Episode 1

Normally, Iguro wasn't the type to arrive late to a meeting, but this time he couldn't help it. After experiencing what he had lived through and returning to the starting point, he was still struggling to find his bearings. The Ubuyashiki Mansion, a place he knew well, now seemed like a strange reminder of what he had lost. His mind was trapped in the battle he had left behind, as if the shadows of the Infinity Castle still clung to him.

The air in the mansion was different—too calm. He could hear the faint whisper of leaves in the trees outside the windows, the distant footsteps of caretakers, and the occasional creak of the wood. Everything was so peaceful it was almost unbearable. The contrast with the chaos and screams of the final battle left a knot in his chest.

He had noticed something important in the brief time since he woke: no one else seemed to have traveled back in time with him. If they had, the mansion would have been in turmoil, filled with arguments and shouts about the incongruence of what they had lived through. Instead, everything was just as it had been before Muzan attacked the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. It was as though time had not yet known the tragedy that was to come.

He took a breath and lowered his gaze to Kaburamaru, who slowly slithered along his arm as if aware that something was troubling him. The serpent's smooth movements comforted him just enough to summon the strength to push the door open to the main room.

When he entered, all the emotions he had tried to control hit him at once.

The other Hashira were already there, occupying their usual places in the room. Each one spoke or moved with a harmless naturalness, so… alive. The sight of them gathered struck him like a gale. Some of them, in his mind, should already have been dead. Memories haunted him: the Infinity Castle, the wounds, the losses. For a moment, he felt as though he couldn't breathe.

And then, his eyes settled on her.

Mitsuri Kanroji was there. Her green and pink hair moved with the same grace he remembered, and her smile filled the room with a warmth that, after all he had lived, felt like a mirage. She spoke with enthusiasm, her energy overflowing as she animatedly gestured.

But she wasn't alone. Mitsuri was speaking with Rengoku.

Time seemed to stop for Iguro. His fingers clenched, his chest tightened, and everything he had buried about Rengoku's death surged forward. Seeing him there, so full of life, laughing with that characteristic voice that inspired confidence, completely disarmed him. How could this simple moment be so heartbreaking and yet so comforting at the same time?

The roar of his heart nearly drowned out the familiar voice that broke into the atmosphere:

"Daydreaming again? It'll make you lose your senses, Iguro."

Uzui's voice crashed into his thoughts like thunder. For a brief moment, Iguro felt irritation and relief mixed in equal parts. His reaction was instinctive, almost unconscious, and he flung Kaburamaru at the Sound Hashira in a reflex of exasperation.

Uzui, with the swiftness he always seemed eager to show off, dodged the serpent with ease. Kaburamaru returned to Iguro with fluid motion, as though accustomed to such outbursts. Uzui grinned broadly but didn't see the strike Iguro delivered to the back of his head as he fully entered the room.

"Take it easy, take it easy," Uzui said teasingly, brushing his hair with a casual hand as if nothing had happened. "If you stay so tense, you'll get a wrinkle… and that'd be a disaster for your aesthetics."

Iguro simply ignored him as he walked toward the table with measured steps. Everyone had noticed his arrival. And before he could prepare to react, he heard a voice that pierced him like an arrow:

"Iguro-san!"

Mitsuri called him with the same characteristic energy that always both unsettled and reassured him. There was something about her tone that seemed to brighten everything around her, even the invisible wall Iguro always tried to maintain.

The Serpent Hashira forced himself to walk toward her, each step feeling like a small triumph over his internal shock. He sat beside her, making an effort to control the emotions that threatened to overflow.

"They told us we have to be here for a meeting, but they haven't told us anything else!" Mitsuri spoke quickly, her voice a cascade that, for the first time in a long time, made Iguro feel… at peace.

Even though it was surreal to see Rengoku again.

Mitsuri's words floated around him, but Iguro barely heard them. His mind was still digesting everything he was experiencing—or rather, reliving. Still, he nodded mechanically, letting his mind slowly adapt to this second beginning.

"What do you think about this meeting, Iguro?" Rengoku asked, drawing him back from his thoughts.

Iguro looked up and took a breath before responding calmly: "We'll see."

His words were almost a murmur as he took a sip of tea, watching Rengoku and Mitsuri eat with a carefree ease that defied all logic. Their gestures were natural, light, full of life. The scene seemed like it was from another world—one Iguro had lost long ago.

