Demon Slayer: I Got Reincarnated As Yoriichi

6:30 A.M.

The spring morning is calm, with clouds lazily drifting across the sky.

Ai Hanako steps out of the hospital, making her way toward the two boys.

"Excuse me, are you both Demon Slayers?"

Chikafusa shakes his head. "No, I'm not. Only he is," he says, gesturing toward Ren.

Ren immediately understands who she is from her previous birth but remains silent.

"Oh! You're a demon slayer. My father once told me about a demon slayer of my age. Aren't you a Hashira too? Aren't you that demon slayer?"

"Now you're overestimating me, I am not even that great. Your father was a great demon hunter, no doubt he told you about me so much. But I am just a normal demon slayer like others, not an extraordinary slayer like Hashira." Ren said calmly.

His composed and humble response catches Ai off guard, leaving a small impression on her.

"Hmph, I wasn't complimenting you or anything," Ai mutters, trying to mask her intrigue.

But then…

A kid around the same age comes towards them. His short, white hair looked menace. "So you're Hajime Ren? I've found you… Everyone says that you're the strongest. But you're just like me."

"Who are you? Aren't only teens or adults allowed to join the corps?" said Ai with confusion.

"He isn't any demon slayer, he kills demons for himself. Out of the entire demon slayer corps, only we four are young," replied Chikafusa.

The wind picks up, swirling around them. The boy's piercing gaze locks on Ren. His voice is sharp and rough. "If you're the strongest, then prove it! Fight me!"

"I am not the strongest… Like others, I am just an ordinary slayer," says Ren calmly.

Ai steps forward protectively, positioning herself between Ren and the boy. Her amethyst eyes narrowed with anger

"Behave yourself! Don't you know how to talk with others?! You can't force him to fight ya!" she growls.

The kid's brows furrowed, and he yelled, "Shut up! Don't you dare to mess with me!!! I am here to fight this quiet kid. Don't come in my way, I'm telling you."

Ren gently sides Ai and confronts him, "I'm not the strongest… I don't fight humans… I don't know why you're risking your life in this corps. You hunt down demons even though you're prohibited from doing so."

"Oi Oi! You've guessed it right. I see, you're scared," he said, preparing himself to attack him, "Behold my power— I am Tsunenari Yoshimitsu!"

"WIND BREATHING 2ND FORM: CLAWS-PURIFYING WIND"

In a blink, Tsunenari surges forward, his blade slashing through the air with such force it seems to tear the clouds apart. Ai and Chikafusa freeze in awe, unable to process the overwhelming pressure emanating from his katana.

But Ren, calm and composed, sidesteps the strike effortlessly, his movement so subtle it almost seems like a breeze carried him out of harm's way.

Suddenly, a deafening lightning strike crashes near the hideout, shaking the ground. Everyone flinches in fear, except Ren, who remains perfectly still.

Even Tsunenari hesitates, his movement faltering as his mind races.

"Tch… how fast is this little punk? I can't even attack him. And why didn't he flinch even an inch from that lightning?" He thinks, "WHAT??!!! NO WAY!!! I remember seeing his eyes moving towards the thunderbolt before falling to the ground for less than a second.

HE REACTED TO THE FRICKIN' LIGHT!!!"

He lunges at Ren with his full power. Ai and Chikafusa couldn't react to his attack.

But Ren moves faster. With a fluid motion, he raises his right hand and delivers a precise chop to Tsunenari's neck, targeting the carotid artery. Tsunenari collapses instantly, unconscious before he hits the ground.

"I apologize for my actions, Hayate-San. But it's important to stop you," thinks Ren.

Hayate-San was the wind hashira of the Sengoku Era. Later, he reincarnated into Sanemi Shinazugawa. Now in the Showa Era, he's Tsunenari Yoshimitsu.

Both Ai and Chikafusa looked at Tsunenari's unconscious body.

"No… did he murder him? I… I thought he was gentle and calm," thinks Ai, her eyes widened.

But then, Tsunenari stirs and slowly rises to his feet. He glares at Ren, his pride clearly wounded.

"I'll see you later!"

Without another word, Tsunenari turns and walks away, his steps heavy with anger and humiliation.

"Hajime-San, are you alright?" asked Chikafusa.

"I'm good… But I am thinking about Yoshimitsu-San, maybe I knocked him so hard," says Ren.

Ai, standing nearby, clenches her fists. A mix of frustration and envy swells within her as she watches Ren's calm demeanor and effortless skill. Without a word, she turns and starts to walk away.

Before she gets far, Ren calls out to her. "If you're interested, I could teach you too."

Ai pauses but doesn't turn around. "I'll think about it," she replies coolly, her voice betraying a hint of irritation. Then she continues walking, leaving Ren and Chikafusa behind.

Soon after…

Rain begins to pour, forcing everyone to seek shelter.

But outside, drenched in the downpour, stands Tsunenari Yoshimitsu.

