Chapter Summaries

Shimizu killed the Hand Demon during Final Selection and helped nine candidates survive. After the trial, he chose ore, asked Amane Ubuyashiki to have swordsmiths make parts from his blueprints, and received Nezuko as his Kasugai Crow.

• The Hand Demon attacked Shimizu and Murata, but Shimizu destroyed it with Wind Breathing: Eighth Form: Nascent Biting Wind.
• Shimizu killed nineteen demons during the night and let Murata practice against weaker ones, while Murata stayed close to his powerful ally.
• Nine candidates survived Final Selection, and Amane Ubuyashiki congratulated them and told them to choose corundum for their Nichirin Blades.
• Shimizu gave Amane Ubuyashiki blueprints for battle-assisting armor parts and asked her to have the swordsmiths make them.
• Amane Ubuyashiki assigned Nezuko as Shimizu's Kasugai Crow, and Shimizu fed her green beans while considering whether he could raise her as a Summoning Beast.

Shimizu received his Nichirin Blade and learned that the Kamado family lived in the mountains and passed down Hinokami Kagura. After they refused to leave their ancestral home, he worried that winter would put them in danger.

• Shimizu received a cyan-and-gold Nichirin Blade from Kanamori Kanzō and asked about the components from his blueprints.
• Kanamori Kanzō explained that the swordsmiths could make only rough blanks, and Shimizu suggested Ubuyashiki Kagaya might help them obtain precision machinery.
• Shimizu headed toward Higashisaka Town and heard from Nezuko, the Kasugai Crow, that a demon-eating incident had occurred there.
• At the post office, Shimizu called Uesugi Sakai and learned that the Kamado family lived near Mt. Kumotori and passed down Hinokami Kagura.
• Uesugi Sakai told Shimizu that the Kamado family had refused to leave their mountain home, and Shimizu worried that the coming winter would endanger them.

Shimizu used a decoy and coordinated patrols to lure out and kill a demon terrorizing Higashisaka Town, then headed toward Yamanashi Prefecture to check on Tanjiro’s family. When snow began falling in Saitama Prefecture, he stopped at a Fuji House, worried Muzan might already be near the Kamado family.

• Shimizu reviewed reports of at least six disappearances and arranged for police and townspeople to patrol Higashisaka Town at night.
• Shimizu sent a Shadow Clone disguised as a young farm woman outside town to lure the demon into attacking.
• Shimizu raced from the town center and beheaded the demon while it searched for the vanished decoy.
• Shimizu set out for Yamanashi Prefecture because he feared Muzan might target Tanjiro’s family.
• When snow began falling in Saitama Prefecture, Shimizu took shelter in a Fuji House and decided to wait for it to stop.

Shimizu arrived at the Kamado family’s ruined home and told Tanjiro and Tomioka Giyu that the family’s Hinokami Kagura was linked to the swordsman who nearly killed Muzan. He offered to help Tanjiro protect Nezuko in exchange for learning the dance.

• Shimizu found Tanjiro and Nezuko facing Tomioka Giyu in the snowy forest and confirmed that Tanjiro was alive.
• Shimizu told Tanjiro that the Kamado family had refused an earlier invitation to leave the mountain, and Tanjiro realized that choice had preceded his family’s deaths.
• Shimizu explained to Tomioka Giyu and Tanjiro that Muzan might have targeted the Kamado family because of its connection to the founder of Breathing Styles.
• Tanjiro recognized the family’s fire-god dance as Hinokami Kagura, and Shimizu offered to teach him in exchange for the dance.
• Tomioka Giyu listened to Shimizu’s plan and remarked that he envied Shimizu’s ability to make difficult matters sound simple.

Shimizu sparred with Tomioka Giyu to gauge the gap between his strength and a Pillar’s, and was impressed by Giyu’s swordsmanship. The group left Mount Kumotori for the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters with Nezuko protected from the sun, while Shimizu sent word to Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

• Shimizu drew his Nichirin Blade and challenged Tomioka Giyu to a sparring match.
• Shimizu attacked with Wind and Thunder Breathing, while Tomioka Giyu calmly defended with Water Breathing.
• Tomioka Giyu used Dead Calm to neutralize Shimizu’s combined attack, and Shimizu recognized the move’s exceptional defensive power.
• Shimizu and Tomioka Giyu protected Nezuko from the sunlight, then left Mount Kumotori by carriage for the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
• Shimizu fed Nezuko green beans and had Kanzaburo relay information to Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

Tanjiro left Nezuko in Urokodaki Sakonji’s care and traveled with Tomioka Giyu and Shimizu to the Hashira Meeting. There, Shinazugawa Sanemi challenged Shimizu, but found himself unable to overpower either Shimizu or Rengoku Kyojuro.

