Chapter 4:Heaven?

Shinji approached the window, gazing upon Konoha Village under the night sky. He mentally reviewed the village's layout once more.

Concerning the potential 'invasion', he had spent days analyzing various scenarios and devising countermeasures.

For instance, he had meticulously memorized Konoha Village's layout, knowing the locations of vital institutions like the Hokage Building, Anbu Headquarters, and hospitals even with his eyes closed.

Should an invasion occur, he could respond swiftly. After all, this was Konoha—any intruder would face immediate opposition, allowing him to act decisively.

Furthermore,

During his solitary two-day stay, he had gradually grown accustomed to activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, carefully exploring its usage to minimize eye strain.

Having this Mangekyō at his disposal gave him a measure of confidence.

Lastly,

As a precaution, he had invested in a variety of ninja tools.

Twenty shurikens, four finely crafted kunai, and thirty explosive tags were neatly packed in his ninja pouch at that moment.

Regardless of their usefulness, preparedness was always advantageous.

Time ticked by.

Click.

With a soft sound, the clock's hour hand finally struck twelve.

Kunai in hand, Shinji remained vigilant, scanning for any signs of the anticipated 'invasion'. Yet, nothing transpired.

Minutes passed, and he furrowed his brow slightly. "Could this be a prank?" he pondered aloud.

Before he could finish, he vanished from the room with a whoosh.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Regaining his senses, Shinji found himself in an unfamiliar palace, the echoes of explosions reverberating nearby.

Bent over, he approached a window and peered outside.

In the courtyard, hundreds of guards armed with bows and swords battled a colossal monster. It had a bloated, dark blue body adorned with arms all across its upper torso.

"Halt it!"

"Protect His Highness!"

"Don't let it reach the main hall!"

Amidst the clamor, guards relentlessly attacked the monster.

Arrows rained down, some with explosive tags attached, yet none hindered the monster's advance.

Although riddled with arrows, it shrugged off the attacks. Severed limbs regenerated before his eyes at an alarming rate.

Ordinary assaults proved futile.

Each of the monster's arms effortlessly seized a guard, dragging them closer to devour them whole.

"Isn't that a Hand Demon?"

Hiding in a side hall adjacent to the courtyard, Shinji immediately recognized the creature as a Hand Demon—a devourer that had claimed numerous lives during Tanjiro's trials.

However, this Hand Demon dwarfed those he had known, its bloated form emitting a noxious stench.

The courtyard reeked of blood, strewn with severed limbs—a scene akin to hell on earth.

"Wait!"

Despite his fear, Shinji observed keenly.

As the Hand Demon devoured more guards, its size, strength, and regenerative abilities surged.

Clearly, consuming guards enhanced its power significantly.

In Demon Slayer, demons could indeed grow stronger by consuming humans, likely due to the chakra contained within.

"A demon with such rapid regeneration... if it has chakra..."

The thought sent a chill down Shinji's spine.

In the courtyard,

The Hand Demon's strength visibly intensified as it devoured its victims.

"It's truly delicious! These people... so tasty!"

"Is this the intruder?"

Observing the dwindling guards, Shinji forced himself to think.

Without targeting its weaknesses, conventional attacks would have little effect on the demon, much like the guards who valiantly fought to no avail.

Fortunately, Shinji knew the Hand Demon's vulnerabilities.

Foremost among them was sunlight—the bane of demons. Exposed to sunlight, even the mightiest demons perished.

Another weakness was their necks, vulnerable to Nichirin Swords wielded by Demon Slayers.

However, Shinji possessed neither a Nichirin Sword nor the protective wisteria.

Glancing at the clock, it was just past midnight, with sunrise still hours away.

"What now?"

Shinji rubbed his temples, eyeing the courtyard once more.

Judging by the guards' attire and their use of explosive tags, this was undoubtedly within the ninja world, likely a daimyo's palace.

Their fearless defense suggested they served a brave lord.

Analyzing the battle, the Hand Demon proved formidable.

Despite severe injuries inflicted by the guards, it remained undeterred. Its size had swelled, resembling a mountain of flesh in motion.

"Why are these people so fragrant?" the demon mused. "So sweet!"

In the midst of slaughter,

The guards' valiant efforts diminished.

Hissing,

Witnessing the Hand Demon consume the last guard, Shinji tensed.

Even its movements caused the ground to tremble. Buildings crumbled like tofu in its path.

Now fixated on the main hall, it advanced methodically.

Shinji, hidden in a side hall, breathed a sigh of relief. "It hasn't noticed me yet."

Swish.

In an instant, a foul-smelling arm burst from the Hand Demon, piercing through the wall, seizing Shinji.

"What?"

Caught off guard, Shinji found himself in its grasp.

Before he could react, the Hand Demon lifted him, bringing him face-to-face with its bloodied maw.

"I've smelled you for ages," it drooled. "You're even more delicious. I can't resist!"

It eyed Shinji with a grotesque fascination.

Shinji felt sickened.

Suddenly, the Hand Demon sensed something, its distorted visage twisting into madness. "You're the 'light' of this world, aren't you? Don't take me away!"

"Light?"

Shinji realized his identity held significance.

Arms flailing,

The Hand Demon grew more erratic. It hoisted Shinji, poised to devour him. "Once I eat you, this place will be mine forever—my heaven!"

"Heaven?" Shinji scoffed, eyes turning scarlet.

(End of chapter)