Chapter Summaries

Tetsu no Sosuke confirmed the Automaton Puppet worked for training, then tried to understand the strange power behind his hammer strike. He failed to find the feeling again and planned to keep searching the next day.

• Tetsu no Sosuke tried striking the cracked stone again but could not reproduce the force that had split it.
• Tetsu no Sosuke tested the Automaton Puppet by having Kyojuro Rengoku fight it and confirmed it was working properly.
• Tetsu no Sosuke wrote the puppet's operating guide while wondering about the power behind his hammer strike.
• Kanae advised Tetsu no Sosuke to search his heart for the hidden treasure Urokodaki Sakonji and the Flame Pillar had described.
• Tetsu no Sosuke meditated in a clearing but fell asleep without finding the feeling, and Kanae encouraged him to try again tomorrow.

Tetsu no Sosuke reflected on the sensation that had let him split a boulder with his Hammer, and considered how to use it in combat. He believed it came from his experience with his weapon and forge work, but knew applying it against Demons would be difficult.

• Kanae found Tetsu no Sosuke asleep on a rock and let him rest rather than waking him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke struck the rock with his Hammer, and it split apart moments later.
• Kanae celebrated the result, while Tetsu no Sosuke wondered what Demon would give him so much time to prepare.
• Tetsu no Sosuke said he could feel something and hoped to learn to prepare more quickly.
• After resting overnight, Tetsu no Sosuke began sorting through what he had felt and concluded it likely came from his weapon familiarity, material knowledge, and forging experience.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recognized that using the sensation against Demons would require him to focus on two things.

Tetsu no Sosuke planned how to develop his new Hammer Technique and prepared to leave for the Rumble Hashira, who needed an Automaton Puppet for a disciple. After saying goodbye to the Rengoku family, Sosuke and Kanae set off, leaving Senjuro to choose his own path.

• Tetsu no Sosuke outlined the steps needed to master his new Hammer Technique and considered whether it could harm demons effectively.
• Tetsu no Sosuke learned that the Rumble Hashira wanted an Automaton Puppet for a disciple, and he thought of Zenitsu Agatsuma.
• Kyojuro Rengoku urged Tetsu no Sosuke to temper his heart as they said goodbye.
• Senjuro prepared supplies for Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae and promised to work hard.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae left the Rengoku home, and Kyojuro Rengoku told Senjuro to choose his own future.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae continued their journey to the Rumble Hashira's residence, spending New Year's together on the road and exchanging playful remarks about Shinobu's worries. At the Butterfly Estate, Shinobu fretted over their absence and wondered whether she should prepare baby clothes.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae traveled toward the Rumble Hashira's residence and celebrated New Year's together on the road.
• Kanae received Shinobu Kocho's letter, reassured her that they would return after their visit, and sent a reply back to the Butterfly Estate.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae joked about Shinobu suspecting they might return with a third person.
• Shinobu ate New Year's dinner at the Butterfly Estate and wondered whether she should prepare baby clothes.

Shinobu Kocho brooded over Tetsu no Sosuke spending time alone with her Older Sister and imagined the worst about their relationship. She woke from a nightmare and reached for scissors beside her pillow.

• Shinobu Kocho decided the Automaton Puppet project was a scheme by Tetsu no Sosuke to keep her Older Sister to himself.
• Shinobu Kocho lamented being left at the Butterfly Estate while Tetsu no Sosuke and her Older Sister traveled together.
• Shinobu Kocho imagined Tetsu no Sosuke losing control and her Older Sister resisting only briefly.
• Shinobu Kocho jolted awake from a nightmare, then picked up the scissors beside her pillow.

Shinobu Kocho worried that Tetsu no Sosuke would get Kanae pregnant and decided she would accompany him next time to protect her sister. Meanwhile, Kanae woke beside Tetsu no Sosuke and playfully wriggled against him until she sensed something dangerous and froze.

• Shinobu Kocho sewed baby clothes while imagining that Tetsu no Sosuke might have gotten Kanae pregnant.
• Shinobu Kocho decided she would go with Tetsu no Sosuke next time if Kanae returned without signs of pregnancy.
• Kanae woke beside Tetsu no Sosuke, smiled, and snuggled into his arms.
• Tetsu no Sosuke pulled Kanae tightly against him when she kept wriggling and tickling him.
• Kanae sensed something dangerous waking against her back and stopped moving when she saw Tetsu no Sosuke was still asleep.

After reaching their destination, Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae met former Rumble Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro. He broke a long silence by asking whether they were married, and they both said no.

