Recaps

While recovering at Sakonji Urokodaki’s cabin, Haruto met the Kocho sisters and heard Kanae’s wish to redeem demons, a belief shaped by the loss of their family friend Irimura Koichi. The sisters left with letters of introduction, and Cang Kong reported that Makomo had passed Final Selection.

• Sabito and Giyu returned to the cabin and met Kanae and Shinobu, who were helping care for Haruto.
• Sakonji Urokodaki warned Kanae that her and Shinobu’s physical weakness would make it difficult to fight demons, while Kanae asked if demons could be redeemed and turned human again.
• Shinobu told Haruto that the demon in the village had been Irimura Koichi, her parents’ childhood friend, and explained that Kanae believed demons were victims of those who transformed them.
• Haruto gradually recovered enough to walk, and Kanae suggested the Demon Slayer Corps establish a medical department with rehabilitation plans.
• Sakonji Urokodaki gave each Kocho sister a letter of introduction, and they departed a day later.
• Cang Kong brought news that Makomo had passed Final Selection and become an official swordswoman of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Haruto visited Kagaya Ubuyashiki at Corps Headquarters, where Kagaya showed him the wisteria-covered graveyard of fallen swordsmen and spoke of his family’s curse. The chapter left Kagaya grieving the lives lost to Muzan Kibutsuji and unable to accept that he might die young.

• Haruto arrived through heavy snow and gave Kagaya and Amane gifts for their daughters, Hinaki and Nikka.
• Haruto told Kagaya that he had visited the Swordsmith Village and the Rengoku Family, where he found Shinjuro drinking and Kyojuro training with Flame Breathing notes.
• Kagaya said he would not approve Shinjuro’s resignation and urged Haruto to recognize the Demon Slayer Corps’ need for the next generation.
• Haruto accompanied Kagaya to the mountain graveyard, where Kagaya described the many swordsmen who had died during his years as Corps leader.
• Kagaya explained the Ubuyashiki family curse and praised Amane for marrying him despite his short life expectancy.
• Kagaya blamed Muzan Kibutsuji for the suffering and struggled to accept that he might not live past thirty.

After a busy New Year of demon-slaying, Haruto encountered Sanemi Shinazugawa and his younger brother Genya in Tokyo. That night, he sensed a demon attacking Sanemi’s home and rushed to help as Sanemi fought it in grief and rage.

• Kagaya urged Haruto to return to headquarters as a Hashira in a year, and Haruto left despite the snow to continue his work.
• Headquarters gave Haruto a succession of missions, and he spent New Year killing demons and briefly met Murata at a Wisteria House.
• In March, Haruto saw Sanemi and Genya discussing their father’s death and promising to protect their family.
• After dinner, Haruto sensed a demon in a residential area and found Sanemi fighting it after it had killed his younger siblings.
• Haruto arrived to help Sanemi and announced himself as he drew near.

Haruto restrained Sanemi and Genya’s demon mother after she killed their five younger siblings, then explained that she could not be cured and had to die. Near dawn, Sanemi carried her outside to see the sunlight one last time.

• Haruto pinned Sanemi’s transformed mother and prepared to behead her, but Sanemi begged him to spare her.
• Genya arrived and attacked Haruto with his slingshot, so Haruto disarmed him and stopped him from interfering.
• Haruto found the five younger siblings dead inside the house and sent Cang Kong to alert the Kakushi.
• Sanemi asked whether his mother could recover, and Haruto explained that becoming a demon was not an illness and that he could not spare her.
• Near dawn, Sanemi carried his mother outside, and Haruto told Genya that they were going to let her see the light one last time.

After Sanemi left to hunt demons, Haruto took Genya in and brought him to Mount Sagiri to train. When Genya failed to learn Water Breathing, mysterious comments revealed that he could become a demon eater.

• Sanemi left a message asking Haruto to care for Genya, and Genya angrily ran after his brother before falling asleep nearby.
• Haruto learned that Genya had no living uncle to take him in and decided to bring him to Mount Sagiri.
• Genya joined the group training on the mountain, where Haruto jokingly called himself the boy's dad.
• Genya later told Haruto he could not use Water Breathing or Flame Breathing.
• Mysterious comments appeared, identifying Genya as a demon eater, and Haruto wondered what that meant.

