Recaps

Muichiro Tokito fought Kokushibo, who revealed that he was Tokito’s ancestor and tried to persuade him to become a demon. After Kokushibo’s face developed a Demon Slayer Mark, he set Tokito down and walked toward the hot springs, leaving Tokito hurt and wondering who he intended to confront.

• Kokushibo outmaneuvered Tokito, slammed him against a tree, and severed his thumb.
• Kokushibo killed the shadow demon after it urged him to kill Tokito.
• Kokushibo told Tokito that he was his ancestor and that the Tsugikuni bloodline ran through Tokito’s veins.
• Kokushibo bound Tokito’s severed thumb back onto his hand and invited him to become a demon.
• Kokushibo’s face developed a Demon Slayer Mark, and he lowered Tokito to the ground before walking toward the hot springs.

Kokushibo entered the hot spring to confront Su Chen, while Kaigaku hid nearby and stole Kokushibo’s Nichirin Blade. Su Chen revealed that he knew Kokushibo’s human identity, provoking a tense response.

• Tokito left immediately to protect the Swordsmith Village’s people and resources, while Kokushibo continued toward the hot spring.
• Kokushibo entered the hot spring after Su Chen invited him to talk, and Kaigaku emerged from hiding outside.
• Kaigaku decided to wait for a chance to attack, then slipped into the changing room and stole Kokushibo’s Nichirin Blade.
• Su Chen identified Kokushibo as Upper Rank One and named him as Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s older brother, Tsugikuni Michikatsu.
• Kokushibo reacted angrily to hearing Yoriichi’s name and warned Su Chen that he would make his suffering brief.

Su Chen refused Kokushibo’s offer to become a demon and faced him in battle, narrowly dodging Kokushibo’s opening strike. After studying Kokushibo’s Flesh Blade, Su Chen used his blood and bodily control to forge a similar blade, revealing himself as a Demon Eater and astonishing Kokushibo.

• Su Chen refused Kokushibo’s invitation to become a demon and agreed to fight him.
• Kokushibo drew a Flesh Blade from his arm and attacked with Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace.
• Su Chen activated his Time Domain and dodged Kokushibo’s opening slash, though the demon’s speed shocked him.
• Su Chen recalled how Kokushibo formed his blade, then used his blood and bodily control to forge a blade of his own.
• Kokushibo recognized Su Chen as a Demon Eater and was stunned that he had copied the Flesh Blade so quickly.

Su Chen countered Kokushibo’s Blood Demon Art and Moon Breathing attacks, then wounded him with a Moon Breathing strike combined with Wind Dragon Form. Kokushibo grew excited by the challenge and tried to identify the Breathing Style behind Su Chen’s next move.

• Kokushibo transformed his Flesh Blade with Blood Demon Art: Demonic Blade Transformation and challenged Su Chen to imitate it.
• Kokushibo attacked with Moon Breathing’s First and Second Forms, but Su Chen blocked the scattered crescent blades and deflected the main slashes with his own transforming blade.
• Su Chen countered with Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon: Evening Palace, then used Wind Dragon Form, First Form: Wind Roaming, Heavenly Soar to cut Kokushibo beneath his left arm.
• Kokushibo was stunned to find himself wounded, then became excited by Su Chen’s strength.
• Su Chen prepared another attack while Kokushibo tried to guess which Breathing Style it used.

Su Chen used Sun Breathing to defeat Kokushibo’s attack, forcing Kokushibo to confront his fear of Yoriichi Tsugikuni and withdraw. Exhausted from forging a Flesh Blade with his blood, Su Chen sensed another nearby presence whose strength seemed manageable.

• Kokushibo recognized Su Chen’s technique as Sun Breathing and remembered his jealousy of Yoriichi Tsugikuni and his inability to master the style.
• Su Chen and Kokushibo clashed with Sun Breathing’s Dance and Moon Breathing’s First Form, Dark Moon: Evening Palace.
• Kokushibo’s fear resurfaced during the clash, and his Moon Breathing collapsed before Su Chen’s attack; he admitted defeat and left.
• Su Chen dismissed the Flesh Blade and realized that forging it and fighting had nearly depleted his blood energy.
• Su Chen detected someone nearby with his Perception Compass and judged that the presence was not very strong.

Su Chen received a letter from Akaza through Chachamaru, while Akaza stayed with Tamayo and Yushiro and agreed to follow Tamayo’s rules. Elsewhere, Kokushibo found Kaigaku impaled on the transformed Flesh Blade and realized he was still alive.

