Chapter Summaries

Rokuya returned to Urokodaki’s cabin and met Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu, three new disciples training to slay demons. After confronting Giyu’s belief that he was too weak to deserve food, Rokuya announced he would take over the children’s sword training.

• Rokuya returned from Mount Momoyama, broke down the cabin door, and found Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu at dinner with Urokodaki.
• Urokodaki explained that he had brought the three children to the mountain to learn Water Breathing after demons destroyed their families.
• Rokuya introduced himself as Takanashi Rokuno, called himself Senior Rokuya, and ate most of the dinner while the others watched in astonishment.
• Giyu offered Rokuya his half-eaten rice and said he did not deserve to eat with the others, prompting Sabito to grab his collar and accuse him of mockery.
• Rokuya stopped Sabito, recognized Giyu’s self-loathing, ate the rice, and told him that weakness was not a sin but hating himself would get him killed.
• Rokuya declared that he would take over sword training for Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu starting the next day.

Rokuya rejected Urokodaki’s flowing style of Water Breathing and trained Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu to focus on explosive, lethal attacks. After seeing their new techniques threaten him in a sparring match, Urokodaki ended the training and walked back to the cabin, shaken.

• Rokuya kicked Sabito aside during a sparring challenge, then split a massive boulder with a powerful Water Surface Slash.
• Rokuya criticized traditional Water Breathing and spent half a month teaching Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu more destructive versions of their techniques.
• Urokodaki confronted Rokuya over the changes and challenged the three students to demonstrate their training.
• Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu’s attacks damaged Urokodaki’s sleeve, dirtied his clothes, and cracked his wooden sword before he subdued them.
• Urokodaki called off the training and returned to the cabin, troubled by how dangerous the children had become.

Rokuya left Mount Sagiri for the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane, promising to protect his companions and destroy the demons responsible for Mount Sagiri's losses. He entered the mist wearing Urokodaki's Warding Mask, unaware that the Hand Demon awaited him.

• Urokodaki treated Rokuya's injuries and admitted that Rokuya's harsh training had improved his students' chances of survival.
• Rokuya said goodbye to Makomo, Sabito, and Giyu, trading teasing remarks with them before leaving for Final Selection.
• Urokodaki gave Rokuya a fox-shaped Warding Mask and said its spell would protect him from calamity.
• Rokuya vowed to destroy the demons that had harmed Mount Sagiri, then strode into the mist as Urokodaki prayed for his safe return.
• Rokuya headed toward Mount Fujikasane, where the Hand Demon awaited him.

Takanashi Rokuno arrived at Mount Fujikasane for Final Selection and reunited with Kanae Kocho, who had trained to become a Demon Slayer. Kanae told him that her younger sister Shinobu was not doing well, and Rokuno feared someone had bullied her.

• Rokuno reached Mount Fujikasane, where frightened candidates had gathered for Final Selection.
• Kanae Kocho recognized Rokuno, and the two reunited warmly.
• Kanae said she had mastered Flower Breathing and wanted to become a Demon Slayer so she could help Rokuno.
• Rokuno asked whether Shinobu had come with Kanae, and Kanae said Shinobu was not doing well.
• Rokuno grew angry and demanded to know who had bullied Shinobu.

Kanae told Rokuya that Shinobu had become despondent after failing to gain the strength to decapitate demons, and Rokuya promised to help her develop a poison-based way to fight. Kagaya Ubuyashiki began the Final Selection, and Rokuya and Kanae entered Mount Fujikasane, where Rokuya's stomach growled.

• Kanae explained that Shinobu had shut herself away and was studying medicine and toxicology after failing to cut through a wooden post.
• Rokuya promised to find Shinobu poisonous herbs and support her, then told Kanae to stay beside him during the selection.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki appeared with two lantern-bearing girls and explained that candidates had to survive seven days on Mount Fujikasane.
• Rokuya ordered Kanae not to draw her sword unless he could not handle the demons, and they crossed into the mountain together.
• Rokuya and Kanae found the mountain cold and foul-smelling, and Rokuya's stomach growled in the silent woods.

Rokuya and Kanae encountered three demons in the woods, and Rokuya swiftly defeated them before giving Kanae a chance to fight. Kanae killed the remaining two with Flower Breathing, Second Form: Shadow Plum, and waited for Rokuya's reaction.

• Rokuya heard three demons approaching and moved to protect Kanae.
• Rokuya struck two demons with a powerful kick, then killed the third with Thunder Breathing: Modified Extreme Blade Flash.
• Rokuya told Kanae to fight the two demons he had kicked away so she could test her training.
• Kanae used Flower Breathing, Second Form: Shadow Plum, to sever the demons' limbs and behead them.
• Kanae sheathed her sword and looked to Rokuya for praise.

Rokuya and Kanae encountered the Hand Demon, which revealed it had eaten thirteen of Urokodaki’s disciples, including the owners of the fox masks. Furious, Rokuya unleashed his demonic aura and prepared to attack, but the demon suddenly cried out for them to run.