He used this moment of calm to observe the other Hashira. Each one had their own essence, though he could detect a certain invisible thread connecting them through their shared mission. His gaze settled on Himejima and Tokito. Himejima, as always, kept his hands together, murmuring a silent prayer. There was something about his presence that drew others: a tranquility that seemed to envelop everyone in the room. Tokito, on the other hand, sat nearby, watching him with curiosity. His movements were less solemn; he tilted his head, trying to understand what the elder was doing, while his eyes shone with the curiosity typical of his age.

Then he looked at Uzui. The Sound Hashira maintained his usual confident posture—a mix of irritation and energy that contrasted with the rest of the room. Though Iguro found him irritating at times, he knew that, deep down, Uzui was loyal and had a noble heart. That was more than he could say about himself.

His gaze continued to Sanemi, much more rigid and explosive than Uzui. Violence was almost part of his nature, especially against demons. But Iguro, despite his own prejudices, saw him as a friend. He could understand his rage; he could see what lay behind it: someone broken trying to put himself back together.

Kaburamaru followed his gaze, moving slowly along his arm as though analyzing every detail along with him. Iguro's gaze stopped on Rengoku. He was strong, protective—everything Iguro was not. His loyalty and honesty were almost disarming. Rengoku didn't need to hide behind a mantle of hate to fight. He was a beacon of what Iguro had never been able to be.

And then there was Kanroji. Her energy, her laughter, her light filled the room in a way that Iguro found bewildering. Mitsuri was brilliant—so brilliant that she seemed impossible to reach. Her sincerity and honesty were what he admired most, and the fact that anyone had ever dared to insult or belittle her made his blood boil.

Iguro looked toward the window, where he could see the entrance to the mansion. The sun shone brightly, painting the sky with clarity, while its rays gently reflected on the glass. If he were another man, he thought, he'd try to confess what he felt for her. But he couldn't do it as long as he had this body and this blood running through his veins. Mitsuri deserved something he could never give her.

People like me shouldn't exist.

That thought cut through him like a knife, but he quickly buried it. Here he was, in this second chance he didn't fully understand, ready to give everything he had to protect others and guide them toward a different path. He would use what he knew to avoid the same ending as the first time.

If Muzan wanted to play this game, he would face an Iguro who refused to lose—especially if winning meant bringing peace to the world.

"They're here," Himejima said, lifting his blind gaze toward the window.

Iguro nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the entrance. He stood calmly, leaving his tea on the table. Without saying much more, he walked toward the next room, where he would finally come face to face with Kamado, Nezuko, and their companions.

The meeting wouldn't be new to him. He knew them well enough to know which side he had to be on now. But he also knew that this time he had to act carefully. Very carefully.

Meeting Room – Ubuyashiki Mansion

Iguro had to admit that seeing Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife again struck a chord in his heart. Kagaya, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, was more than just an authority figure for them; he was their guide, their calm in the midst of the storm. Although he no longer fought, he was always with them every step of the way, reminding them that they were more than just weapons in an endless battle. Kagaya never saw them as expendable.

As Iguro sat in his seat, his gaze wandered toward Kagaya several times, seeking that same serenity that had always characterized the leader. Yet, every time he looked at him, he felt a pang in his chest—an echo of the future he had left behind, a future in which Kagaya would no longer be there.

The door then opened, interrupting his train of thought. Kamado entered nervously, accompanied by his sister Nezuko and his friends Zenitsu and Inosuke. Tanjiro's steps were cautious, his posture firm yet humble. Nearby, the stoic Tomioka Giyu and the empty smile of Kocho Shinobu also entered.

It was curious to see them now, knowing far more than he should. Iguro allowed his gaze to linger on Tomioka for a moment. He saw great potential in Tanjiro, and his posture reflected the protection and respect he felt for him. Deep down, even Iguro could acknowledge that Tomioka was as heroic as Rengoku was noble.

On the other hand, there was Shinobu, with her characteristic air of kindness and that smile that always seemed so calm. But Iguro knew that behind that smile was a deep bitterness, an emotional scar that had almost consumed her entirely. Beside her was Kanao, her apprentice. In the past, Iguro had never given her a second glance, but now he could see in her silence something more—a strong desire to protect Shinobu, something that seemed as genuine as the bond they shared.

At that time, Shinobu had died, and Kanao was somewhere—perhaps lost, perhaps on her way to them…

Iguro lowered his gaze to his hands, letting the thought dissipate. It didn't matter now. What mattered was being careful with Shinobu. Not only was she extremely skilled and talented with poisons, but she was also perceptive and intelligent. Iguro knew that if he let his guard down too much, she would know. And Kanao, being her apprentice, shared that same ability to see beyond the obvious.