• Chachamaru delivered Akaza’s letter to Su Chen, who learned Akaza had found Tamayo and persuaded her to help with their request.
• Akaza told Tamayo and Yushiro he had escaped Muzan’s control, and Tamayo warned him not to feed on humans or use violence.
• Kokushibo brooded over Su Chen’s Sun Breathing and his own inability to defeat it with Moon Breathing.
• Kokushibo discovered Kaigaku impaled by the Flesh Blade he had left behind and noticed that Kaigaku was still breathing.

Kokushibo turned the dying Kaigaku into a demon, and Kaigaku attacked him before Kokushibo left. Kaigaku then hunted Kotetsu through the Swordsmith Village until Mitsuri Kanroji intervened, and she asked Kotetsu what had happened.

• Kokushibo gave Kaigaku his blood, and Kaigaku’s wounds healed as he transformed into a demon.
• Kaigaku attacked Kokushibo, who disarmed him and judged him strong enough to become Upper Rank Six before leaving on Muzan’s summons.
• Kaigaku followed the scent of Kotetsu, who tried to evade him through the Swordsmith Village until Kaigaku cut down a tree with a Thunder Breathing attack.
• Mitsuri Kanroji blocked Kaigaku and severed his blade, but Kaigaku escaped as sunlight reached him.
• Mitsuri checked that Kotetsu was safe and asked him what had happened in the Swordsmith Village.

After Kokushibo’s attack, Su Chen examined the badly injured Muichiro Tokito and discovered that he had fractures, severe wounds, and poison from an Upper Rank’s blade. Tokito needed treatment and the recovery of his lost memories to wake up, leaving Su Chen and the others facing a critical, uncertain chance to save him.

• Shinobu Kocho, Kanao Tsuyuri, Muichiro Tokito, and Kanamori gathered with Su Chen to discuss Kokushibo’s attack, while Tokito coughed up blood.
• Tokito tried to insist he was fine, then collapsed unconscious, and Shinobu Kocho found that his injuries were too severe for her to assess fully.
• Su Chen examined Tokito with the Time Domain and found multiple fractures, swollen injuries, and signs that he was unconscious.
• Su Chen told Shinobu Kocho that Tokito had been poisoned by Kokushibo’s blade, and she agreed to neutralize the toxin.
• Su Chen warned Kanamori that Tokito’s mental block and severe memory loss had to be overcome for him to wake, and that he might have only one chance.

After Upper Rank One attacked the Swordsmith Village and Tokito fell into a coma, Kagaya Ubuyashiki made a grave plan and called an urgent Hashira Meeting. The meeting revealed Su Chen's fight with Upper Rank One and ended with the Stone Hashira affirming that the Corps would protect Su Chen.

• Su Chen sent Tokito to the Butterfly Mansion and asked Shinobu Kocho to contact him when Tokito woke.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki heard Lady Amane's report about Upper Rank One and Tokito, then whispered a plan that alarmed her because it would cost him his life.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki called an urgent Hashira Meeting attended by the Stone Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, and Su Chen.
• Lady Amane recounted the Swordsmith Village attack, and Su Chen said he had fought Upper Rank One before the demon escaped.
• The Stone Hashira praised Su Chen's role in the Corps and said the Demon Slayer Corps would mobilize to protect him if he were in danger.

At a Hashira meeting, Lady Amane revealed that Luo Chuan had leaked information that led to Kokushibo’s attack on the Swordsmith Village, then announced that Hashira Training would begin in a week. After the meeting, she asked Su Chen to examine Kagaya Ubuyashiki, whose illness had become extremely serious.

• Lady Amane told the Hashira that Kaigaku had become a demon and that the Corps had uncovered Luo Chuan as a spy who may have exposed the Swordsmith Village.
• The Stone Hashira and Giyu thanked Su Chen for helping defend the Swordsmith Village, and Su Chen credited Tokito for standing against Kokushibo.
• Su Chen warned that the demons would make a major move, and Lady Amane announced that Hashira Joint Training would start in one week.
• Lady Amane asked Su Chen to examine Kagaya Ubuyashiki, explaining that his illness was severe and that previous doctors had been unable to help.

Su Chen examined Kagaya Ubuyashiki and discovered that his body was being ravaged by a mysterious curse-like illness. Believing he might help by awakening Kagaya’s Demon Slayer Mark, Su Chen began channeling his fighting spirit into him, leaving Lady Amane astonished by his promise that he could do something.

