Demon Slayer: I Got Reincarnated As Yoriichi

On 6 A.M, October 17, 1947.

"My… My name is Chikafusa Yamamoto," he sobs.

"Well, my name is Ren Hajime," said the other kid.

"Ren Hajime? Thank you for saving me… But what's this place? I've never seen this one before."

"We are in one of the mansions of the Demon Slayer Corps, the butterfly mansion of Aoi-Sama," said Ren calmly.

This Butterfly Mansion is unlike the one we know from the anime. Shinobu and Kanao are absent, and even its location has shifted. Now, it stands under the care of a new mistress, Aoi Kanzaki.

As the conversation unfolds, Chikafusa's voice begins to tremble. His eyes glisten, and soon tears stream down his face. It's clear he's overwhelmed, likely consumed by the aching void left by his family.

Ren tries to soothe him, "Chikafusa, I know it's tragic for a kid who lost his family in front of his eyes. I don't think you lost your family just because of that demon, but if I arrived earlier, I–"

Chikafusa interrupts before he can complete his words, "Don't blame yourself, Hajime-San. It's not your fault. Instead, if you weren't there, I would've died. I was completely at your mercy."

Ren gives a warm, gentle smile.

Yet, Chikafusa remains uneasy, his brow furrowed in confusion. Something about Ren feels familiar, as though they've crossed paths before. But no matter how hard he tries, he can't place where.

"Sumiyoshi, I know it's you. Thank you for keeping my earrings safe. What a coincidence it is, I got back what I gave you some centuries ago. I wonder what I should call you? Should I say Sumiyoshi? Or Tanjiro? Or Chikafusa?" thinks Ren.

After talking for some time, a female Kakushi enters the room in a hurry.

"Excuse me, is Hajime Ren here?" she pants, "Oyakata-Sama ordered him to come to his residence."

Kakushis are the brigade of people who work as attendants to the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Yes, I am here. Come with me, Yamamoto-kun," says Ren in a calm voice.

Moments later, they arrived at Oyakata-sama's residence, a place bustling with Demon Slayers and Hashira alike. Among the gathered warriors, the current Stone Hashira stood out. Towering at an imposing 7 feet 4 inches, he loomed even taller than the former stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.

As Oyakata-sama appeared, the crowd fell silent, every head bowing in reverence.

The current Oyakata-Sama calls out Ren Hajime's name and says to everyone, "My beloved children! Good morning, everyone. Welcome your new hashira, Hajime Ren."

Whispers ripple through the crowd, disbelief evident in every hushed voice.

"H-Hashira?! At the age of 6?"

"Why would they let a child join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"We've never seen this kid. What kind of Hashira could he possibly be?"

The questions swirl relentlessly in their minds, but Oyakata-Sama understood the situation and said, "I know you've never seen this little boy before; he joined the corps last night. And he defeated one of the kizukis on his first mission."

Everyone, including the Hashiras, stood stunned.

"How could someone, especially this kid, become a Hashira overnight when it takes years of training?"

A curious demon slayer stepped forward and asked about his breathing style.

Ren nodded, his expression calm, and unsheathed his katana. The Nichirin sword was too big for his tiny hands. He began to swing it elegantly.

"SUN BREATHING 1ST FORM - DANCE"

As he performs the sun breathing, everyone watches in awe and confusion. It looks similar to the flame-breathing style but way more elegant.

The current Flame Hashira, Senjuro Rengoku, refused to accept it as the flame breathing.

"What kind of breathing style is this?" asked everyone.

The tension thickened until someone stepped forward from the shadows.

"This is no ordinary breathing style. It's the first… the original breathing style ever existed… The Sun Breathing!"

The figure who had spoken stepped into the light, his presence instantly recognizable.

It was Zenitsu Agatsuma, Tanjiro's lifelong friend and former Thunder Hashira. Now 48 years old, the years had only sharpened his resolve and strength. But unlike before, he's mature and adult.

"You've gotta be joking!" someone shouted.

"Isn't this the same guy who couldn't even hold a conversation without stuttering?"

"Didn't he just join yesterday? How could he possibly know about Sun Breathing?"

The accusations and disbelief echoed loudly, but Zenitsu remained composed. His golden eyes, still sharp as lightning, narrowed slightly. He raised a hand to silence the crowd, and his voice, though tinged with sadness, cut through the noise like thunder.

"It's real. I recognize it because I've seen it before when my friend, Tanjiro Kamado, performed it with unmatched grace. But…" his voice flattered briefly, "He was taken from us in the final battle against Kibutsuji Muzan. He gave everything to protect us. To protect the world."

After a long, heavy silence, Ren stepped forward.

"Oyakata-Sama, Agatsuma-Sama, I'm sorry… But I can't accept the title of Hashira. I never intended to become a hero. All I've ever wanted was to live a peaceful life, free from the burdens of power, status, or recognition. Please, don't give me such an honorable title. I don't deserve it."

The air grew tense, murmurs breaking out among the gathered crowd.

"Did he just refuse the title of Hashira?"

"Kids these days don't understand opportunities!"

"How can someone with a Demon Slayer Mark and the First Breathing Style say no to this?"

Oyakata-Sama softly smiles and says in a calm voice, "My child, you have done something truly extraordinary. You have turned away from what so many desire. I am proud of you. You truly are a soul untainted by greed or ambition."

