The courtyard of the Butterfly Estate buzzed with energy that morning. Every Hashira had gathered for their annual fitness and physical exam — a rare moment when the most powerful swordsmen in the Corps were actually all in the same place without a demon in sight.

Tengen was boasting about his perfect score in flexibility, Mitsuri was cheering everyone on with that bright, infectious energy, and even Giyuu was reluctantly participating after much persuasion.

You were just finishing the endurance test when Mitsuri bounced over, clipboard in hand, beaming. “Okay, your turn for the upper body check!” she chirped. “Take off your haori so I can write down your muscle composition properly!”

You hesitated for a second, but before you could protest, Tengen grinned wide. “Come on, don’t be shy! We’re all friends here! Let’s see if you’ve been training as flashily as me!”

The others laughed, and with a resigned sigh, you slipped off your haori and then your undershirt. The courtyard went oddly quiet.

“Whoa,” Sanemi muttered, eyebrows raising. “What the hell happened to your back?”

There were several faint but noticeable scratch marks trailing across your shoulder blades — uneven and clearly human, not from combat.

Mitsuri’s eyes widened as she leaned closer. “Oh my gosh! Those aren’t from training!” she gasped, hands to her mouth. “D-Don’t tell me… Shinobu—!”