• Tetsu no Sosuke woke at dawn and found Kanae staring at him before she called him a jerk and left the bed.
• Kanae blushed and glanced at Tetsu no Sosuke throughout the morning journey, but refused to explain her behavior.
• After another week of travel, Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae arrived safely while the Hidden members remained behind.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae sat facing Kuwajima Jigoro as he stared at them in silence.
• Kuwajima Jigoro asked whether Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae were married, and they shook their heads.

Kuwajima Jigoro urged Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae to marry and have a child, embarrassing them both. Their conversation ended when Zenitsu Agatsuma arrived, begging to be spared from training.

• Kuwajima Jigoro scolded Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae for living together unmarried and urged them to wed.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma cried out for his grandfather from outside the door.
• Kuwajima Jigoro opened the door and found Zenitsu clinging to his leg, pleading for help with his training.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recognized Zenitsu and noticed that his hair was still black.
• Kuwajima Jigoro kicked Zenitsu away and ordered him to return to training, prompting him to cry louder.

Zenitsu Agatsuma tried to ask Kanae to marry him, but Tetsu no Sosuke kicked him unconscious. After Zenitsu was carried inside to recover, Kuwajima Jigoro shared tea with Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke.

• Zenitsu Agatsuma noticed Kanae and rushed over to introduce himself and ask her to marry him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke kicked Zenitsu in the face before he could finish, knocking him unconscious.
• Kuwajima Jigoro cradled Zenitsu, who woke briefly and said he wanted to get married, then dropped him back on the floor.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma was taken inside and laid down to recover from his training aches and Tetsu no Sosuke's kick.
• Kuwajima Jigoro served tea to Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke, and the three drank together.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae stayed at Kuwajima Jigoro’s home while Zenitsu recovered, then wandered nearby. Tetsu no Sosuke said he was beginning to understand a fleeting sensation and pointed out a stone to Kanae.

• Kuwajima Jigoro apologized for Zenitsu Agatsuma and praised his disciple’s talent and perseverance, saying he lacked confidence.
• Tetsu no Sosuke suggested that praising Zenitsu could build his confidence, and Kuwajima Jigoro agreed before unexpectedly asking when Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae would have children.
• Kuwajima Jigoro offered Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae a room, then went to check on Zenitsu Agatsuma.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae settled in, explored the area, and came across a peach grove.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae he was starting to understand the feeling he had been pursuing and pointed to a stone beside the path.

Tetsu no Sosuke discovered that he could sense a rock’s fragile weak point and shatter it with a light strike. He and Kanae discussed extending the ability to demons, and he resolved to develop it into a unique combat technique.

• Tetsu no Sosuke described sensing threads of strength and fragility within a rock.
• Tetsu no Sosuke struck the rock’s weak point and shattered it with little force.
• Kanae asked whether the ability worked only on rocks, and Tetsu no Sosuke confirmed that it did for now.
• Kanae suggested that Tetsu no Sosuke try extending the ability to other beings, such as demons.
• Tetsu no Sosuke decided to develop the ability into a combat technique and celebrated by lifting Kanae and spinning with her.

Tetsu no Sosuke sensed a watcher in the woods and rushed to protect Kanae, fearing the figure might be Kokushibo. He launched a Sun Breathing attack, having decided to buy Kanae time to escape into the sunlight.

• Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke sensed someone watching them from the woods.
• Tetsu no Sosuke drew his Hammer Sword and rushed into the woods with Kanae following.
• A hidden figure attacked them with a blade, and Tetsu no Sosuke feared it might be Kokushibo.
• Tetsu no Sosuke resolved to hold the figure off and urged Kanae to escape into the sunlight.
• Tetsu no Sosuke unleashed Breath of the Sun—Form Three: Comet Waltz.

Tetsu no Sosuke used Comet Waltz to defeat the mysterious attacker after realizing he was not a demon. The attacker lay motionless, leaving Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae stunned and unsure who he was.

• Tetsu no Sosuke sensed a flaw in his opponent’s attack and redirected Comet Waltz into a downward strike.
• Tetsu no Sosuke’s hammer shattered the attacker’s sword and struck him in the chest, sending him into a tree.
• Kanae realized the attacker was not a demon, and Tetsu no Sosuke wondered why he had attacked them.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recalled sensing his opponent’s weakness and worried that his hammer blow might have killed a human.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae carried the injured Kaigaku back after he attacked them in the woods. Kanae returned to investigate the unsettling presence, while Tetsu no Sosuke continued toward Kuwajima Jigoro’s house with Kaigaku.

