One Piece: With Sign-in System

On the journey—

Ron, as promised, began instructing Shinobu in swordsmanship.

"As a swordswoman, you're neither physically strong nor mentally dominant. That's why you'll need to reach the pinnacle of sword technique and skill if you want any chance of defeating the Demon—Doma."

"I don't have much to teach you in terms of poisons. You can work on that later with Tamayo."

"But when it comes to swordsmanship and technique, no amount of talk can ever compare to what the body can learn through direct experience."

Ron held Kanao's Nichirin Blade in his right hand as he looked at Shinobu, who stood facing him across the clearing. With a relaxed smile, he said, "Come. Let your body feel it. Feel what it means to step into the Transparent World… to truly wield the sword."

Shinobu, gripping her slender Nichirin Blade, gave him a serious nod. "Please guide me."

Kanao sat quietly on the grass nearby, her eyes glued to the two figures standing face-to-face.

Shinobu's focus was razor-sharp as she locked eyes with Ron, who looked utterly unbothered, his stance almost lazy.

She took a deep breath—Total Concentration Breathing.

Her spirit, energy, and will surged to their peak.

In an instant, she sprang forward, her haori flaring like butterfly wings behind her. She soared gracefully through the air like a moth in moonlight, ethereal and hypnotic, darting toward Ron in a high-speed thrust.

Insect Breathing – Butterfly Dance…

Just as she was about to strike—

Ron casually extended his sword forward in a simple thrust.

"!"

Shinobu's eyes went wide, and her pupils shrank.

Without hesitation, she pulled back her blade and launched into a sudden retreat.

Watching from the sidelines, Kanao's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Why didn't you attack, Sister Shinobu?"

To her, it looked like Shinobu had the perfect opportunity to strike. Ron's movement had seemed anything but threatening.

But Shinobu knew better.

That one thrust from Ron—effortless as it looked—had intercepted her before she could even launch her move. It had sealed off her attack route, and had she gone forward, his blade would've cut a flawless arc through the air and sliced her throat open before she could land a hit.

A single drop of cold sweat slid down Shinobu's forehead as she stared at Ron, who stood not far away with his sword held loosely and his posture full of openings.

But none of it was real. That casual stance was a trap.

For the first time since becoming a Hashira, she felt a chill crawl down her spine.

It was as though this man could see right through her. Her thoughts, her intentions—completely exposed.

She was utterly read.

"You felt it, didn't you?" Ron asked, turning to look at her with a smile.

Shinobu gave a slight nod.

"That… just now… Was that the Transparent World?"

"That's right. So, what do you think? You starting to get a feel for it?"

"A little," she replied, her voice low.

Kanao watched them, her confusion deepening. She didn't fully understand what they were talking about, but it felt far beyond her current level.

Ron raised the Nichirin Blade again and nodded toward Shinobu. "Then let's keep going."

…

While Ron was guiding Shinobu—

Tanjiro, who had improved considerably, carried the box containing Nezuko on his back. On the road, he crossed paths with the successor of Thunder Breathing—Zenitsu Agatsuma. The two teamed up, and not long after, inside a mysterious Drum House, they encountered the wild and feral Inosuke Hashibira, the Beast Breathing swordsman.

The protagonist team had officially begun to take shape.

…

A secluded, serene sanctuary, adorned with blooming wisteria trees—the hidden headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Inside one of its quiet rooms—

"Lord Ubuyashiki, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but I still don't understand why you've allowed an outsider to enter the headquarters."

Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa knelt on one knee, voicing his concern before Kagaya Ubuyashiki. "To prevent Muzan Kibutsuji from discovering this place, no outsider should be allowed here. That's always been the rule!"

"Sanemi," Kagaya said gently, his back still turned, his voice as calm as ever. "That man, Ron, holds valuable information regarding Muzan and the Breathing Techniques. He could be crucial to our fight. Besides…"

He turned slightly, the faintest trace of a smile in his voice. "He's already saved the lives of several Demon Slayers. Shinobu believes he's not our enemy, but someone who stands with us."

Sanemi's eyes remained sharp, unconvinced. "But we don't know a damn thing about him. We're just taking his word for everything. For all we know, saving our comrades was just a trick to earn trust. Maybe his real goal is to find out where our base is!"

Kagaya rose from his seat and finally turned to face him. "Sanemi, you needn't say more. I trust my judgment. I trust Shinobu's instincts. And above all, I trust in all of your strength."

…

As Sanemi stepped out of the room—

Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, looked up at him and asked, "How did it go?"

Sanemi shook his head, clearly irritated. "No good. The Master insists on allowing that outsider into the base."

"Since it's the Master's decision, then we have no cause to doubt it," Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku said with a confident grin. "If the man harbors any ill intent, I'll be the one to deal with him!"

Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together in solemn prayer, his face drawn with sorrow.

Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka remained silent, calm as still water, his expression unreadable.

Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito let out a yawn and mumbled with a blank face, "Can I go back to sleep now?"

Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji glanced at him and blushed slightly, thinking to herself, Muichiro-kun looks so dreamy today too…

Sanemi—his wild, white spiked hair bristling, three fierce scars slashing across his face, the word "Kill" emblazoned boldly on his white haori—growled out, "If that guy can really take down a special demon with one hit… then why the hell hasn't he joined the Corps? I don't buy for a second that he's truly on our side."

Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui crossed his arms, his voice laced with amusement. "So what are you gonna do? Defy the Master's orders?"

Sanemi cracked the knuckles of his right hand, the sound sharp in the quiet hallway.

"I just want to test this guy. Someone with unknown origins like that—you think I'm gonna just take his word like Shinobu? Not happening."

…

One day later.

Shinobu returned to the Demon Slayer headquarters with Kanao and Ron in tow.

"So this is the Corps' main base…" Ron mused aloud as he walked beside her, eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings. "There are quite a few auras similar to yours here… Those must be the Hashira."

They walked side by side down a secret path lined with blooming wisteria, heading toward the Master's estate. Kanao had already gone ahead to Butterfly Mansion.

As they passed through the hidden corridors of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters—where uniformed swordsmen and masked support staff known as the Kakushi moved briskly—many bowed respectfully to Shinobu, addressing her as "Lady Shinobu" or "Insect Hashira-sama." Meanwhile, their curious and wary eyes drifted toward Ron, who was clearly not one of their own.

Ron counted silently, chuckling under his breath. "One, two, three… seven. Is this how idle the Hashira are?"

Shinobu opened her mouth to respond—

But before she could say a word, a sharp claw-shaped wind attack came slicing through the air, aimed directly at Ron.

Her eyes narrowed. She reached instinctively for her sword to intercept it.

But Ron had already moved.

Boom!

With a single punch, he shattered the claw-shaped wind in midair.

And the attacker?

A figure flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the distance.

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T/N:

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