Chapter Summaries

Kanzaki Kumo visited Makomo at the Butterfly Mansion, where she admitted her alarming joke had been meant to test whether he had changed after becoming a Hashira. Over the next twenty days he trained, patrolled, and grew close to the Butterfly family, then returned with a blank-faced little girl he had found, bringing the Butterfly Mansion sisters together.

• Makomo confessed that she had threatened to refuse treatment to frighten Kanzaki Kumo, and he warned he would take charge of her rehabilitation once she recovered.
• Kanae comforted Makomo, who admitted she had feared Kanzaki Kumo would become arrogant after becoming a Hashira, and Makomo told Kanae how they had met.
• Over the next twenty days, Kanzaki Kumo trained, checked on Makomo and other recovering swordsmen, learned first aid from the Zemu couple, and spent time with Kanae and Shinobu Kocho.
• Kanzaki Kumo searched for the unnamed girl who would become Kanao Tsuyuri while continuing his patrols and helping other Demon Slayers.
• As Makomo healed enough to begin training, Kanzaki Kumo returned to the Butterfly Mansion carrying a blank-faced little girl.

Kanzaki Kumo rescued the abused nine-year-old Kanao from her parents and carried her away. He promised that her suffering was over, gave her the name Kanao, and introduced himself.

• Kanao's father came outside to beat her after arguing with her mother, but Kanzaki Kumo swiftly picked her up and protected her.
• Kanao's parents demanded money to let Kanzaki Kumo take her, and he ignored them to comfort her.
• Kanzaki Kumo carried Kanao away, and two dull thuds followed her parents' screams.
• Kanzaki Kumo told Kanao that she would be safe, named her Kanao, and introduced himself.

Kanzaki Kumo brought Kanao to the Butterfly Mansion after rescuing her from abusive guardians and explained how he had left them gravely injured in the winter. The Butterfly family agreed to help Kanao recover, then suggested surnames for her to choose from, leaving Kanzaki as one of the options.

• Kanzaki Kumo took Kanao to town for a bath, new clothes, and a meal before bringing her to the Butterfly Mansion.
• Kanzaki Kumo told Kanae and the others how he had found Kanao and claimed her guardians had accidentally injured themselves after he paid them.
• Kanzaki Kumo explained that he had named her Kanao because her eyes resembled Kanae's, and asked the family to suggest surnames.
• Makomo, Butterfly Zemu, Kanae, and Shinobu Kocho each wrote surname suggestions, while Kanzaki Kumo wrote only Kanzaki.
• The family agreed that Kanao would choose her own surname from their suggestions.

Kanao joined the Butterfly Mansion after Kanzaki Kumo and the others helped her choose a surname. The chapter ended with Kanzaki Kumo announcing that Makomo’s special training would begin the next day.

• Kocho Delia examined Kanao, treated her injuries, and brought her to join the group.
• Kanzaki Kumo asked Kanao to choose from the surnames everyone had suggested, and she pointed to Tsuyuri.
• Kanzaki Kumo named her Kanao Tsuyuri and asked Kanae and Shinobu Kocho to look after her at the Butterfly Mansion.
• The group discussed Kanao’s care and education, then shared a dinner where Kanae and Makomo competed to feed her.
• Kanzaki Kumo told Makomo that her special training would start the next day.

Kanzaki Kumo tested Makomo’s swordsmanship and began tailoring her Water Breathing forms to suit her, then planned further stamina, reaction, and Total Concentration: Constant training. Makomo accepted his demanding instruction with renewed determination.

• Kanzaki Kumo sparred with Makomo and saw that she could not land a hit despite using her strongest Water Breathing forms.
• Kanzaki Kumo explained that Makomo needed to adapt Urokodaki’s movements to her own body and fight with greater stamina.
• Kanzaki Kumo pointed out flaws in Makomo’s sword forms, and she practiced adjusting her movements throughout the morning.
• Kanae called Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo to lunch, ending their swordsmanship training.
• Kanzaki Kumo scheduled stamina and reaction training for the afternoon and said Makomo would be woken whenever her Total Concentration Breathing stopped at night.

Kanzaki Kumo put Makomo through intensive reaction and physical training over half a month, while Kanao grew increasingly attached to him. Makomo completed her training and left with improved skills, and Kanzaki Kumo urged her to stay safe on future missions.