Gripping a wooden katana, he relentlessly strikes the trees around him, each swing a testament to his determination to grow stronger.

"Why?!! Why is he the only one to fight the demons? Am I not eligible due to age or am I not worth it? I need money… I need money to live… I need money to save my younger brother who is just 3 years old. This lowkey house is not enough for the two of us. I doubt if we can survive longer," he cries, tears mixing with the rain.

Driven by desperation, he trains relentlessly, his strikes growing fiercer with every swing of his wooden katana.

Meanwhile.

In the Butterfly Mansion, Ai sits quietly in the corner of the room, her back turned to Chikafusa and Ren. They are watching the rain together, their low voices mingling with the sound of the downpour.

Ai stares at the floor, her thoughts racing, "I shouldn't envy him. Maybe he's beyond my league… But I want to be stronger. I want to be a perfect human and strong... I want to soar higher and higher… Mhm… what am I thinkin'?!! Aah!!!"

Aoi Kanzaki enters the room. She is now around 50 years old and is the owner of the mansion.

Ren and Chikafusa are always happy around her. They enjoy it when she mentions her past and her friends who died while fighting Muzan.

"Kanzaki-Sama, I wanna ask something. You've never told us about your childhood friends who you liked as your sisters. I know their names, maybe Tsuyuri-San, Kocho-San, or something similar," said Chikafusa to Aoi.

"Oh, so you wanna know about Kocho Shinobu, Kocho Kanae, and Tsuyuri Kanao? I'm glad you know their names," said Aoi.

Aoi Kanzaki shares a heartfelt narrative about her deep bond with her friends, who she considers to be like sisters to her. She describes the wonderful moments they shared in a magnificent mansion, originally owned by Kanae, but later transferred to her sister Shinobu after Kanae's death. The speaker also goes on to recount the tragic events that led to the untimely deaths of Shinobu and Kanao, who were killed by the ruthless Upper Moon 2, Douma. She also mentioned their breathing styles, insect breathing, and flower breathing.

She continues her story by mentioning her crush who she loved, Inosuke Hashibira. He also got killed by Douma. Later, she had to marry a man who died after some months. She has no son and no one to care about her, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

The room falls silent until Ai, her voice filled with determination, breaks it. "Kanzaki-sama, I love the sound of Flower Breathing. I want to learn it. I'll become strong, and I promise I'll avenge you. I'll make sure that demon suffers!"

Aoi chuckles softly, her gaze warm but cautious. "Your courage is admirable, Ai-chan, but Douma is not a demon to underestimate. He's one of the strongest. Even so," she says, her voice steely, "I hope someone will one day send him to hell."

Inspired, Ai clenches her fists. "Then teach me, Kanzaki-sama. I'm ready to learn."

Aoi studies her for a moment, then nods. "If you're serious, we'll begin tomorrow."

From that day forward, both Tsunenari and Ai made a solemn vow to become the strongest demon slayers. Their determination burned brighter with every passing day as they trained relentlessly, ready to face any challenge that came their way.

Under the guidance of Ren Hajime and Kenzo Fuji, their progress was astounding. In no time, they surpassed many of their fellow demon slayers.

However, their rapid growth didn't come without tension. Both Ai and Tsunenari couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and frustration toward Ren, whose strength remained far beyond their reach.

Despite this, Ai found herself often thinking about Ren. She wouldn't admit it aloud, but he was one of the few people she trusted and considered a true friend in this harsh world.

Four years passed, and Chikafusa achieved a remarkable feat—he became the second person to perform Sun Breathing since Yoriichi Tsugikuni. However, his mastery was still in its infancy, leaving him with much to learn before he could truly wield its immense power.

4 years later.

Tsunenari, Chikafusa, and Ai finally earned the right to become demon slayers, receiving their Nichirin swords for the first time.

After months of relentless training, Ai and Tsunenari reached their peak physical forms. Their dedication had paid off, and they were now stronger than ever. Despite their progress, however, Ai and Tsunenari remained distant, their relationship far from friendship.

————————————————————————

12th August, 1954.

10:31 P.M.

By the river, an old man, around 60, lies beneath a tree. Tsunenari, annoyed, ignores him and tries to pass.

The old man calls out, "Stop."

"Huh? Why?" Tsunenari responds.

"Only if you give me your katana, I'll let you go," the old man demands.

Tsunenari scoffs, "Are you kidding me, old man?" and walks on.

The old man shouts, his voice cold and firm, "If you don't hand over your katana, you'll have to fight me."

Tsunenari smirks, his anger flaring. "Cry harder, old fart. You'll regret this," he retorts, feeling the adrenaline surge.

In an instant, the old man rushes at him, knocking Tsunenari's sword aside. With swift precision, he drives a punch into Tsunenari's stomach, sending him flying.

Tsunenari grits his teeth, struggling to regain his composure. Pain sears through him, but his mind races.

"Tsk... how is he so strong even at his age? Fine, if he wants to die so badly, I'll grant his wish."