• Rokuya defeated five more waves of demons while Kanae followed and his gratitude points recovered.
• Rokuya sensed a powerful smell of blood and rot as the ground shook and the Hand Demon approached.
• The Hand Demon recognized Rokuya as Urokodaki’s disciple and boasted that it had eaten thirteen of Urokodaki’s students.
• Rokuya told Kanae to retreat and vowed to kill the demon for harming those under his protection.
• Rokuya unleashed his demonic aura and readied a Thunder Breathing attack, but the Hand Demon shouted for them to run.

The Hand Demon used two injured swordsmen as human shields, forcing Rokuya to abandon a wide-range attack. Rokuya charged anyway, cutting through its attacking arms as they regenerated, while the Hand Demon kept the captives out of harm’s way.

• The Hand Demon revealed two captured swordsmen and taunted Rokuya to attack.
• Kanae warned Rokuya that a wide-range slash could kill the captives, while one swordsman urged him to flee and the other begged for help.
• The Hand Demon crushed one captive’s bones and threatened to eat an arm unless Rokuya acted.
• Rokuya concentrated his power on his blade and charged the Hand Demon to attempt a precise strike.
• Rokuya used Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash-Combo to sever the attacking arms, but the Hand Demon quickly regenerated them.

Rokuya struggled to protect two captured swordsmen while fighting the Hand Demon, and Kanae joined the battle to create an opening. The Hand Demon’s neck was exposed, leaving Rokuya a chance to strike.

• Rokuya endured the Hand Demon’s attacks rather than risk injuring the two swordsmen it held as shields.
• Rokuya refused the broken-legged swordsman’s plea to flee and insisted he would protect anyone under his care.
• Kanae attacked the Hand Demon with Flower Breathing, severing three arms and destroying its right eye.
• The Hand Demon struck back wildly, injuring Kanae and swinging the captured swordsmen away from its chest.
• Kanae saw that the Hand Demon’s neck had been left fully exposed.

Rokuya beheaded the Hand Demon with a powerful double strike, then collapsed from exhaustion as Kanae rushed to his side. After he reassured and praised her, Kanae embraced him in relief.

• Rokuya unleashed a double Extreme Blade Flash and cut through the Hand Demon's neck.
• The Hand Demon died, thanked Rokuya, and dissolved into ashes along with the souls it had devoured.
• The two young swordsmen fell free as the Hand Demon's arms turned to ash.
• Rokuya's power faded, and he collapsed from exhaustion and overwhelming hunger.
• Kanae hurried to Rokuya, and he reassured her and praised her role in creating an opening.
• Kanae embraced Rokuya, relieved that he was alive.

Rokuya saved Murata and an injured swordsman, earning a surge of Gratitude Points and unlocking basic access to the system shop. After sharing Kanae’s rice ball, he set out to kill every demon on Mount Fujikasane, drawing a procession of surviving candidates behind him.

• Murata and the injured swordsman thanked Rokuya for saving them, and the system awarded him Gratitude Points, including a bonus for Kanae’s attachment, unlocking basic system shop access.
• Rokuya ordered Murata and the injured swordsman to follow the wisteria scent down the mountain, while Kanae bandaged his shoulder and gave him a rice ball.
• Rokuya declared he would kill every demon on Mount Fujikasane and continued through the night, killing three demons with a burst of gold and blue lightning.
• Murata and the other surviving candidates followed Rokuya through the forest, watching him with reverence.

Rokuya wiped out the demons on Mount Fujikasane during Final Selection, allowing nearly all the candidates to survive. After the selection ended, he chose unusually dense ore and ordered a massive cleaver-style Nichirin Blade.

• Rokuya hunted down every demon on Mount Fujikasane and earned Gratitude Points as he protected the candidates.
• At dawn on the seventh day, more than forty candidates survived, and Kanae Kocho offered to treat Rokuya to tempura.
• The Ubuyashiki twins congratulated the candidates, explained their ranks, and invited them to select tamahagane for their Nichirin Blades.
• Rokuya chose a dense piece of black ore and instructed the swordsmiths to forge him an oversized, heavy cleaver.

After passing Final Selection, Rokuya parted from Kanae and promised to protect her and Shinobu before returning to Mount Sagiri. His return ended Urokodaki and the others’ grief, and he began to reveal the bundle he had brought back.

• Rokuya parted from Kanae, promising to find her and protect her and Shinobu.
• Three days later, Urokodaki, Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu feared Rokuya had died after failing to return from Final Selection.
• Rokuya arrived at the cabin battered and hungry, announcing that he was craving Cantonese food.
• Urokodaki served Rokuya rice and soup, and Rokuya ate fifteen bowls before reassuring everyone he was fine.
• Rokuya pulled the rag-wrapped bundle toward him.

Rokuya brought Urokodaki the broken Warding Masks recovered from the Hand Demon, revealing that thirteen of his former students had died under its curse and allowing Urokodaki and his surviving students to grieve together. A month later, swordsmith Haganezuka Hotaru arrived on Mount Sagiri with the enormous Nichirin Blade Rokuya had ordered and challenged him to lift it.