Haruto took Genya on a demon-slaying mission to investigate his suspected Demon Eater ability, and Genya gained a temporary demon-like transformation after eating demon flesh. Kagaya confirmed the ability and directed them to seek out Tamayo in Asakusa.

• Haruto brought eight-year-old Genya along to a mission despite Sabito's concerns and subdued a demon attacking a livestock farm.
• Genya sensed that eating the demon might give him energy, and Haruto washed the demon before letting him try a bite.
• After swallowing demon flesh, Genya developed black eyes, bulging veins, and fangs, but retained his reason and displayed greatly increased strength.
• Genya's transformation faded over the next few days, and the fangs eventually fell out.
• Haruto wrote to Kagaya, who identified Genya's constitution as the Demon Eater and explained that stronger demons could grant greater abilities.
• Kagaya told Haruto to take Genya to Asakusa and find Tamayo, a demon knowledgeable about demons.

Haruto learned that Tamayo was over four hundred years old, then traveled with Genya to Asakusa, where Chachamaru led them to Yushiro. Yushiro brought them to meet Tamayo and bristled when Haruto teased him about having a crush on her.

• Cang Kong told Haruto that Tamayo was over four hundred years old, and Haruto joked that they should bring her Oda Nobunaga’s autograph as a gift.
• Haruto and Genya explored Asakusa and ate their way through the busy district while waiting for Tamayo to contact them.
• Chachamaru appeared and led Haruto and Genya away from the crowds toward another demon.
• Yushiro insulted Haruto, and Genya defended his teacher’s looks by listing the women in the Corps who had asked about him.
• Yushiro shoved Genya and demanded to know why Tamayo wanted to see Haruto, so Haruto pulled Genya away and accused Yushiro of having a crush on Tamayo.
• Yushiro blushed and fell silent, and Haruto decided he wanted to tease him.

Haruto met Tamayo and teased Yushiro, then learned Kagaya Ubuyashiki had asked Tamayo to test his unusual blood. Remembering how Byōha reacted after drinking it, Haruto realized he had become a substitute source of blood for Tamayo.

• Haruto presented Tamayo with a gift while Yushiro glared at him jealously.
• Tamayo left to change, and Haruto provoked Yushiro until Tamayo ordered him to stop.
• Tamayo returned in a physician's coat and prepared to draw blood from Genya and Haruto.
• Tamayo explained that Kagaya Ubuyashiki had told her Haruto's blood held unusual power and asked her to try it.
• Haruto recalled Byōha's reaction after drinking his blood and realized he had become a substitute blood source.

Haruto gave Tamayo a sample of his blood, which made her experience clear memories of events from earlier that day as though she were watching herself relive them. Tamayo collected more blood to study, then offered Genya a severed finger so he could test his ability to gain strength by eating demon flesh.

• Haruto let Tamayo drink his blood, and she experienced fragments of her memories as if she were observing another version of herself.
• Tamayo explained that she could not change what she saw and warned Haruto that his blood might tempt demons to drain him.
• Haruto wondered whether Byōha had been distracted by memories from drinking his blood before Haruto killed him.
• Tamayo asked to keep a blood sample to research medicine, and Haruto donated a full syringe.
• Tamayo snapped off a finger and offered it to Genya to eat while Yushiro objected and Genya looked sick.

Genya ate Tamayo’s finger and developed a version of her Blood Demon Art, while Haruto learned that Genya’s inability to use Breathing Styles complicated his plans for passing on Star Breathing. After Haruto reassured Genya about demons, Tamayo considered whether Haruto was a “dream thief” as she examined his gift and blood.

• Genya ate Tamayo’s finger, briefly transformed, and said he felt better after the intense reaction passed.
• Genya manifested a version of Tamayo’s Bewitching Blood-Daylight Demon Fragrance, which left Haruto’s thoughts sluggish until Tamayo covered his face with a towel.
• Tamayo told Haruto not to let Genya fight demons alone until he could digest demon flesh and blood more quickly, and she agreed to continue corresponding with him as a research partner.
• After leaving Tamayo’s Residence, Genya asked Haruto what demons were really like, and Haruto explained that a tragic past did not justify harming innocent people.
• Tamayo opened Haruto’s gift of scented candles and examined his blood, wondering whether he really was a dream thief.