The cold touch of Kaburamaru on his cheek distracted him, bringing him back to the present. His eyes fixed again on the group before him. Inosuke and Zenitsu were exactly as he remembered—loud, ridiculous, and with an energy that could seem chaotic. Yet, Iguro had seen the two in action before. If he managed to ignore their nonsense, he knew there was potential in both.

Although, if Zenitsu got too close to Mitsuri, he'd probably suffocate him with that boar's head.

That thought made him clench his jaw for a moment, but he quickly let it go, allowing Kaburamaru to coil more comfortably on his shoulder. He observed the group calmly, letting his memories of the future align with this new reality.

There was so much he could do now. So many opportunities to change the fate he thought was already written. If he was going to be careful, it would be here, in this room, with them.

Finally, Iguro's eyes settled on Kamado and his sister. Tanjiro's figure stood out at the room's entrance, his posture firm yet with a tension evident enough to reflect his protective instinct. The young man quickly seemed to analyze who posed the greatest threat to him and Nezuko. Iguro observed how his eyes primarily fixed on him and Sanemi, which didn't surprise him.

I don't blame him, thought Iguro, letting his gaze remain steady. Kamado still has no idea who we are or how powerful we can be.

Iguro knew that, over time, Tanjiro would discover everything. For now, he had to focus on what was about to unfold before him.

Shinobu broke the silence with a voice full of gentleness—yet Iguro knew it wasn't entirely real.

"This is Kamado Tanjiro," Shinobu spoke with calculated kindness, her smile almost unsettling. "…his companions, Agatsuma Zenitsu and Inosuke, and here is the reason for our meeting: Kamado's sister, Nezuko—a demon."

"What!?"

Sanemi's voice resonated like thunder in the room, so intense it echoed off the walls. No one moved except Tanjiro, whose reflex led him to protect his sister quickly. Iguro almost felt sorry for him; the poor young man seemed to have jumped to protect her so many times that he now did so automatically, as though there was no other choice.

"Calm down," Tomioka intervened, his tone as passive as it was dangerous. "I've been with them personally. She's not a threat."

"How is she not!? She's a damned demon!"

Sanemi made more noise than usual, his words filled with rage and distrust. Iguro understood better than anyone where that anger came from, but even he could see that Nezuko didn't seem to be a threat. The way she clung to Tanjiro—almost trembling yet with a silent strength, as though she wanted to protect him—was something Iguro had never seen before. No, better yet, he had never wanted to see.

Shinobu spoke calmly, maintaining her usual stance:

"It's true she doesn't seem like a threat, but she's still a demon. We must decide what to do."

Iguro knew what the others would do. The Hashira's opinions were well-marked: Shinobu had a firm determination to eliminate Nezuko, while Kanroji seemed genuinely concerned, unable to separate Nezuko from the concept of demons. Iguro couldn't blame her, either. Nezuko didn't seem like a demon at all.

However, what caught Iguro's attention the most was the calmness of the leader Kagaya and his wife, Lady Amane. Both remained completely serene. At first, he thought it was because they trusted the nine Hashira gathered in the room. But knowing what he now knew about Kamado, Agatsuma, and Inosuke, a direct confrontation between all of them would be an inevitable war.

It was then that he remembered what the leader had said in the other timeline: that he had already seen Nezuko before and knew she wasn't a danger. That truth, though he now knew it, couldn't be revealed without arousing suspicion.

"I… would like to propose a test," Iguro said with the calmness characteristic of his personality.

"What… what kind of test?" Tanjiro asked, his voice trembling as he held his sister close to his chest.

Iguro didn't immediately answer him. Instead, he looked at the leader of the slayers, seeking his approval. The leader nodded calmly, which always bewildered Iguro; sometimes it seemed the man knew more than anyone could imagine. However, he didn't have time to ponder this—he would do so later.

For now, he had to focus on executing his plan.

He glanced at Kanroji. Though Iguro thought of himself as an abomination, he would do whatever it took for those green eyes to show less concern. When Mitsuri returned a small smile, Iguro felt an unexpected sense of relief in his chest. He stood and walked to face Tanjiro and his group.

All eyes fixed on him—a pressure that suffocated him almost as much as the memory of Muzan's power over his body. Even so, Iguro forced himself to ignore it and focus on his plan.

"Calm down," Iguro said to Kamado, his voice neutral, almost icy. "I'm not going to harm her. Lady Amane doesn't like fights in the house, so I assure you I won't do anything to provoke one."