Despite Oyakata-sama's words, the disbelief lingered in the air. They can't digest the fact that a kid can have a demon slayer mark and the first breathing style.

Zenitsu carefully looks at Chikafusa, his eyes widened in disbelief and he says, "You… You look like my friend, Tanjiro. And your friend has the same earrings as Tajiro would wear. What's your name?"

Chikafusa replies, "My name is Chikafusa Yamamoto. Pleased to meet you, Agatsuma-Sama."

As the crowd dispersed, the Stone Hashira, Kenzo Fuji, approached. His towering frame cast a long shadow, and his deep voice rumbled like distant thunder.

"Well done! At your age, I could barely run, let alone fight. Yet you've defeated a Lower Moon demon. That's an extraordinary feat."

Ren bowed slightly. "Thank you, Fuji-senpai. I'm glad you think so."

Chikafusa and Ren whispered in awe. "How tall is he?"

Ren, curious, asked, "How did you become a Hashira? You must be the strongest here."

Kenzo crossed his arms. "I joined the Corps three months ago. A month later, I defeated Lower Moon Two in a bloody battle and earned the title."

"Wow! That's amazing!" Chikafusa exclaimed.

Kenzo nodded, his gaze steady. "It's not just strength. Perseverance and the will to protect others make us true Demon Slayers."

"Iwamoto-San, I am so gratified to see you after 400 years. You always fought against Nii-san and convinced him to make him a better person. Even in your previous birth, you fought Nii-san's demon form and almost defeated him. You're as soft-spoken as before, and now, you're not blind anymore," thinks Ren.

The Stone Hashira, Kenzo Fuji, towering at 7 '4 feet tall. His current age is 17. His height has already reached its peak. Kenzo wears a black and white uniform typical of a Demon Slayer, with bandages over his shins resembling kyahan and white zōri with an olive green happi draped over his shoulders. His dress is almost the same as Gyomei Himejima's dress. But unlike Gyomei, he has pupils in his eyes and can see everything.

"I want to become a Demon Slayer and save everyone!" declared Chikafusa.

Kenzo shook his head gently. "You're too young. The minimum age to join is 12. Even Ren joined only with Oyakata-sama's special approval."

"Then I'll train and wait until I turn 12," Chikafusa said with unwavering confidence.

The Demon Slayer Corps was in its darkest era. After the Taisho Era, they lost their strongest Hashiras, leaving the current ones struggling to match their predecessors, except for Kenzo Fuji.

Zenitsu, once a mischievous crybaby, had become a wise man, shaped by the loss of Inosuke and Tanjiro. Despite near extinction, the Corps survived, though its future hung by a thread.

—------------------------------------------------------

At night, 9 P.M.

Two demons dashed through the dense forest, their movements frantic. The oppressive silence of the night was broken only by the rustle of leaves and the pounding of their footsteps.

They were being hunted by the Light Hashira.

"Ash, I already told you that this man is not normal," the Lower Moon 3 yelled.

"Shut up, there's no time for talking. He could catch us anytime," said Ash, the Lower Moon 1.

The shadows of the forest offered fleeting cover, the darkness barely masking their terror. They escaped the Hashira, but only for some moments.

While running for their lives, they found a dark entity, towering at 5'11 feet. A dark, negative aura is emanating from it. Its crimson eyes are glowing, piercing through the darkness.

"Lord Three! Please help us!! A hashira is after us," cried the lower moons.

The Upper Moon 3 says in a very deep, inhuman, yet calm voice.

"Pathetic! A mere mortal is chasing you? Are you telling me a weakling like that could end your lives? Kokushibo-sama and that man would be disgusted by your incompetence! And you, Ash. The strongest of the Lower Moons, huh? Is this really how the strongest Lower Moon carries himself?"

"No no no… we did our best and fought him for 30 minutes straight. But we–"

The Upper Moon 3 interrupts before they can finish their words, "Shut Up! I don't want any excuse. Asmodeus! You're a disgrace. And Ash, if you weren't the Upper Moon 4's favorite, I would've killed you," his voice calm yet cold.

The Light Hashira arrives.

"So you're hiding here, cowards? Who's this other demon? Be ready to be killed," said the Light Hashira.

He lunges at the Upper Moon 3. As he was just some inches away from him, the Upper Moon 3 lifted his index finger towards him and stopped his body in mid-air.

"WWHHAATT???!!! Is he levitating?" said the lower moons.

He was stuck in mid-air as time stopped itself. Invisible hands held him there. His eyes went into a dream as he stopped moving.

"BANG!!!" says the Upper Moon 3.

As the words left his mouth, the hashira's entire body erupted in a violent explosion. His limbs, torn from their sockets, flew in all directions as blood sprayed through the air. His head rolled away, the once proud figure now nothing but mangled remains. His intestines were shredded, the mess of flesh and gore scattering across the ground like a macabre painting.

The demons stood in silence, watching the brutal display with a mixture of awe and fear.

"L… Lord Jigen, you're amazing."

Jigen, the current Upper Moon 3, is one of the strongest demons that ever existed.

A large pentacle is formed around the hashira's body.

———————————————————————

In the Demon Slayer's hideout.

Ren and Chikafusa are training together. Ren's expression seemed worried to Chikafusa as he was teaching him.

"Hajime-san, is everything alright?" asked Chikafusa in concern.

"Chikafusa… I don't know why but I feel like something strange has happened."