• Tanjiro entrusted the unconscious Nezuko to Urokodaki Sakonji before departing for the Hashira Meeting with Shimizu and Tomioka Giyu.
• At the Ubuyashiki Residence, Shimizu and Tanjiro met Rengoku Kyojuro, who arrived as a Class A Swordsman rather than a Hashira.
• Shinazugawa Sanemi questioned why Shimizu and Rengoku Kyojuro were attending and insulted Shimizu’s recent entry into the Corps.
• Shimizu answered Sanemi sharply, and Sanemi rose to fight him despite Rengoku Kyojuro’s attempt to stop the confrontation.
• Sanemi realized he could not take down either Shimizu or Rengoku Kyojuro, while Ubuyashiki Kagaya said they would surprise the Hashira with their abilities.

At a Pillar meeting, Shinazugawa Sanemi tested Shimizu and Rengoku Kyojuro, then shared advice after recognizing their strength. The meeting addressed Rengoku Shinjuro's absence, assigned Kyojuro a mission near Tokyo, and raised the question of whether Kamado Tanjiro should demonstrate his inherited Breathing Style.

• Shinazugawa Sanemi sparred with Shimizu and Rengoku Kyojuro, and the other Pillars recognized that both were strong enough to challenge for Pillar status.
• Sanemi offered Shimizu and Kyojuro advice on their techniques before Ubuyashiki Kagaya stopped the fight and began the meeting.
• Kyojuro explained that his father, Rengoku Shinjuro, had stopped fighting after his mother's death and had sent Kyojuro in his place.
• Kyojuro agreed to investigate suspected Twelve Kizuki activity near Tokyo, an area previously under Shinjuro's responsibility.
• Ubuyashiki Kagaya asked Kyojuro whether his family held records about the ancient Breathing Style inherited by Kamado Tanjiro, and Kyojuro offered to search after his mission.
• Uzui Tengen suggested that Tanjiro demonstrate the Breathing Style, and Kagaya asked the Pillars for their opinions.

Tanjiro demonstrated the Hinokami Kagura for the Pillars after Kagaya agreed to place Nezuko under Urokodaki Sakonji’s care, provided she harmed no one. The next day, Tanjiro gave the Pillars drawings of the dance’s movements for them to study.

• Sanemi opposed sparing Nezuko, while Shimizu proposed having Urokodaki guard her; the Pillars split their support, and Kagaya decided to protect Nezuko as long as she harmed no one.
• Tanjiro admitted he did not understand the First Breathing Style and could only perform some Hinokami Kagura forms, then demonstrated the dance with a Nichirin Blade.
• Giyu, Shimizu, and the other Pillars compared Tanjiro’s movements with their Breathing Styles and became convinced the dance was the long-lost First Breathing Style.
• Tanjiro sprained his ankle during the demonstration, and Uzui reset it while Shinobu promised medicine to help him recover.
• After his foot healed the next day, Tanjiro drew the movements Tanjuro had taught him and gave the pages to the Pillars to discuss.

The Pillars struggled to reconstruct Sun Breathing from Tanjiro's descriptions, while Shimizu used his research to explore combining Wind and Thunder techniques. After an explosive experiment, Shimizu decided to keep developing the new power and attempt a new Breathing Style.

• Shinobu Kocho, Iguro Obanai, and Uzui Tengen discussed how Sun Breathing's later forms exceeded human limits and how difficult its breathing method was to learn.
• Rengoku Kyojuro returned from Kyoto Prefecture, became the Flame Pillar after killing Lower Rank Two, and managed to perform the first two Sun Breathing forms.
• Shimizu drew on insights from Sun Breathing to combine wind and electricity with Chakra, creating a blue plasma orb that exploded in the sky.
• Shinazugawa Sanemi, Tokito Muichiro, and the other Pillars came to investigate the blast, and Shinobu Kocho asked Shimizu about his technique.
• Shimizu admitted the technique was incomplete and decided to continue refining it while trying to combine Wind Breathing and Thunder Breathing.

Shimizu created Separation Breathing, then helped Sunagakure secure a victory against Konoha in the Land of Rain. At a strategy meeting, he proposed attacking Konoha’s rear bases to pressure it into withdrawing and test its remaining forces.

• Shinobu examined Shimizu, who named his new Breathing Style Separation Breathing.
• After the battle, Shimizu treated Pakura and Baki’s minor injuries as Konoha’s forces retreated.
• Chiyo reported that Sunagakure and Iwagakure had divided much of the Land of Rain but lacked the manpower to advance further.
• Rasa suggested seeking an alliance with Takigakure, but Chiyo said it had no desire to join the war.
• Shimizu proposed attacking Konoha’s rear bases to make it respond and assess how many reinforcements it could send.