• Su Chen went with Lady Amane to examine the gravely ill Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
• Su Chen used the Transparent World to detect widespread organ failure and rapidly deteriorating, mutated cells in Kagaya’s body.
• Su Chen suspected the illness was connected to Muzan and considered whether it resembled cancer or the effects of the Demon Slayer Mark.
• Su Chen decided to try awakening Kagaya’s Demon Slayer Mark by channeling his fighting spirit and vitality into him.
• Su Chen warned Kagaya that the attempt might hurt but could give him a way to help, and Lady Amane reacted in astonishment.

Su Chen prepared to treat Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s curse by channeling fighting spirit into his failing body, warning Kagaya and Amane Ubuyashiki that the process could be fatal. As he began, Su Chen used his abilities to perceive Kagaya’s faint life line and realized he could not delay.

• Su Chen assured Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane Ubuyashiki that he had a treatment method, but warned that it was dangerous.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Amane agreed to proceed, and Amane told Su Chen she would not blame him if he failed.
• Su Chen placed both hands over Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s heart and focused on their heartbeats.
• Su Chen activated time domain and Clairaudience, entered his memory palace’s core, and saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s dangerously weak life line.
• As the life line weakened further, Su Chen stopped waiting, and his hands began to move.

Su Chen used Fighting Spirit to strengthen Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s heart, and Kagaya felt warmth, easier breathing, and the return of some sensations. Su Chen judged that the heart had recovered enough to withstand a stronger treatment and prepared to begin the next stage.

• Su Chen infused Fighting Spirit into Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s heart to improve its strength and blood circulation.
• Kagaya cried out from the treatment’s intense comfort, and Amane feared he was in pain.
• Kagaya reassured Amane that he felt comfortable and noticed that his breathing and sense of taste had improved.
• Amane believed Kagaya and moved behind them so she would not disturb the treatment.
• Su Chen saw that Kagaya’s heart had recovered enough and prepared to increase the Fighting Spirit for the next stage.

Su Chen pushed Kagaya Ubuyashiki through the first two stages of his treatment, forcing Fighting Spirit through his body as Kagaya endured excruciating pain and lost consciousness. Su Chen prepared to begin the final, life-or-death stage of awakening Kagaya’s Demon Slayer Mark.

• Su Chen began circulating Fighting Spirit through Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s heart and blood to purify it and restore his internal organs.
• Kagaya screamed and suffered unbearable pain as the Fighting Spirit spread through his body, while Lady Amane mistook his distress for a sign that the treatment was working.
• Kagaya hallucinated a brutal memory of his mother beating him, then fell unconscious; Lady Amane believed he had peacefully fallen asleep.
• Su Chen watched Kagaya’s wildly fluctuating lifeline in the Memory Palace and completed the second stage of treatment.
• Su Chen began breathing with Total Concentration and raised both hands to inject Fighting Spirit for the final stage, leaving Kagaya’s survival to his willpower and body.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki awoke from a dream of his mother after Su Chen activated his Demon Slayer Mark. Though his body remained weak, he could move and stand again, leaving Lady Amane and Kagaya overwhelmed with joy.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki dreamed that he had returned to childhood, spoke with his mother, and resolved to keep leading the Demon Slayer Corps despite his pain.
• Kagaya's body manifested black marks and wisteria blossoms as he began to awaken from the dream.
• Kagaya woke in his room beside Lady Amane, and Su Chen told him that he had activated Kagaya's Demon Slayer Mark.
• Kagaya discovered that he could move, then stood with Lady Amane's help and celebrated his regained strength.

Su Chen saved Kagaya Ubuyashiki by using fighting spirit to awaken his Demon Slayer Mark, breaking the Ubuyashiki Clan’s curse and discovering that his own fighting spirit had grown stronger. He left wondering how to protect Shinobu Kocho and other marked Demon Slayers from shortened lifespans without risking their lives through Cellular Restructuring.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki stood up and saw that he had awakened a Demon Slayer Mark, then knelt to thank Su Chen for saving him.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Lady Amane promised to remember Su Chen’s kindness and offer him help, but Su Chen fled from their repeated gratitude.
• Su Chen realized that saving Kagaya Ubuyashiki had prevented turmoil in the Demon Slayer Corps and confirmed that fighting spirit could help someone awaken a Demon Slayer Mark.
• Su Chen discovered that his fighting spirit had recovered and broken through, but he worried that Demon Slayer Marks would shorten the lives of Shinobu Kocho and the other Hashira.
• Su Chen considered using fighting spirit to awaken Shinobu Kocho’s mark and perform Cellular Restructuring, but remembered that one attempt had nearly overwhelmed Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Su Chen visited the unconscious Muichiro Tokito at the Butterfly Mansion, where Shinobu Kocho told him about her assignment to work with Tamayo and her hatred of demons. After learning his Hashira training would come last, Su Chen asked Shinobu to show him where Zenitsu was staying.