• Rokuya showed Urokodaki the broken fox masks the Hand Demon had swallowed, and Urokodaki recognized them as the masks of thirteen dead students.
• Urokodaki collapsed in grief and apologized to his students, while Sabito, Makomo, and Giyu comforted him and wept with him.
• Rokuya left the cabin, relieved that Urokodaki's grief and guilt had finally been released.
• Over the next month, Rokuya trained Sabito, Giyu, and Makomo harshly, and Giyu began swinging his sword with renewed determination.
• Haganezuka Hotaru arrived carrying a giant wooden case and berated Rokuya for demanding an unusually shaped blade.
• Haganezuka dropped the three-hundred-jin Nichirin Blade case and ordered Rokuya to pick it up.

Rokuya awakened the enormous Nichirin Blade with arcana power, turning it into a blue, silver-lit weapon he named Shura. Later, as he prepared to leave Mount Sagiri for a mission, Makomo, Sabito, and Giyu shared a meal with him.

• Rokuya lifted the three-hundred-jin blade one-handed, astonishing Haganezuka Hotaru and the others.
• Rokuya channeled arcana power into the blade, making it dark blue with flowing silver-blue light.
• Haganezuka Hotaru prostrated himself before the transformed weapon, and Rokuya kicked him away before naming the blade Shura.
• The narration noted that the [Shadow Battle Axe] progress bar was three hundred points short of completion.
• At Mount Sagiri, Rokuya devoured a huge rice ball and Giyu offered him his untouched grilled fish as he prepared to leave for a mission.

Takanashi Rokuno left Sakonji Urokodaki’s mountain home for his first mission, investigating disappearances in Mochizuki Village. On the way, he intimidated the arrogant Tanaka, who had been assigned to accompany him, and the two continued toward the village.

• Takanashi Rokuno prepared to leave with Shura, and Sakonji Urokodaki warned him to beware demons and return alive.
• A Kasugai Crow ordered Rokuno to investigate missing travelers and lost contact with villagers in Mochizuki Village.
• Rokuno set out, hoping to earn enough Gratitude Points to buy the Shadow Battle Axe and intending to save civilians.
• After three days of travel, Rokuno encountered Tanaka, a higher-ranked Demon Slayer who mocked his weapon and ordered him to stay out of the way.
• Rokuno’s killing intent frightened Tanaka, and Rokuno walked on while Tanaka reluctantly followed.

Rokuya and Tanaka discovered a demon-run farm holding 112 villagers captive in a cave. Tanaka tried to claim the potential glory for himself, while Rokuya recognized the strong demonic presence as a trap and confronted him.

• Rokuya and Tanaka followed drag marks from the silent village to a cave behind it.
• Rokuya found more than a hundred villagers chained inside a fenced enclosure, where demons had been keeping them as livestock.
• The villagers begged Rokuya and Tanaka to save them, and the system estimated a reward of 3,000–5,000 Gratitude Points if Rokuya rescued them.
• Tanaka focused on the prospect of promotion and ordered Rokuya not to interfere while he claimed the credit.
• Rokuya seized Tanaka by the collar and warned him that the farm was too large for ordinary demons and that something was watching them from the darkness.

Rokuya and Tanaka discovered that the cavern held nearly fifty demons, including a powerful grotesque leader. Tanaka was crippled and trapped at the entrance, while Rokuya faced the demons as they attacked.

• Tanaka ignored Rokuya’s warning, attacked a shadow with Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel, and broke his blade against the demon’s body.
• Nearly fifty demons emerged around the cavern, led by a towering, blue-green-scaled grotesque demon.
• The grotesque demon struck Tanaka, crushing his chest and crippling his arm, while Tanaka panicked and tried to flee.
• A four-legged demon pinned Tanaka at the cavern entrance, leaving Rokuya and the villagers surrounded.
• The grotesque demon taunted Rokuya and swung its enormous fist toward his head.

Rokuya killed the malformed demon with one strike of Shura, stunning the villagers and demons in the cavern. He ignored Tanaka’s pleas and threats as nearly fifty demons gathered before him, then challenged them to attack.

• Rokuya used Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash-Extreme Blade Flash to cleave the malformed demon in two.
• The demons and villagers stared in shock as the malformed demon’s corpse turned to ash.
• Rokuya threatened the remaining demons and told them to come at him one by one.
• Tanaka begged Rokuya to save him, then cursed him and threatened to report him to the Master and the Hashira.
• Rokuya dismissed Tanaka and faced nearly fifty demons as they jeered and called for his flesh.

Rokuya fought fifty demons in the cavern while the captive villagers watched, and his strength began to falter under their numbers. He unleashed Returning Blade to slow several demons and restore his stamina and heal his wounds, leaving the battle still underway.

• The villagers despaired as Rokuya faced the demon horde alone, while he checked that he was still 300 Gratitude Points short of unlocking the Shadow Battle Axe.
• Rokuya used Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash to charge into the demons and split a giant demon in two with Shura Greatblade.
• Rokuya fought through the horde, but the demons' numbers and regeneration wore him down and left him wounded.
• Tanaka mocked Rokuya as he struggled, and Rokuya insulted him before deciding to stop letting the demons wear him down.
• Rokuya used Returning Blade to strike four demons, slowing them, then the projectile returned to him and restored stamina while his wounds began to heal.