Shimizu proposed hiring Kakuzu to infiltrate the Land of Fire and target a Konoha shinobi suffering from hemophobia, avoiding the need to risk Sunagakure’s top fighters. Chiyo agreed to contact the Underground Black Market and warned Shimizu that Konoha had placed a bounty on him.

• Chiyo concluded that Sunagakure could not safely send one of its strongest fighters into the Land of Fire without weakening its front against Konoha.
• Shimizu suggested hiring Kakuzu, and Chiyo agreed that Sunagakure could afford the fee.
• Shimizu proposed luring Kakuzu with the bounty on a Konoha shinobi who suffered from hemophobia.
• Chiyo said she would contact the Underground Black Market about Kakuzu and warned Shimizu that Danzo might send assassins after him.
• Shimizu learned that his own bounty was eleven million four hundred and fifty thousand ryo.

Shimizu earned Chiyo’s trust and received the White Secret Technique after sealing his memories as a safeguard. As Kumogakure invaded the Land of Fire, Konoha sent Sunagakure a negotiation agreement while Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to confront the Third Raikage.

• Chiyo told Shimizu to master Lightning Release and gave him the White Secret Technique after requiring him to seal the memories he would form while studying it.
• Shimizu read the scroll and learned that mastering its advanced puppet methods would require serious study of Sealing Techniques.
• Chiyo explained that Sunagakure’s Sealing Techniques could strengthen the White Secret Technique and cited Ishido’s limits as a puppeteer.
• Shimizu accepted Chiyo’s leave to focus on Lightning Release, the White Secret Technique, Sealing Techniques, and developing Separation Breathing.
• The Third Raikage’s forces seized the Land of Hot Water and massed along the Land of Fire’s border, prompting Konoha to send Sunagakure a negotiation agreement.
• With Danzo and Jiraiya in the Land of Rain and other Konoha leaders unavailable, Hiruzen Sarutobi went to hold off the Third Raikage.

Chiyo briefed the Sand Ninja on Konoha’s proposed ceasefire and Hanzo’s offer to ally with Sunagakure. The meeting ended with Kazakami Senran asking how Sunagakure would handle negotiations with Konoha and its alliance with Iwagakure.

• Chiyo revealed that the Third Hokage had removed Danzo as commander and replaced him with Jiraiya while proposing peace terms to Sunagakure.
• Shimizu recognized that Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to blame Danzo, frame the ceasefire as a mutual decision, and trade concessions for strategic breathing room.
• Chiyo explained that Hanzo had approached Sunagakure and wanted an alliance to end the war in the Land of Rain.
• Chiyo said Hanzo had offered open trade and a jointly guarded canal between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain, and she had accepted.
• Kazakami Senran asked whether Sunagakure should accept Konoha’s negotiations and how it should coexist with its ally Iwagakure afterward.

As the war between Sunagakure, Konoha, and Amegakure neared its end, Chiyo sent Shimizu and his squad to bring Rōran into Sunagakure’s sphere of influence. The squad arrived in Rōran and saw signs of its rapid growth.

• Chiyo explained that Sunagakure and Konoha had agreed to a ceasefire amid reports of Kirigakure scouts near the western border.
• Konoha and Sunagakure concluded negotiations within days and began withdrawing their forces.
• Chiyo promoted Baki to Special Jonin and assigned Shimizu, Pakura, and Kazakami Senran to negotiate with Rōran’s queen.
• Shimizu’s squad traveled for five days and reached Rōran, where Pakura noticed a large construction project.
• Kazakami Senran remarked that Rōran had grown substantially since his previous visit ten years earlier.

Shimizu and the Sunagakure delegation investigated Rōran and met Queen of Rōran at a banquet. The queen prepared to discuss Rōran’s future with them, while Shimizu wondered about her red hair and Pakura showed jealousy.

• Queen of Rōran learned that Kazakami Senran was leading four Sunagakure ninjas who had entered Rōran to investigate.
• Queen of Rōran reasoned that Sunagakure wanted to control Rōran for profit and considered offering benefits to preserve her rule.
• Shimizu, Kazakami Senran, Baki, and the others gathered intelligence on Rōran, including its queen, Dragon Vein, ministers, population, and military strength.
• Kazakami Senran led the delegation to the palace after noticing that people in the city were looking for them.
• Queen of Rōran welcomed the Sunagakure delegation with a banquet, but Kazakami Senran declined to drink because of wartime restrictions.
• Shimizu studied Queen of Rōran’s red hair as Pakura stepped on his foot, and Queen of Rōran then began discussing business with the delegation.

