."
"Making demands?" inquired Rokuro.
Naruto pinned him with a stare. "Would you rather us continue this battle?"
"No," Mukago answered, unwilling to ruin the moment. "We will take you to where they are being held, then release them in your presence, but you have to be restrained until then."
Naruto shrugged again, almost accepting his fate. Mukago could not tell whether he was insane or not—because he was acting strangely calm for someone about to be devoured.
She glanced at Rokuro. Lower rank two stretched out his hands, his shadow reaching out to wrap around Naruto's body, effectively immobilizing him.
"It would do you well not to struggle. The more you move, the tighter it becomes," Rokuro said. "Nothing has ever escaped the hold of my shadow. Once in its grasp, you're as good as finished."
Again, Naruto didn't seem particularly concerned. Instead, he studied the strange apparition that now held him tight, probing for potential weaknesses. Rokuro frowned deeply. This boy was a fool, and soon enough that calm demeanor would morph into pained, agonized expressions.
Now, all Rokuro had to do was find a way to keep this human all to himself.
When the time came, he would slip away with his prize in tow.
Of course, this would anger Mukago, but Rokuro didn't care. They weren't friends. And they certainly weren't family, despite being in the Twelve.
Finally, Kamanue returned, erupting from the rubble, and landing on the roof. His wound was still healing, body still hissing with steam. He looked to be in pain, for his anger could barely be contained.
"Where is he?!" he growled. "This time, I'll—"
"Enough, number six," Rokuro said. "It's already over."
"Dammit, dammit," Kamanue roared. "Don't get too cocky, human. You must have used some dirty trick to hurt me. And for what you did, I'll make sure you suffer in the worst way imaginable."
"Can we just get going?" Naruto asked, ignoring Kamanue. "The sooner you release them, the sooner you can eat me, right?"
"You're awfully confident for someone about to be devoured." Rokuro let loose a bellowing laugh. "You are very entertaining, boy. I look forward to hearing you scream."
Mukago looked at him with predatory eyes, gaze roaming his features.
"I can't wait for us to get to know each other," she whispered.
Susamaru felt a bolt of panic rush through her as Naruto was captured.
She didn't know what to make of it.
Earlier, it seemed as though he had the upper hand, taking down lower rank six in seconds, then proceeding to battle the remaining two.
Then, something happened. Rokuro had shown him something. Something that turned the tides of battle and led him to surrender.
But what? What could have caused Naruto to give up the fight?
"I'm going after him," she said quickly, turning to face the Demon Slayers behind her. In that moment, the mutated, demon-like animals also began to retreat, turning tail and heading in the same direction as the demons now holding Naruto captive.
Murata glanced at Ozaki, a firm look in his eyes.
"We're going too."
There was still an air of tension surrounding them. Both slayers kept their distance from her, weary of the demon standing in front of them. Despite their apprehension, however, determination glinted in their eyes, and they chose to forgo those feeling of distrust, all for the sake of finding and saving Naruto.
"You don't have to come with me." Susamaru didn't move closer, ever aware of the wariness they had for her. "You're both injured, and I'm sure Naruto wouldn't want both of you getting killed."
Ozaki frowned, shaking her head. "No, we're still going," she said firmly.
In spite of the vicious and sudden attacks, Ozaki still managed to keep the bag of supplies Naruto had given them earlier undamaged. She walked over to where she left it, Murata following behind her.
"It's a good thing he gave this to us." Murata chuckled weakly, leaning against a wall for support.
"Yeah," Ozaki replied, opening the bag filled with medical supplies. Susamaru still kept her distance. She looked ahead, eyes focused as she scanned the surrounding area.
Slowly but surely, people began to return to the street. First, police officers, followed by curious onlookers. The officers did their best to restrain the crowd, but the number grew, and great commotion rose into the night sky. A few bodies littered the grown, some unmoving, some still alive.
Murata looked on, grimacing.
"We did our best," Ozaki said to him.
"Yeah," he replied. "This was the Twelve Kizuki, after all." Even a Hashira would have struggled against three of them at once
"I'm still surprised Naruto could hold his own against them," she said, recalling the incredible battle. "I wonder what happened though. What caused him to give up?"
As they worked on bandaging their wounds, Murata shrugged. "I don't know, but it must have been something serious."
"That's all the more reason to go after them," she said.
Susamaru returned. Arms crossed, she looked at their injuries. Ozaki stiffened at the sudden proximity. In her mind, she expected the female demon to lunge at them, or at the very least, begin to salivate at the sight of their open, bleeding wounds.
But Susamaru did no such thing. She only looked at them, almost impatiently, uncaring of the scent of blood wafting through the air.
Strange, Murata thought. And very interesting. It seemed Naruto hadn't been lying about her, which made their little attack against her yesterday even worse.
"Hey," Ozaki began. She wrapped a bandage around her forearm, wincing at the pain. "What is Naruto to you?"
