Outside the Ubuyashiki Estate, on the forest path leading to the Butterfly Mansion.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows on the gravel-covered road.
Yamada walked in front with an extremely leisurely pace, his hands behind his head, a piece of foxtail grass he had pulled casually hanging from his mouth.
His relaxed demeanor looked as if he had just taken a walk in the park, rather than having just single-handedly ground the Demon Slayer Corps' top combatants into the dirt.
Walking half a step behind him, Shinobu moved silently.
Today, this sharp-tongued butterfly was uncharacteristically quiet. She kept her head down, her deep purple eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally at Yamada's broad and upright back.
Recalling the scene in the courtyard just now, where Yamada released violent lightning capable of destroying everything and arrogantly trampled everyone under his feet, Shinobu felt her heartbeat racing abnormally.
'He not only found out about my past and forcibly tore away my disguise, but now he's asserting his authority in front of Master and all the Hashira.'
Shinobu bit her rosy lower lip, two red flushes appearing on her fair cheeks, her internal monologue completely spiraling out of control.
'Did he do all this just so I wouldn't have to look at other people's faces in the Demon Slayer Corps anymore? This arrogant and conceited idiot, his way of showing affection is too crude.'
Just as Shinobu was immersed in her overflowing "self-conquest" daydreams, Yamada, walking in front, suddenly stopped and turned his head.
"If you keep staring at my back with that look, you're going to burn two holes in my clothes."
Yamada spat out the foxtail grass in his mouth, looking at her with a half-smile. "What? Did you suddenly realize I'm handsome and can't take your eyes off me?"
"Who... who was staring at you!"
Shinobu, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, recoiled abruptly, her cheeks turning bright red instantly.
But soon, she forced herself to calm down, recovering the tone that belonged to her true nature—a mix of tsundere and sharpness.
"Stop flattering yourself. I was just thinking that you went too far with your attacks. Sanemi and Tengen were paralyzed by your lightning, they're still lying in the courtyard twitching. I'll have to send the Kakushi from the Butterfly Mansion to carry them back later. Just thinking about it is a hassle."
Although she was complaining, the corners of Shinobu's lips couldn't help but curl upward.
Watching that group of hot-tempered colleagues who were usually high and mighty and refused to submit to anyone get taken down in one move by Yamada, honestly, she felt quite satisfied.
"You can't blame me for that, I already held back." Yamada shrugged. "Consider this electrotherapy a way to loosen their muscles."
The two of them bickered all the way back to the Butterfly Mansion.
Evening arrived, and the entire Butterfly Mansion was in complete chaos.
"Hurry! We don't have enough hospital beds! Move the spare bedding to the main corridor!"
"Burn ointment! We need a large amount of burn ointment and muscle relaxants!"
"My goodness, what on earth happened? Why were the Hashira all carried back with severe injuries? Could they have encountered an Upper Rank?!"
Aoi carried a large basin of warm water, rushing around the corridor like an ant on a hot pan.
In the Butterfly Mansion's largest high-level intensive care unit, several men wrapped like mummies were lying side by side.
"Hiss... so painful! Bastard! My muscles are still spasming uncontrollably!" Sanemi, covered in bandages, revealed only a pair of bloodshot eyes, cursing through gritted teeth while twitching.
"It's not flashy at all. That kind of large-scale lightning explosion left no room to dodge." Tengen, sporting an afro, stared at the ceiling with a look of despair.
Kyojuro, although heavily shocked, was still extremely spirited and shouted, "What shocking destructive power! That ultimate technique called 'Chidori' is even more terrifying than a natural disaster! I admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
Lying in the corner, Obanai snorted and turned his head away without speaking, but his slightly trembling fingers clearly spoke of the terrifying aftereffects caused by the Lightning Release.
Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open with a "clatter."
Yamada strolled in, leisurely holding a freshly brewed cup of tea.
"Yo, patients, how is the recovery going?"
Yamada pulled up a chair, sat down in front of Sanemi's bed, blew on the tea leaves in the cup, and took a slow, deliberate sip.
"Are the food and bedding at the Butterfly Mansion comfortable? Do you want me to have Aoi add some food for you?"
Seeing the culprit daring to come to the ward to mock them, Sanemi was so angry he almost jumped off the bed, but as soon as he exerted force, his muscles felt like they were being pierced by countless needles, causing him to gasp in pain.
"You bastard... cough, cough! Don't get too smug! Next time... next time I will definitely chop you into pieces with Wind Breathing!" Sanemi glared fiercely at Yamada.
"Save it."
Yamada didn't even lift his eyelids. "You couldn't even take one of my casual area-of-effect techniques, and you want to chop me into pieces? I advise you to lie in bed and recover for now, and reflect on your flawed sword forms. If you really encounter an Upper Rank of the Twelve Kizuki, they won't leave you alive like I did."
If anyone else said this, these arrogant Hashira would have drawn their swords to fight to the death. But facing Yamada, even the most hot-tempered Sanemi could only clench his fists helplessly at this moment.
Because what Yamada said was the truth.
In the face of that strike, they didn't even have the qualifications to get close.
"I have learned my lesson!" Kyojuro nodded very seriously.
"Yamada's strength has indeed reached a level we cannot reach. If there is a chance, I hope to ask you how to become stronger."
Yamada waved his hand. "Forget about asking for advice, you can't learn my power system. Just recover well."
Amidst the complex gazes of everyone, intertwined with awe and unwillingness, Yamada strolled out of the ward with his teacup.
In this world where the strong are respected, a beating is always more effective than ten thousand words.
Now, he had firmly established his position as the "Special Executive Officer" of the Demon Slayer Corps, a position with absolute privilege.
.