Mizuki did not linger at the Martial Arts Hall. After concluding the agreement made years ago with the old man, she quietly departed before he could fully recover his senses.
This resolved a matter that had been weighing on Mizuki's mind.
After leaving the Martial Arts Hall, Mizuki headed straight back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Upon arriving at the Butterfly Mansion, Mizuki could hear the commotion inside from far away.
"Please let go of me!"
"Please stop! Let them go immediately!"
Mizuki paused briefly, then couldn't help but quicken her pace.
Arriving at the entrance, this is what she saw.
A tall man carrying two swords was hoisting Kanzaki Aoi over his shoulder, with one of the Three Youngsters of the Butterfly Mansion tucked under his arm, heading outside.
The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen.
Uzui Tengen said calmly, "You guys are really noisy. Shut your mouths."
"Kanao!!"
At Kanzaki Aoi's call, Kanao grabbed hold immediately.
"Don't drag me!"
The racket was so loud it gave Mizuki a headache.
Mizuki asked expressionlessly, "What... are you doing?"
Uzui Tengen turned back in surprise: "Oh no..."
When everyone saw Mizuki, they looked like they had found a savior: "Miss Mizuki! Quickly save Little Aoi!"
Uzui Tengen panicked and quickly explained, "Hey, hey, this great lord is here under orders!"
Mizuki ignored him, turned around, and asked Kanao, "Where is Shinobu?"
The Three Youngsters of the Butterfly Mansion answered her.
"Lady Shinobu went out to find Lady Tamayo."
Tamayo was originally arranged by Ubuyashiki to reside in the Butterfly Mansion, but because Yae's Father had not fully recovered, Ubuyashiki found them a Safe House to stay in temporarily.
This also made it easier to follow up on the treatment of Yae's Father.
Mizuki and Kochou Shinobu would sometimes go visit her. Mizuki went to catch up, while Kochou Shinobu went because of her admiration for Tamayo's medical skills, intending to learn a bit.
Mizuki frowned slightly and turned to Uzui Tengen: "You... didn't intentionally come when Shinobu wasn't here, did you?"
Although it involves a mission, even so... Kanzaki Aoi is a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, but she herself does not have the ability to fight on the front lines, and the Three Youngsters of the Butterfly Mansion lack any means of self-preservation.
"Oh no..." Sweat beaded on Uzui Tengen's forehead.
He was found out.
Since things had come to this... Under Mizuki's gaze, Uzui Tengen suddenly curled his lips into a smile, and his entire person vanished from the spot.
In an instant, he appeared on the path outside the door, having flashed more than ten meters away from the Butterfly Mansion. He squatted down, eyes slightly closed, and said proudly, "Although you have some skills, I'm sorry to say this great lord is a renowned figure in the Ninja World."
"If we're talking about speed, this great lord..."
"If we're talking about speed, then what?"
A calm voice rang out right in front of him. As Uzui Tengen stood stunned, the weight on his shoulder suddenly lightened.
Uzui Tengen opened his eyes in surprise. Before him was a pair of straight, long legs, and he couldn't help but gulp nervously.
"Ha~ I was just joking..."
He looked up, his voice cutting off abruptly, as he stared in shock at the two people Mizuki was holding in her hands.
Uzui Tengen instinctively reached for his waist.
He could understand the person who was on his shoulder, but when did the little girl at his waist disappear?
Was she snatched during his movement?
He hadn't noticed at all.
"Alright, let's discuss this after Shinobu returns." Mizuki put the two people down and looked calmly at Uzui Tengen. "You don't have any objections, do you?"
Uzui Tengen: "...No."
...A little while later, Kochou Shinobu returned from outside.
Looking at Mr. Uzui, who was sitting stiffly, Kochou Shinobu said with a smile, "Mr. Uzui, you truly are amazing~"
"No, I'm not amazing."
"Hmm? You look quite frightened, don't you? Is that just my imagination?"
"That shouldn't be possible, after all, you are the most flamboyant Hashira~"
"..." Uzui Tengen subtly glanced at Mizuki, who was staring blankly at the sky, and forced himself to offer a defense, "I have orders..."
"Hm?"
"...I didn't say anything."
Kochou Shinobu rubbed her forehead: "Let Kanao go with you then."
She was still very understanding. Since it was an order, it must be something important.
But compared to Little Aoi and the others, Kanao is better equipped to handle danger.
However, as soon as Kochou Shinobu said this, Uzui Tengen, who had just been meek, immediately waved his hand: "No, no, that girl won't do."
"?"
Uzui Tengen looked quite helpless: "It's an undercover mission, an undercover mission."
Kochou Shinobu: "..."
She was suddenly speechless.
Mizuki thought for a moment and agreed that he was right.
Kanao as an undercover agent? That wouldn't work no matter how you look at it.
She barely speaks and her emotions are easily noticeable.
Mizuki spoke up and asked, "Does it absolutely have to be female? Would a good-looking boy work? Is it convenient to talk about your mission?"
As soon as she spoke, she attracted a subtle, scrutinizing look from Uzui Tengen.
Mizuki's slender eyebrows furrowed slightly: "...What?"
"I just realized, you're not bad, woman!"
Kochou Shinobu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"?"
Uzui Tengen suddenly clapped his hands: "Since you ruined my plan, you should help instead!"
"..."
She was so tired. Why couldn't these guys speak like normal people?
Uzui Tengen scratched his head, muttering to himself, "But you alone aren't enough."
"Hey, can you make Clones?"
"No."
"Tsk, even though you're a demon."
Mizuki narrowed her eyes: "You seem quite gutsy."
"..."
Just as everyone was talking, an enthusiastic voice came from outside the door.
"this great lord has returned!"
"Inosuke, stop making a fuss."
"You two are really energetic..."
The three returned simultaneously. Mizuki couldn't help but be slightly stunned, then looked at Uzui Tengen with a doubtful expression.
Is this The Plot?
How else could it be such a coincidence?
Uzui Tengen was momentarily drawn in by the noise, but lost interest immediately upon seeing that they were three men.
Uzui Tengen: "Ah, how about Kochou? If we count you, that would be OK."
Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly: "What do you think?"
She was busy to death here every day; where would she find the time to go out?
"..."
Mizuki suddenly asked, "Does it absolutely have to be female? Would a good-looking boy work?"
Uzui Tengen looked over with surprise: "Now that you mention it, maybe it would work."
"But where is the person?"
"Isn't he right over there?"
Uzui Tengen looked in the direction Mizuki was pointing. "Aren't those the three idiots from earlier?"
"Who are you calling an idiot?" Inosuke puffed up and charged over.
Saving Mizuki the effort of going to find him, she got up, walked behind the certain frantic wild boar, and abruptly snatched off his mask.
Inosuke: "What are you doing?!"
Uzui Tengen's eyes immediately widened: "He's the one!"
Mizuki pulled the other two over: "Do you want two extras?"
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