• Kanzaki Kumo trained Makomo to stop him from lifting cups, flicking her forehead for every ten failures.
• Kanzaki Kumo intensified Makomo’s physical conditioning while helping Kanao learn to speak, and Kanae supervised Makomo’s breathing practice at night.
• Kanao began sneaking into Kanzaki Kumo’s room to sleep in his arms, and the others eventually let her continue.
• After half a month of hard training and medicinal meals, Makomo completed her training and became capable of defeating most Kinoe Swordsmen.
• Makomo gave Kanzaki Kumo three forehead flicks to mark the end of her training, and he asked her to stay safe on missions.

Kanzaki Kumo learned that Kanae Kocho wanted to become a Demon Slayer after discovering her talent for Breathing Styles. Shinobu Kocho asked him to dissuade her, but he said Kanae had the right to choose her own path, and someone knocked on the door.

• Kanzaki Kumo returned to the Butterfly Mansion, where Shinobu Kocho pulled him into an empty storage room to speak privately.
• Shinobu Kocho told Kanzaki Kumo that Kanae Kocho had independently imitated Breathing Style techniques and persuaded their parents to let her pursue training.
• Shinobu Kocho begged Kanzaki Kumo to convince Kanae Kocho to abandon the dangerous path of becoming a Demon Slayer.
• Kanzaki Kumo learned that Kanae Kocho felt compelled to help because the Demon Slayer Corps risked their lives to protect peaceful families like hers.
• Kanzaki Kumo agreed to talk to Kanae Kocho but reminded Shinobu Kocho that Kanae had the right to choose her own life.
• Someone knocked and called, “Kanzaki-kun, are you in there?”

Kanzaki Kumo tested Kanae Kocho’s Breathing Style and resolve before agreeing to let her pursue swordsmanship in the Demon Slayer Corps. Kanae prepared to say goodbye to her family and meet a Cultivator the next morning, while Kumo comforted Shinobu Kocho and urged her to support her sister.

• Kanae Kocho demonstrated Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash, which she had learned by watching Makomo train.
• Kanzaki Kumo praised Kanae’s talent but warned that becoming a Swordsman was dangerous and asked her to explain her convictions.
• Kanae said she wanted to protect those she cared about with her own strength and accepted that choosing this path might make her family grieve.
• Kanzaki Kumo agreed not to stop Kanae from learning a Breathing Style and told her to pack, say goodbye, and meet a Cultivator the next morning.
• Kanzaki Kumo found Shinobu Kocho crying nearby, reassured her that he would protect the family, and urged her to give Kanae her blessing.

Kanzaki Kumo brought Kanae Kocho to Mount Sagiri to ask Sakonji Urokodaki to teach her Water Breathing. After accepting Kanae as a disciple, Urokodaki confronted Kumo about Makomo and Kanae’s feelings for him, and Kumo began to give his answer.

• Kanzaki Kumo and Kanae Kocho traveled to Mount Sagiri, where Makomo welcomed them and summoned Sakonji Urokodaki.
• Kumo asked Urokodaki to train Kanae, explaining that she had learned Water Breathing’s First Form by watching his instruction.
• Urokodaki agreed to take Kanae as his disciple, and Makomo happily took her to settle in and talk privately.
• Urokodaki asked Kumo how he felt about Makomo and Kanae, and Kumo began, “I choose...”

Kanzaki Kumo told Sakonji Urokodaki he wanted to pursue both girls who cared for him, and Urokodaki warned him not to make Makomo suffer. Kanae settled in at Mount Sagiri, and as Kanzaki Kumo left, he encouraged her to develop a Breathing Style that suited her talents; he ran off still feeling he had forgotten something.

• Kanzaki Kumo chose to pursue both girls, and Sakonji Urokodaki warned him that he would not forgive him if he hurt Makomo.
• Kanae explained to Makomo that she wanted to learn a Breathing Style so she could protect her family and repay the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Makomo noticed Kanae's admiration for Kanzaki Kumo and compared herself with Kanae, then the two girls playfully teased each other.
• After lunch with Sabito and Giyu, Kanzaki Kumo encouraged Kanae to use Water Breathing as a reference for creating a style suited to her.
• Kanae saw Kanzaki Kumo off, and he ran down Mount Sagiri while wondering what he had forgotten.