Shimizu returned to Sunagakure after securing Rōran’s payments and protection agreement, then reunited with his friends for New Year celebrations. In Gotham, he entered a hidden League of Assassins base as the Demon Head’s deputy and heir and asked for a local representative.

• Queen of Rōran agreed to pay Sunagakure two hundred million ryo and provide at least twenty million ryo in annual mission shares, and Shimizu and the others returned to Sunagakure.
• Shimizu arrived in the village after most of the Sand Ninja and the Third Kazekage had returned, and he slept until the following afternoon.
• Shimizu visited the Sixth Division quarters, where he congratulated Sasori on becoming a Chunin and Miyaki on becoming a Jonin.
• Sasori asked Shimizu to spar after his puppet Crow was repaired, and Miyuki urged them to join the others for dinner at Golden Desert.
• In Gotham, Shimizu used his black League of Assassins badge to enter a concealed base beneath a supermarket.
• Shimizu ordered the base’s ninjas to summon someone who could speak for the place, and a masked assassin stepped forward.

Shimizu inspected a League of Assassins base in Gotham and learned about its resources, connections, and a Promethium Metal dagger that he could not reshape or use to transmit Chakra. He returned to Hogg's Auto Shop, where Mr. Freeze was ready to take Nora to Central City.

• Rattlesnake introduced himself to Shimizu and described the League of Assassins’ Gotham personnel, wealth, weapons, and influence.
• Shimizu asked about Promethium Metal, and Rattlesnake showed him a dagger made from it and explained that the metal could not be reworked after it was formed.
• Shimizu tested the dagger with Chakra, found that it absorbed the energy without reacting, and put it away.
• Rattlesnake explained how League resources had helped Dr. Hugo place Quincy Sharp in the mayor’s office, and Shimizu considered using those resources to build his own influence.
• Shimizu returned to Hogg's Auto Shop, where Mr. Freeze said he had prepared enough cryogenic fluid to preserve himself and was ready to take Nora to Central City.

Shimizu returned to Central City with Mr. Freeze and Nora, seeking the team’s help to treat her. He reunited with Cisco and Katherine, leaving Katherine surprised to see Mr. Freeze.

• Shimizu traveled from Gotham to Central City by van because Nora could not safely fly and his White Warrior would be detected by transport security.
• Katherine and Cisco helped Kid Flash trap The Top and send her to the superpowered prison at Stellar Labs.
• Cisco met Shimizu and agreed to help with Nora, opening a portal to the team’s location.
• Shimizu and Mr. Freeze carried Nora’s ice coffin through the portal while Anger parked the van.
• Katherine saw Mr. Freeze and recognized him as familiar, and he greeted her.

Victor enlisted Katherine’s help to thaw Nora, while Shimizu demonstrated his healing ability as part of a plan to extend her life. Before the eighteen-hour thawing could finish, an armored mechanical warrior attacked Central City, and Shimizu disabled it.

• Victor explained that he had taught Katherine, then known as Snow, at Hard University and asked her to help thaw Nora.
• Katherine prepared Cryogenic Physiological Fluid after learning about Nora’s neurodegenerative disease, and Shimizu showed how his healing ability could help treat her.
• Katherine and Victor began Nora’s careful eighteen-hour thawing process, with Victor staying beside her.
• An alarm summoned the group to respond to an armored Japanese warrior attacking Central City, while Victor remained with Nora.
• Wally was knocked down by the Mechanical Warrior, but Shimizu struck it with the White Warrior and disabled it.

Cisco and the others prepared to bring Barry back from the Speed Force before the Mechanical Warriors destroyed Central City. Shimizu helped solve a problem with Cisco’s Speed Force Cannon, and the group began the rescue attempt.

• A Mechanical Warrior announced that Central City would be destroyed within twenty-four hours unless The Flash returned, while more than a dozen other robots flew away across the city.
• Cisco proposed using Barry’s DNA, Wally’s speed, and a Speed Force Cannon to locate Barry and exchange him with a matching mass; Alice worried that freeing him could destabilize the Speed Force.
• Cisco asked Victor to help prevent the cannon from overheating, and Shimizu suggested using the energy-poor Promethium Dagger to absorb its excess energy.
• The next morning, Cisco and Katherine calibrated the cannon on a highway outside Central City, with Wally ready to power it and Barry’s family gathered nearby.
• Wally ran on the super treadmill as Cisco used Vibe blasts to locate Barry and Katherine charged the transmission with the cannon’s laser.