• Su Chen returned to the Butterfly Mansion and learned from Shinobu Kocho that Muichiro Tokito remained unconscious despite having his external injuries treated.
• Shinobu Kocho told Su Chen that Oyakata-sama had ordered her to work with Tamayo, and she insisted she would still hate demons even if one had not eaten anyone.
• Su Chen asked Shinobu what she would do if someone close to her became a demon, and Shinobu said she would protect them but would kill them if they betrayed the humans.
• Shinobu told Su Chen that his Hashira training would be scheduled last, and Su Chen said he had thought of what his training should be.
• Su Chen asked Shinobu where Zenitsu was staying, and she led him toward the inpatient ward, pointing out the blond boy.

Su Chen visited the sleeping Zenitsu at the Butterfly Mansion, where volunteers’ admiration briefly disrupted their conversation. He told Zenitsu that Kaigaku had become a demon and asked what their shared master would do.

• Shinobu Kocho showed Su Chen the injured Zenitsu and explained that he had not woken since his mission.
• Su Chen sent Shinobu Kocho to her experiments and approached Zenitsu, who woke suddenly and feared him.
• A volunteer tried to make Zenitsu answer Su Chen’s questions, but Su Chen sent him away after realizing the volunteers were his fans.
• Su Chen told Zenitsu that Kaigaku had become a demon and asked what their master would do about his former senior.

Su Chen rushed Zenitsu back to Jigoro Kuwajima’s mountain, then revealed he had delayed the news of Kaigaku becoming a demon to keep Jigoro from committing seppuku. Zenitsu agreed to take Su Chen to his grandfather so Su Chen could learn the other Thunder Breathing forms, and they found Jigoro dozing outside his home.

• Su Chen warned Zenitsu that Jigoro might commit seppuku because Kaigaku had become a demon, prompting Zenitsu to hurry home with him.
• Su Chen brought Zenitsu to his mountain in half a day, then explained that he had blacklisted Jigoro from the news so he would not hear about Kaigaku yet.
• Zenitsu realized Su Chen had manipulated him into returning quickly and that delaying the news might have saved Jigoro’s life.
• Su Chen admitted he wanted to learn Thunder Breathing from Jigoro, and Zenitsu agreed to take him up the mountain.
• Zenitsu and Su Chen reached the wooden house and saw Jigoro sitting outside, asleep in a chair.

Su Chen and Zenitsu visited Jigoro Kuwajima, where Zenitsu’s tearful reunion turned into a scolding before Jigoro recognized Su Chen as the Dragon Hashira. When Zenitsu tried to grab Su Chen’s tea, Jigoro unleashed a powerful electrical attack, and Su Chen activated his Time Domain to study it.

• Zenitsu rushed to Jigoro Kuwajima as he napped, knocked him over, and cried that he had feared Jigoro had died by seppuku.
• Jigoro woke, scolded Zenitsu for his remark, and then noticed Su Chen standing behind him.
• Jigoro sensed Su Chen’s tightly controlled Fighting Spirit and asked whether he was a Hashira.
• Su Chen introduced himself as the Dragon Hashira, and Jigoro warmly invited him inside and brewed him tea.
• Zenitsu tried to seize Su Chen’s tea, so Jigoro attacked him with electricity.
• Su Chen activated his Time Domain and focused on Jigoro’s movements to observe how he controlled the electric ions.

Su Chen visited Jigoro Kuwajima with Zenitsu and told him about the Swordsmith Village attack and Kaigaku’s betrayal. Jigoro learned that Kaigaku had become a demon and helped expose the village, and he was left grieving over his former disciple.