Kanzaki Kumo realized Kanao had not come to his room and went to check on her, finding her with Shinobu Kocho. The chapter left him entering their room as Shinobu continued working at her desk.

• Kanzaki Kumo planned a new Water Breathing technique to counter wide-area attacks before visiting the Rengoku Family to learn Flame Breathing.
• Kanzaki Kumo remembered that Kanao often sneaked into his bed and decided he might need to ask the Zemu couple to watch over her at night.
• Kanzaki Kumo noticed Kanao had not come to his room and went to check on her and Shinobu Kocho.
• Kanao eagerly opened the door, called Kanzaki Kumo her brother, and nestled into his arms when he picked her up.
• Kanzaki Kumo carried Kanao into the room and found Shinobu Kocho engrossed in work with beakers and test tubes.

Kanzaki Kumo found Shinobu Kocho researching wisteria-based poisons and learned she wanted to help protect her sister and him despite her limited strength. After Kanao and Kanzaki Kumo comforted her, he promised that everyone at the Butterfly Mansion would live safely and sent both girls to bed.

• Kanzaki Kumo discovered Shinobu Kocho researching wisteria and asked why she was working with the doors and windows shut.
• Shinobu Kocho explained that she wanted to help Kanae and Kanzaki Kumo by developing medicines and drugs effective against demons.
• Shinobu Kocho admitted she felt helpless because her small frame prevented her from fighting demons like a Swordsman.
• Kanao hugged Shinobu Kocho, and Kanzaki Kumo embraced her and promised that she, Kanae, Kanao, and everyone at the Butterfly Mansion would be safe.
• Kanzaki Kumo told Shinobu Kocho and Kanao to rest, then returned to his room resolved to make the future better.

Over the course of a month, Kanzaki Kumo trained, helped advance demon-targeting drugs, and checked on Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his students. He completed his new Eighth Form, “Storm of Blossoms,” and planned to visit the Rengoku Family next.

• Kanzaki Kumo patrolled and trained while Shinobu Kocho and Butterfly Zemu tested demon-targeting drugs, prompting Kagaya Ubuyashiki to increase their funding.
• Butterfly Zemu examined Kagaya Ubuyashiki but could only prescribe medicines to ease the symptoms of his curse-induced illness.
• Kanzaki Kumo visited Mount Sagiri, where Kanae, Makomo, Sabito, and Giyu continued their training, and Mount Momiji, where Zenitsu eagerly asked him about demon slaying.
• Kanzaki Kumo completed his new move, Eighth Form: Storm of Blossoms, which used rapid, precise thrusts to counter dense attacks.
• Kanzaki Kumo decided that his next visit would be to the Rengoku Family.

Kanzaki Kumo left the Butterfly Mansion to visit Shinjuro Rengoku and, while stopping for lunch in a town near the Rengoku home, noticed a girl devouring sakura mochi. He bought some to try, and the encounter began as he watched her eat.

• Kanzaki Kumo said goodbye to Shinobu Kocho and the Zemu couple before setting out to visit Shinjuro Rengoku.
• Butterfly Zemu and Kocho Delia discussed the growing feelings Kanae, Shinobu, and Makomo had for Kanzaki Kumo, and Delia said they should let the young people decide for themselves.
• Kanzaki Kumo traveled for three days and stopped in a town near the Rengoku home to find lunch.
• Kanzaki Kumo saw a girl with pink-to-green twin ponytails eating stacks of sweets while a crowd watched her.
• Kanzaki Kumo bought the sakura mochi the girl was eating and inspected its ingredients.

Kanzaki Kumo visited the Rengoku residence to meet Shinjuro and spar, after stopping to eat in town and glimpsing Mitsuri Kanroji. The chapter ended as Kumo countered Shinjuro’s opening Flame Breathing attack with Thunder Breathing’s Second Form.

• Kanzaki Kumo enjoyed sakura mochi, then ate a large meal at a restaurant in town.
• Kanzaki Kumo spotted Mitsuri Kanroji amid a crowd as he left town, but did not approach her.
• Kanzaki Kumo arrived at the Rengoku residence, where Kyojuro Rengoku welcomed him and brought him to Shinjuro.
• Shinjuro Rengoku challenged Kanzaki Kumo to a spar, with Kyojuro watching.
• Shinjuro attacked with Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire, and Kanzaki countered with Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit.