• Kanae examined Kaigaku and found that he had broken bones and likely internal injuries.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recognized Kaigaku as Kuwajima Jigoro’s fallen student and regretted not striking harder.
• Tetsu no Sosuke carried Kaigaku out of the woods rather than leaving him to die.
• Kanae said the woods still troubled her and turned back to investigate.
• Tetsu no Sosuke watched Kanae go, then continued toward Kuwajima Jigoro’s house with Kaigaku.

Tetsu no Sosuke brought the injured Kaigaku back to Kuwajima Jigoro, then returned to the woods to join Kanae after she investigated a strange presence. They found signs that someone had trained there, but no trace of a demon.

• Tetsu no Sosuke reasoned that Kanae should investigate the woods while he brought Kaigaku to safety.
• Tetsu no Sosuke carried Kaigaku to Kuwajima Jigoro’s cottage and explained how he and Kanae had mistaken Kaigaku for a demon.
• Kuwajima Jigoro confirmed Kaigaku was not in danger and told Tetsu no Sosuke to investigate the woods.
• Tetsu no Sosuke met Kanae on the way back and asked what she had found.
• Kanae said she had found sword marks on the trees but no demon, though both she and Tetsu no Sosuke had sensed something nonhuman.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae searched the woods but found no sign of the demon they had sensed. They decided to return at night and promised to protect each other if danger appeared.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae searched the woods again but felt no trace of the presence they had sensed.
• A farmer gave them a suspicious look as they left the woods, and Tetsu no Sosuke worried he had misunderstood what they were doing.
• Tetsu no Sosuke suggested returning at night, reasoning that the presence might be hiding during the day.
• Tetsu no Sosuke suspected the demon might have followed them, and Kanae warned him not to face danger alone.
• Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke took each other's hands and promised to keep one another safe.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae returned to Kuwajima Jigoro’s house without finding anything, though Tetsu no Sosuke suspected a demon was nearby. They planned to search again that night, while Zenitsu Agatsuma remained terrified of the Automaton Puppets and the possible demon.

• Zenitsu Agatsuma begged Kuwajima Jigoro to send away the Automaton Puppets, but Kuwajima insisted they would help him train.
• Zenitsu rushed out and crashed into Tetsu no Sosuke, then dropped to the ground and pleaded not to be killed.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kuwajima Jigoro that they had found nothing but suspected a demon was lurking nearby, and said they would check again that night.
• Zenitsu heard about the demon, stopped trying to escape, and hid beneath a blanket while Kuwajima told Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae to be careful.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae visited Kuwajima Jigoro after Kaigaku was injured, then searched the grove for the demon that night. They found no trace of it before Kanae sensed danger and rushed forward with Tetsu no Sosuke close behind.

• Kuwajima Jigoro told Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae that Kaigaku’s broken bones would heal, and Tetsu no Sosuke decided to watch Kaigaku and look for a chance to prevent future tragedy.
• Kaigaku woke near nightfall, claimed a demon had attacked him, then recognized Tetsu no Sosuke’s Hammer Sword and fell silent.
• Kuwajima Jigoro was embarrassed by the behavior of both his disciples, and Kanae changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae prepared their weapons after dinner and searched the grove, but found nothing.
• Tetsu no Sosuke sensed sudden dread as Kanae rushed forward, and he followed her.

Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke killed a strangely weak demon, but both sensed something was wrong. After they left, a demon marked “Lower One” emerged from a tree and spoke of the coming days.

• Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke found a horned demon searching the woods.
• Kanae cut the demon in half, and it shrank before she sliced off its head.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae discussed the demon’s unusual weakness and agreed to stay alert.
• After they left, eyes marked “Lower One” opened in a nearby tree, and a figure emerged from it.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae overheard a Lower Moon demon plotting to gather demons and kill Tetsu no Sosuke, so they returned to warn Kuwajima Jigoro and prepare for an attack. Tetsu no Sosuke insisted on staying because his presence might draw the demon out.

• A demon used a Blood Demon Art to deceive Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae, then left to seek help in killing Tetsu no Sosuke.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae doubled back, overheard the demon’s plan, and recognized that they could use their knowledge to seize the initiative.
• Tetsu no Sosuke urged Kanae to send a message by Kasugai Crow and summon Pillars before the demon could gather reinforcements.
• Kanae asked Tetsu no Sosuke to leave because he was the demon’s target, but he argued that staying could lure the demon into revealing himself.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae returned to Kuwajima Jigoro’s house and explained what had happened while Kaigaku and Zenitsu Agatsuma rested in their rooms.