Susamaru only smiled. "I guess you can say… he's my hero?" She rubbed her orange hair sheepishly, blushing. "He made me see that it's possible to change, even though I'm a demon, and that I can atone for all the horrible things I've done in my life."
Atone? Ozaki wondered.
Was that possible?
After everything demons did, after all the suffering they caused, did they even have the right to such a thing?
Ozaki's temper spiked as she remembered what had happened to her family. Her fists clenched at the memories, and at the demon standing before her. Yet again, Murata's hand against her shoulder calmed her. He always seemed to have that effect on her, she noticed.
"We should get going," Murata said after dressing the wound on his abdominal region. It still hurt terribly, but with breathing techniques he could dull the pain. "There's no telling how far away they've gotten."
"Your injuries," Susamaru warned.
Ozaki pinned her with a stare. "You can't fight them on your own."
"But Naruto told me to keep you guys safe." Susamaru frowned, finally conceding. "Fine. Do whatever you want. Just don't slow me down."
They nodded, then stood up. Murata picked up his chipped blade, frowning.
"Our swords…"
"Hand 'em over," Susamaru said. Both Demon Slayers stiffened, and she grimaced. "Calm down. I'm going to try and sharpen them with my claws."
After a moment of contemplation, they handed both swords to the demon—something completely unfathomable under normal circumstances.
Susamaru felt a chill of fear run through her. Though the idea was hers, holding a Nichirin blade—the one weapon capable of killing her—was still nerve-racking. Tentatively, she reached out and took them, the very ones that had severed her arms a day ago. But for Naruto's sake, she swallowed her fear at the sight of these swords.
Her claws lengthened. She conjured an extra set of arms and sharpened them to the best of her ability with steel-hard claws.
"You can track them, right?" Murata asked once she had finished with their swords.
"Yes," Susamaru said. A faint trace of Muzan's aura still lingered in the air. "But we have to hurry. Who knows how far they've gotten by now."
Murata sheathed his sword. "You think Naruto will be okay?"
Susamaru nodded. "If anything, he should be fine. Most demons prefer their food… um… alive."
And judging by their lack of friendliness toward each other, she speculated that a dispute over Naruto would eventually erupt among the lower ranks.
"Good." Ozaki reached into the pocket of her torn haori. She pulled out a whistle, took a deep breath, and blew it as hard as she could. It released a high-pitched sound, imperceptible to most humans.
"What was that for?" Susamaru asked.
"I'm calling my crow," Ozaki explained. "He usually lingers around the area while we're on missions. He can help us send for backup and can also track and locate any other Demon Slayers near Tokyo."
Murata swallowed. "Hopefully, someone's close."
Because this mission was dangerous, and they were practically walking to their deaths at this point. But for Naruto's sake, and for the sake of the Demon Slayer Corp's reputation, they would do everything in their power to help.
Not ten seconds later, Ozaki's crow arrived. He squawked loudly, nuzzling into her neck. She quickly explained the situation and ordered him to send for any Demons Slayers near the Tokyo area.
"Let's get going," Murata decided, steeling his resolve.
"How will your backup find us?" asked Susamaru.
Ozaki took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air, dulling the pain, and giving her the strength to push on for a while longer. She was afraid, her hands shaking at her sides. But she shoved those feelings aside, if only to prove to herself that she was capable of living up to the name of Demon Slayer.
"We'll leave marks on trees and rocks with our swords," she answered. "That should be enough."
With that, the newly formed trio departed, intent on finding the blond doctor, even at the cost of their lives—despite the fact that he may or may not actually need their help.
Later - Outskirts of Tokyo
Shinobu Kocho moved with a swiftness few could perceive.
She was a blur in the literal sense, so fast, yet so agile. She weaved past her foe's defenses, dealing a deadly blow with poison so potent, no demon could withstand its harmful effects.
Such was the case now—as she faced a horde of hungry, violent demons.
The forest outside the city was thick, and darkness covered the land like a veil. Save for the full moon, slowly being covered by clouds, no other light reached her senses. But this didn't matter. Not to her, at least. After all, she was a Hashira, a Demon Slayer of the highest order, trained to survive even the most difficult of battles.
In the darkness of night, a massive, clawed hand reached out to grab her.
Too slow.
She ducked, eyes glinting in the moonlight.
Drawing her sword, it took only one thrust for the demon to freeze—cold steel sinking into his thick trachea.
The effects were almost instantaneous. The demon, once fearsome, once viscous, stumbled back, clutching at his throat, and foaming at the mouth.
Next came his screams.
They were unbearable, so grating and chilling as it filled the night sky. Tears rolled down his cheeks; he fell to his knees, skin bubbling as the poison melted every organ in his body.
His pain did not end there, however, because blood pooled in his eyes and fountained from his open mouth, staining the grass red.