Kanzaki Kumo sparred with Shinjuro Rengoku, then learned the Flame Breathing forms by watching Shinjuro demonstrate them. The chapter left Kumo preparing to study the style’s principles alongside Kyojuro.

• Kanzaki Kumo and Shinjuro Rengoku sparred, and Shinjuro realized Kumo was holding back while still overcoming his Flame Breathing attacks.
• Shinjuro agreed to demonstrate every Flame Breathing form so Kumo could learn them.
• Kanzaki Kumo watched the forms once and reproduced eight of them, including the movements of the Ninth Form, Purgatory.
• Shinjuro told Kyojuro to treat Kumo’s talent as an example, and Kyojuro said he would train harder.
• Shinjuro began explaining the principles of Flame Breathing to Kumo and Kyojuro.

Kanzaki Kumo spent nearly twenty days training with the Rengoku Family, helped Ruka Rengoku receive treatment, and prepared to return to his patrol area. Meanwhile, Kanae struggled to develop a Breathing Style suited to her, and her excitement over Kanzaki Kumo’s letter revealed her feelings to Makomo.

• Kanzaki Kumo arranged for Butterfly Zemu and his wife to examine and treat Ruka Rengoku, bringing him closer to the Rengoku Family.
• Kyojuro and Senjuro kept calling Kanzaki Kumo “Senior Kanzaki,” despite his requests to use a different form of address.
• Kanzaki Kumo told Shinjuro he had learned Flame Breathing and was heading back, while Shinjuro asked to see the new sword forms he was developing.
• Kanae watched the waterfall and considered creating her own Breathing Style because Water Breathing did not suit her and she lacked strength.
• Makomo told Kanae that Kanzaki Kumo had written to say he had mastered Flame Breathing, and Kanae eagerly focused on the news of his letter.

Kanae took the first step toward creating her own Breathing Style after reading Kanzaki Kumo’s encouragement. On his way back to the Butterfly Mansion, Kumo found Mitsuri Kanroji crying and comforted her, leaving her reconsidering the traits that had made it difficult for her to find friends.

• Makomo gave Kanae a letter from Kanzaki Kumo, whose trust and encouragement helped Kanae find inspiration for her own Breathing Style.
• Kanae’s breathing changed as she began taking the first step toward creating a new Breathing Style, and Makomo noticed.
• Kanzaki Kumo left the Rengoku family and heard sobbing beneath a stone bridge in town.
• Kanzaki Kumo recognized Mitsuri Kanroji and asked why she was crying; Mitsuri said people had called her a monster for eating so much.
• Kanzaki Kumo reassured Mitsuri that her appetite, strength, and hair were not flaws and suggested she look for friends among a different group.

Kanzaki Kumo befriended Mitsuri Kanroji and encouraged her after she struggled to make friends, then returned to his routine at the Butterfly Mansion. Kanae developed Flower Breathing, and another year passed as the annual Final Selection arrived.

• Kanzaki Kumo reassured Mitsuri, agreed to be her friend, and warned her to stay safe before leaving town.
• Mitsuri watched Kanzaki Kumo disappear into the crowd, then went home eager to tell her family she had made a friend.
• Kanzaki Kumo resumed training, spending time with Shinobu Kocho and Kanao, and patrolling at night.
• Kanae created Flower Breathing, a style derived from Water Breathing with six forms.
• Another year passed, and the annual Final Selection came around again.

Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo met again at Mount Fujikasane, where they had been assigned as examiners for the Final Selection. As they waited for the candidates, Makomo reflected on her feelings for Kumo and told him that Kanae would also be taking part.

• Kanzaki Kumo arrived at Mount Fujikasane and greeted chief examiners Hinaki Ubuyashiki and Nichika Ubuyashiki.
• Makomo arrived, and she and Kumo laughed over becoming examiner partners after once serving together on their first mission.
• Makomo told Kumo that she had recently become a Kinoe swordsman and that Kanae would be attending the Final Selection.
• Kumo recalled trying to persuade Kanae to wait another year, but Makomo said Kanae was stubborn about important matters.
• Makomo remembered their first walk through the selection grounds a year earlier and considered how Kumo had helped her survive.
• Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo found a rise with a good view and waited for the Final Selection to begin.