Haruto spent his seventeenth birthday reflecting on his training and new Star Breathing forms before returning to headquarters to accept his promotion to Hashira. He left after visiting Kagaya and his family, with the Final Selection ending that day and the Kocho Sisters among its participants.

• Genya helped Makomo prepare dinner while Haruto trained alone on Mount Sagiri beneath the stars.
• Haruto reflected on six months of experimenting with his blood and developing two new sword forms, then summoned Cang Kong on his seventeenth birthday.
• Haruto visited Kagaya at headquarters and agreed to be promoted to Hashira, declining a Hashira Meeting in his honor.
• Haruto entertained Hinaki and Nikka with stories about Kagoshima as Kagaya and Amane hoped their children would grow up free of demons.
• Haruto left headquarters to attend to the Final Selection, which the Kocho Sisters had entered.

After Kanae and Shinobu passed Final Selection, Haruto met them at Mount Fujikasane and gave them matching butterfly hair clips. Shinobu wondered if Haruto liked Kanae and imagined becoming family with him, while Kanae recognized her sister was letting her imagination run wild.

• Kanae and Shinobu passed Final Selection, chose their tamahagane, and received their uniforms and Kasugai Crows.
• Shinobu recognized Haruto's parrot, Cang Kong, and the sisters found Haruto waiting beside the mountain path.
• Haruto congratulated the sisters and explained he had come to meet them as their senior and recommender.
• Haruto gave Kanae a pink butterfly hair clip and Shinobu a pale purple one.
• Shinobu suspected Haruto liked Kanae and imagined the three of them becoming a family, while Kanae called her back from her fanciful thoughts.

Haruto encouraged Shinobu after she admitted she could not cut off a demon’s head, and helped her and Kanae consider wisteria poison as an alternative. As the sisters discussed how to develop a poison-based weapon, Haruto revealed that he knew about sword forging.

• Haruto took Shinobu and Kanae to a ramen shop and reassured Shinobu that her speed and thrusts had made her useful during the selection trial.
• Haruto suggested that Shinobu could kill demons with wisteria poison instead of decapitating them, and Shinobu and Kanae began discussing the idea.
• Shinobu and Kanae considered poison-coated blades and darts, then worried that they did not know how Nichirin Blades were forged.
• Haruto revealed that he knew about sword forging because he had trained as a swordsmith’s apprentice for twelve years.

Haruto returned to the Swordsmith Village with Kanae and Shinobu, then met Gyomei Himejima at the hot springs. Himejima recounted the demon attack at the temple that led to his imprisonment, and revealed that the child who betrayed them was Kaigaku.

• Haruto brought Kanae and Shinobu to the Swordsmith Village, where Godogawa mistook Kanae for Haruto’s prospective bride.
• Haruto directed the sisters to the village chief, then went to the hot springs after Zekka told him Himejima was waiting.
• Himejima congratulated Haruto on becoming a Hashira and said he had believed in Haruto’s potential since he mastered Star Breathing.
• Himejima explained that a child extinguished the temple’s wisteria incense after making a deal with a demon, which then killed seven children.
• Himejima said Sayo had accused him of killing the children, leading to his arrest, and revealed that the child who made the deal was Kaigaku.

Haruto learned that Godogawa had urged him to marry because a demon who killed his grandfather and father might still be hunting the Takanashi family. He rejected the idea of having a child merely to preserve the family line while the demon remained alive.

• Haruto teased Godogawa about his supposed romantic interest in Tamayo, then asked why his master kept pressuring him to settle down.
• Godogawa explained that he had tried to keep Haruto from becoming a demon slayer because he feared for his life.
• Godogawa recounted how Haruto’s grandfather, Takanashi Sōma, was killed by a demon who preyed on exceptionally attractive people, and revealed that Sōma’s son Ryoji had also died in the attack.
• Godogawa told Haruto that the demon later killed his father, Yūsei, and had left a message threatening Sōma’s descendants.
• Haruto told Godogawa that marriage and having a child would be pointless while the demon remained alive, and said marrying only to produce an heir would be despicable.