Tanjiro didn't seem entirely convinced. For a moment, Iguro considered softening his tone, but he knew doing so would raise suspicion among the other Hashira. Instead, he kept his gaze steady as he extended a hand toward Tanjiro and Nezuko.

"You see, this is Kaburamaru. He's the snake that has accompanied me for a long time," Iguro said calmly, pointing toward Nezuko and Tanjiro. "I want to ask you to let him approach Nezuko. Kaburamaru is very special, and I trust his judgment to tell me what I should do."

"A snake?" Tanjiro asked, clearly confused.

"This snake is different. Besides, it seems he's curious about her."

Tanjiro turned to Nezuko, searching her face for some kind of answer. The young demon let out a soft growl, showing an unexpected curiosity about the snake. Though filled with doubt, Tanjiro slowly nodded, trusting his instincts and the gesture of good faith from Iguro.

Kaburamaru slithered gently toward Nezuko. The tension in the room dissipated as the young demon showed a mix of curiosity and calm. She extended a hand, allowing Kaburamaru to climb onto her arm and coil around her shoulders, just as he did with Iguro.

Snake and demon stared at each other for a long moment, as if sharing a silent understanding. Finally, Kaburamaru turned his gaze toward Iguro, giving him the answer they both already knew.

"I have my answer," Iguro said, his voice low but firm. "She's not a threat."

He stood up without even realizing Kaburamaru wouldn't move. It seemed Nezuko was comforted by the snake—perhaps because having an animal nearby had the ability to distract someone as young as Nezuko. Iguro almost smiled; when he was young, Kaburamaru had been his only companion in a cell destined to be his tomb, and now, just as then, the snake served as both a help and a distraction.

"I can't believe it! Of all of us—you, Iguro!? You're defending her!?" Sanemi shouted.

Iguro looked at him but said nothing, though his cold gaze seemed to lower the temperature in the room by several degrees. Sanemi was a good person but often too stubborn, and reasoning with him was going to be difficult.

"Calm down," Iguro said in a low but very serious tone. "I'm not defending her, but I have no reason to attack her. She's not a threat."

"How do you know?" Sanemi demanded, his anger barely contained.

"Because she hasn't attacked anyone during the time she's been here. She hasn't even transformed, and the only thing she did was a soft growl when Kaburamaru approached her," Iguro explained, adjusting his stance just enough to face Sanemi directly.

Sanemi was taller and much stronger physically, but Iguro trusted his friend to use his head. Either way, he wasn't afraid of Sanemi. He never had been.

"Demons must be exterminated, Sanemi. I don't think anyone here feels differently, but this one is different. I don't know what she'll become. I don't know how she'll evolve, and if she loses control in an irreparable way, she'll know my power. But for now, she's not a threat."

Iguro knew deep down that it wouldn't come to that—Nezuko would rather die than endanger her brother or friends. But he had to keep up appearances or face questions he wouldn't know how to answer. Even so, Sanemi didn't seem ready to back down.

"She must be exterminated," Sanemi declared.

Iguro said nothing, but Kaburamaru hissed from Nezuko's shoulders in a way that made it clear to everyone that Iguro's decision—both his and the snake's—was unwavering. Sanemi growled but said nothing more, stepping back and returning to his seat as Iguro almost allowed himself to sigh.

A blow from Sanemi wasn't what he wanted right now, nor was a fight with him. Sanemi just needed time, and fortunately, for now, the tension in the room eased.

"I understand your test and share your perspective, Iguro," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said, surprising everyone. "I myself am proof that a demon is not evil by nature, and for that reason, as Iguro says, I know she's not a threat. But I want you to take your time to understand what I mean. So I ask you, in addition to your missions, to take the time to help young Kamado. He is a Demon Slayer like all of us and, with your support, has a unique opportunity to learn more and perhaps, in the future, become a Hashira."

Iguro realized everyone was looking at Tanjiro and saw how nervous the young man was. Yet he stood firm, nodding as he looked at all the Hashira present with the determination to protect his sister.

"Please, I need your help," Tanjiro said, closing his eyes. "I need to protect my sister until I find a cure."

Silence echoed through the room. Surely each Hashira had much to think about, but Iguro knew it wouldn't be easy. It hadn't been easy the first time Tanjiro arrived in this place, and he knew Sanemi would make things very difficult.

"And why should I help a demon?"

Iguro almost sighed but stopped himself. No, Sanemi wasn't going to make it easy.