• Jigoro Kuwajima defeated Zenitsu, then sat with Su Chen and discussed the Demon Slayer Corps and the Swordsmith Village incident.
• Su Chen told Jigoro that the Swordsmith Village had been exposed and that Tokito remained unconscious after Kokushibo’s attack.
• Jigoro welcomed Zenitsu home and tried to comfort him, but Zenitsu struggled to explain what had happened to Kaigaku.
• Su Chen revealed that Kaigaku had become a demon, and Jigoro tried to kill himself with his hand after Zenitsu took away his Nichirin Blade.
• Su Chen stopped Jigoro and confirmed that Kaigaku had likely exposed the Swordsmith Village’s location, leaving Jigoro devastated.

Su Chen stopped Jigoro Kuwajima from committing seppuku over Kaigaku becoming a demon and challenged him to take responsibility by dealing with his wayward disciple himself. Jigoro decided to go down the mountain to confront Kaigaku, but Su Chen cautioned that there was no need to rush.

• Jigoro Kuwajima asked Su Chen to take Zenitsu as his Tsuguko, but Su Chen refused for now and knocked Zenitsu unconscious so they could talk privately.
• Jigoro took Zenitsu's sword and tried to commit seppuku, but Su Chen stopped him and argued that Jigoro should deal with Kaigaku himself.
• Su Chen accused Jigoro of trying to leave Kaigaku's punishment to him, and Jigoro reconsidered his plan to die before acting.
• Jigoro woke Zenitsu and announced that he would go down the mountain to deal with Kaigaku, while Zenitsu refused to hand over his sword.
• Su Chen told Jigoro that going down the mountain immediately would be too hasty.

Zenitsu promised that Su Chen would learn Thunder Breathing, so Jigoro Kuwajima agreed to demonstrate the style’s forms. After Su Chen watched Jigoro perform the First and Second Forms, Jigoro began preparing to show the Third.

• Zenitsu told Jigoro that he had promised to teach Su Chen Thunder Breathing, and Jigoro protested before agreeing to guide Su Chen.
• Su Chen explained that he knew the First Form but wanted to learn the remaining techniques from Jigoro, the only person who knew the complete style.
• Jigoro demonstrated Thunderclap and Flash, moving so quickly that Su Chen’s Time Domain briefly lost track of him.
• Su Chen analyzed the First Form and recalled how Zenitsu had developed variations such as Sixfold Strike, Eightfold Strike, and Godspeed.
• Jigoro performed the Second Form, Rice Spirit, with five rapid slashes, then began gathering power for the Third Form.

Jigoro Kuwajima demonstrated Thunder Breathing for Su Chen, who instantly learned and improved the Third Form by creating Chidori Stream. Jigoro then performed the remaining forms, while Su Chen recalled Zenitsu’s unique Seventh Form.

• Jigoro Kuwajima began demonstrating Thunder Breathing’s Third Form despite Zenitsu’s worries, and Su Chen quickly developed Chidori Stream from it.
• Jigoro Kuwajima was stunned by Su Chen’s new technique, then faltered when excitement disrupted his breathing; Su Chen healed his age-related ailments with Demon Hand Massage.
• Jigoro Kuwajima prepared to demonstrate the Third Form again, but Su Chen said he had already learned it and asked to see the next form.
• Jigoro Kuwajima angrily demonstrated Thunder Breathing’s Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms while Zenitsu mocked the Fourth Form’s slowness.
• Su Chen recalled Zenitsu’s Seventh Form, Fire Thunder God, and Zenitsu praised Jigoro Kuwajima for demonstrating every form.

Su Chen and Zenitsu persuaded Jigoro Kuwajima not to risk his life searching for Kaigaku, and Su Chen pushed Zenitsu to prepare to face his senior fellow disciple himself. The next morning, Su Chen arrived at the Butterfly Mansion alone.

• Zenitsu tried to fool Jigoro Kuwajima during their sparring, but Jigoro caught on and kept beating him until Su Chen interrupted them.
• Su Chen reflected on his Breathing Styles and his goal of learning every fundamental style to create a stronger one.
• Zenitsu admitted he had been pretending during the sparring and explained that he wanted Jigoro to stay alive; Su Chen and Zenitsu persuaded Jigoro to remain behind.
• On their way back, Su Chen told Zenitsu that he would have to face Kaigaku if they found him, and Zenitsu reluctantly vowed to finish his senior fellow disciple.
• After traveling together all day, Su Chen and Zenitsu parted at the foot of the Demon Slayer Corps' mountain; the following dawn, Su Chen reached the Butterfly Mansion alone.