After leaving the Swordsmith Village, Haruto arranged for Kanae and Shinobu to meet his pharmacist friend and returned to Mount Sagiri, where he interrupted Genya’s punishing training. The chapter ended with Haruto sensing someone watching from the mountain and running to investigate.

• Haruto told Godogawa he could not ask someone to bear his children only to become his widow, leaving his master ashamed.
• Haruto learned that Daki had killed his ancestors and remained active in Tokyo Prefecture.
• Haruto told Kanae and Shinobu that his exceptionally skilled pharmacist friend in Asakusa would help with wisteria poison.
• Haruto found Genya struggling to hold a log during training and stopped Sabito from pushing him further.
• Haruto sensed a seemingly nonhostile presence watching them from Mount Sagiri and ran toward it.

Sanemi learned that Haruto had become a Hashira and found Genya living safely at Mount Sagiri, but he refused to meet his brother because he believed Genya hated him. Haruto stopped Sanemi as he fled and challenged his assumption that their bond was broken.

• Masachika told Sanemi that his master would train him and identified the white-haired swordsman as Haruto, the Demon Slayer Corps' newest Hashira.
• Sanemi asked where Haruto lived and learned that Haruto was at Mount Sagiri with Genya.
• Sanemi watched Genya train with a peach-haired boy and felt relieved that his brother seemed safe and cared for.
• Haruto noticed Sanemi hiding in the bushes, pursued him, and intercepted him as he tried to flee down the mountain.
• Sanemi refused to see Genya, claiming their bond was broken, and Haruto questioned his reasoning.

Haruto confronted Sanemi about his belief that Genya hated him and learned Sanemi had been pushing his little brother away to keep him safe from demons. Sanemi left without seeing Genya, while Genya was happy to learn his brother had secretly watched over him.

• Haruto asked Sanemi whether Genya had ever said he hated him, and Sanemi admitted he had never asked or heard Genya say so.
• Sanemi revealed he feared Genya would join the Demon Slayer Corps and face demons, and said he wanted his brother to live a peaceful life.
• Haruto told Sanemi that Genya had also witnessed their family's deaths and might follow the path of demon hunting regardless.
• Sanemi declined Haruto's offer to become his Tsuguko and left after asking him not to tell Genya he had visited.
• Haruto told Genya that Sanemi had been watching him, and Genya smiled, glad his brother had come to check on him.

Haruto encountered Tengen Uzui and his three wives battling Lower Rank Four while he patrolled near Mount Sagiri. After Haruto revealed he had killed Byōha, he and Tengen prepared to fight the demon together.

• Genya appeared happier after Sanemi visited Mount Sagiri, and Haruto teased Giyu about never smiling.
• Haruto patrolled his expanded territory as winter brought more demons, then sensed a powerful demon near several farmhouses.
• Tengen Uzui and his wives evacuated civilians while Tengen tried to hold off Lower Rank Four.
• Haruto attacked Lower Rank Four with Star Breathing and cut through her blood-sprout assault.
• Haruto identified himself as the Hashira who killed Byōha, and Tengen enthusiastically invited him to fight together.

Haruto and Tengen Uzui fought Lower Rank Four, whose Blood Demon Arts unleashed a relentless barrage of leaves and fleshy buds. Lower Rank Four escaped by severing her own head, carrying away Tengen’s swords, and Haruto resolved to warn Kagaya Ubuyashiki as Tengen introduced himself.

• Lower Rank Four unleashed Demon Buds, and Haruto protected the others while Tengen Uzui analyzed her attacks with his Score.
• Lower Rank Four attacked Haruto with Evil Potato Apple, but Haruto’s sword nearly broke through her shield and forced her to retreat.
• Haruto struck Lower Rank Four with Starlight Prairie Fire, and Tengen’s completed Score let him warn Haruto of her next attack.
• Lower Rank Four’s Gluttonous Species attack missed, and she severed her own head to escape before Haruto’s technique could destroy her neck.
• Tengen threw his swords at Lower Rank Four’s fleeing head but lost them, while Haruto decided to warn Kagaya Ubuyashiki and increase patrols.
• Tengen introduced himself to Haruto and thanked him for his help.