Finally, he collapsed to the ground; he writhed and twitched; her poison disintegrated every internal structure: from his bones, to the very cells of his body.
"P-Please," he choked out. "M-Make it stop. Make… make it stop!"
Shinobu approached the weeping demon. She regarded him with a kind, yet cruel smile. Her eyes were devoid of emotion, despite her warm disposition.
"Oh my," she expressed, feigning alarm. "Perhaps I used the wrong poison. You want the pain to stop? Is that what you said?"
He choked on his blood, "Y-yes."
Shinobu stroked her chin in thought, head tilted.
"Alright, then. I suppose I'll end your suffering."
"P-please."
"But only on one condition," she remarked, smiling brightly.
"A-anything!" he spoke, tremors of agony racking his decaying body.
"You must first restore all the humans you've killed since becoming a demon," Shinobu said sweetly. "Only then will the pain end."
The demon gritted his teeth. "But that's impossible!"
"Oh?" She hummed, then shrugged. "Then I'm afraid I can't help you."
She walked away, leaving a screaming demon behind.
Around her, ten bodies also began to burn away. They were replicas of the one demon she had just lethally poisoned, and with the original slowly dying, the rest began to perish as well, fading into the night.
Just ahead, Kanao, her Tsuguko, concluded her fight with three of the doppelgangers as they finally collapsed in a heap, writhing as they felt the same pain of the original. A sheen of sweat covered her student's brow, but her features remained blank, even with the exertion of battle.
"Good work!" Shinobu announced cheerfully, making her way to her tsuguko. "You held your own against three of them. I'm impressed."
Despite the praise, Kanao said nothing. She only nodded, her expression unchanged.
Shinobu thought nothing of it. Instead, she pulled out a map. Using a pencil, she documented the status of her mission, marking all the areas she had cleansed of demons. It was a long, hard mission, but this was the last town—located just outside Tokyo.
"We have some time to rest," said Shinobu, putting the map away. She began walking through the forest, and Kanao followed suit, sheathing her katana. "Tokyo's close. Only about thirty kilometers away. Maybe we should stop there for medical supplies."
Kanao remained silent, listening, but unresponsive.
Shinobu kept moving. "I've never taken you there, have I?"
Finally, a response: Kanao shook her head.
The older Demon Slayer paused, and so did her subordinate. "Do you want us to go?" she inquired, leaving the choice to the young girl. "It's up to you."
This time, Kanao looked conflicted. Her lips tremored, then became still. She reached into her uniform and pulled out a coin, proceeding to flip it once.
For the first time, Shinobu frowned, her calm demeanor broken as she observed Kanao's little ritual.
It was tails, so Kanao silently shook her head.
Shinobu resisted the urge to sigh, her worry for this girl growing.
"Alright," the Hashira said, "I suppose we'll just head back to headquarte—"
She was cut short by the distinct sound of a crow. It squawked loudly—more so than any crow she had ever heard. And it wasn't her own Kasugai crow, either.
This crow was someone else's, and it did not land, choosing to circle above them three time, before speaking.
"Emergency! Emergency!" it bellowed. "Three members of the Twelve Kizuki have attacked Nerima, Tokyo, and are now on the move! All available Demon Slayers head north, immediately!"
It was gone in a matter of seconds, most likely to inform any more demon slayers nearby of the situation.
"My, my. How interesting," said Shinobu. In spite of the news, her voice did not betray her personal feelings. "Change of plans, Kanao."
The girl only nodded, ever ready to follow any order.
"It seems we're going toward the city after all," the Hashira supplied.
With her speed, she could make it to Tokyo in no time.
But… Shinobu would be lying if she said wasn't concerned.
As a Hashira, she was confident in her skills with the sword. She felt capable enough to fight any member of the Twelve Kizuki. But three at once? That was unheard of, even if they were Lower Moons—which the crow didn't specify.
No matter, Shinobu thought.
This was her duty. She had to go.
Even if the odds weren't her favor, she would always find a way to prevail.
eNd.
What better way to capture someone powerful, than to threaten them indirectly, using the lives of innocent people as collateral? But these demons are messing with the wrong shinobi, especially when you threaten someone precious to him.
I made it clear in the first chapter that Naruto would be "nerfed." But what I meant was that there would be consequences for exerting his full power. Since he is constantly feeding chakra to his clones in the basement (like Pain does to the six paths), he has a limited supply to use in battle. If he wants to use more chakra, he runs the risk of closing the portal he's worked so hard to open and maintain. So, this kind of nerfing is a bit different than the typical: "he loses the ability to make chakra trope." He still has all his chakra available to him, but he has to be wise when using it, lest he lose progress on his only way back home.
The next chapter will conclude this first arc, with Naruto, the Lower Moons, and Shinobu clashing outside the city—where he can really let loose. How will the Insect Hashira react to him, I wonder?
Hope you enjoyed.
Thanks for reading.
And stay safe :)