Haruto met Tengen Uzui after the battle and learned about his ability to analyze an enemy’s weaknesses. In Infinity Castle, Muzan punished Koyuki, replaced her as Lower Rank Four, and ordered the demons to find the person wearing Sunflower Earrings.

• Haruto introduced himself to Tengen Uzui, learned that he had three wives, and heard about his battle-analysis skill.
• Koyuki was summoned to Infinity Castle alongside the Lower Ranks and new demons.
• Muzan killed Kamanué and demoted Koyuki from Lower Rank Four to Lower Rank Six.
• Muzan appointed Mingjing and Nekomata as the new Lower Rank Three and Lower Rank Four.
• Muzan ordered the demons to search for the Blue Spider Lily and the person wearing Sunflower Earrings.

At the Hashira Meeting, Kanae Kocho and Tengen Uzui were promoted to Hashira as the Corps mourned the death of Kamishiro Ryo. Haruto later learned that Genya’s brother was being treated at the Butterfly Mansion and hurried there with Genya and Kanae.

• Haruto met Gyomei Himejima, Kanae Kocho, and Tengen Uzui at Headquarters and learned that Kamishiro Ryo had died, Matsueda had retired, and Rengoku had skipped the meeting.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki welcomed the swordsmen and formally made Kanae Kocho and Tengen Uzui Hashira after each reached fifty demon kills.
• Kagaya told Haruto that his eyesight was worsening, but said he still intended to lead the Corps to defeat Muzan.
• Haruto found Genya and Kanae waiting outside, and Genya revealed that his brother was being treated at the Butterfly Mansion.
• Haruto ran toward the Butterfly Mansion to check on Genya’s brother, calling for Kanae and Genya to hurry after him.

Genya found Sanemi recovering at the Butterfly Mansion, while Haruto discussed Kanae’s determination to help demons with her. Shinobu returned with an oversized cherry tree, and Haruto teased her before planting it in the courtyard.

• Genya found Sanemi and Masachika Kume arguing in the treatment room, then worried that his brother had been hurt again.
• Haruto questioned Kanae’s hope of redeeming demons, but her resolve led him to reconsider his doubts.
• Kanao asked Kanae for help as Shinobu struggled to drag a full-grown cherry tree into the mansion courtyard.
• Shinobu explained that Kanae wanted a tree named Certain Victory to mark the day they defeated Muzan, and Haruto teased her for bringing one so large.
• Shinobu punched Haruto in frustration, and he carried the tree over to plant it.

After lunch at the Butterfly Mansion, Haruto learned that Shinobu had devised her own forms of Flower Breathing and agreed to test them against his sword. Shinobu’s speed and thrusting power surprised him, and her final strike tore his Haori before the spar ended.

• Kanao and Genya offered to help with the dishes, but Haruto and the Kocho sisters sent the children away to play or rest.
• Kanae told Haruto that Tamayo had set aside a dangerous physical-enhancement drug project and was focusing on developing a drug against Muzan.
• Kanae said Shinobu had mastered Flower Breathing and created forms suited to herself, so Haruto asked her to demonstrate.
• Shinobu attacked Haruto with several Insect Breathing forms, and he barely kept up with her speed.
• Shinobu’s Bee Sting Dance narrowly missed Haruto and tore his Haori, leaving her surprised by how fast she was.

Haruto reassured Shinobu that poison suited her fighting style, but news arrived that Giyu and Sabito had encountered Lower Rank Four Nekomata. Giyu killed the demon after Sabito was gravely wounded, leaving Giyu to face the victory and its consequences alone.

• Haruto told Shinobu that a swordsman became strongest by using the Breathing Style and techniques suited to him, easing her worries about relying on poison.
• Cang Kong reported that Giyu had slain Lower Rank Four Nekomata on Mount Kumotori and that Sabito was near death and being brought to the Butterfly Mansion.
• Shinobu and Kanae hurried to prepare medicine for Sabito while Giyu and Sabito continued fighting Nekomata.
• Sabito drew Nekomata's attention so Giyu could attack, but Nekomata evaded Sabito's strike and crushed his chest with its claws and tails.
• Giyu hesitated to take the victory from Sabito, then used Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux, to sever Nekomata's head and sighed beside his fallen friend.