Chapter Summaries

Kanae treated Tetsu no Sosuke’s injuries and learned that he had encountered one of the Twelve Demon Moons. As Tetsu no Sosuke recounted his mission, the Hidden members wondered about his relationship with Kanae, and one hinted that she had taught him swordsmanship.

• Kanae arrived at the courtyard and pushed Tetsu no Sosuke onto a straw mat to examine his injuries.
• Kanae scolded Tetsu no Sosuke for repeatedly getting hurt, and he explained that his routine mission had brought him face-to-face with one of the Twelve Demon Moons.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recounted the previous night’s events while Kashima Taro and Kotani Tetsuya listened in disbelief.
• Kashima Taro asked a Hidden member about Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke’s relationship.
• The Hidden member said Kanae had taught Tetsu no Sosuke swordsmanship and urged Kashima Taro to read between the lines.

Tetsu no Sosuke learned that Sato Ami's legs might still be reattached, but the chance was slim and treatment could not wait. Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke prepared to wake Sato Ami so she could decide what she wanted.

• A Hidden member told Kashima Taro about Tetsu no Sosuke's reputation, his connection to the Flower Pillar, and his past victory over one of the Twelve Demon Moons.
• Kashima Taro recalled how Tetsu no Sosuke had saved him, Sato Ami, and Kotani Tetsuya from the demons.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked Kanae whether Sato Ami's severed legs could be reattached.
• Kanae said there was still a slim chance, but treatment had to begin soon.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae agreed to wake Sato Ami and ask what she wanted.

Tetsu no Sosuke and the others waited outside while Kanae treated Sato Ami, who had chosen to have her severed arm reattached. As they waited to leave for the Butterfly Estate, Tetsu no Sosuke asked Kotani Tetsuya how he had recognized the disguised demon.

• Sato Ami chose the reattachment, and Tetsu no Sosuke sent two girls from the Hidden inside to help Kanae while the others waited outside.
• Sato Ami screamed during the treatment as the Hidden prepared for the group to leave; Kotani Tetsuya would go to the Butterfly Estate, while Kashima Taro would go elsewhere.
• Tetsu no Sosuke worried that Big White Wolf had eaten a demon's arm, then watched it lie on his feet.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked Kotani Tetsuya how he had realized the servant was a demon, and Kotani Tetsuya explained that he had smelled decay on him from his experience handling corpses.

Tetsu no Sosuke explained why he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, while Kashima Taro misunderstood his ambition as a desire to live with the Flower Pillar. Sato Ami’s scream reminded them that even with greater strength, they still faced death, and the group fell into a somber silence.

• Kashima Taro asked Tetsu no Sosuke whether he had come from the Swordsmith Village and why he joined the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Tetsu no Sosuke said he wanted to gain power, control his fate, and live the life he wanted.
• Kashima Taro imagined that Tetsu no Sosuke wanted to win over the Flower Pillar and admired him as a role model.
• Sato Ami screamed from inside the room, prompting Kotani Tetsuya to reflect on the danger and cost of their lives as Demon Slayers.
• The group grew somber as Tetsu no Sosuke stroked Big Hammer, aware that strength could not guarantee survival.

Tetsu no Sosuke urged Kotani Tetsuya and Kashima Taro to overcome their fear and keep training, while Kanae treated a wounded girl. The two recruits were left stunned by Sosuke’s familiarity with the Flower Pillar.

• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kotani Tetsuya and Kashima Taro to use their brushes with death to grow stronger instead of giving in to fear.
• Kanae came out of the courtyard, and Kotani Tetsuya and Kashima Taro bowed to the Flower Pillar.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked Kanae how the treatment went, and she said she had reattached the girl’s limb but could not say how much use she would regain.
• Kanae remarked that Tetsu no Sosuke had encountered the Twelve Demon Moons unusually often, then wondered if he could somehow detect them.
• Tetsu no Sosuke tapped Kanae’s forehead, leaving Kotani Tetsuya and Kashima Taro astonished by his familiarity with a Pillar.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae visited the injured Sato Ami and checked on Big Hammer after he ate a Demon's arm. Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae that Master had asked when they were getting married, leaving her blushing and at a loss for words.

• Kanae noticed Kashima Taro and Kotani Tetsuya watching her and Tetsu no Sosuke, and the men joked about how moved they felt.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae went inside with Kashima Taro and Kotani Tetsuya to see the unconscious Sato Ami, whose injuries left the men speechless.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae that Big Hammer had eaten a Demon's arm, and she examined him but found no immediate problem.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae that Master had asked when they were getting married, and Kanae blushed and struggled to respond.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae shared an affectionate moment before the Hidden interrupted them by bringing a stretcher into the courtyard. Tetsu no Sosuke laughed at how quickly they had found it.

• Kanae asked Tetsu no Sosuke how he had answered a woman, and he told her exactly what they had said.
• Kanae reassured herself that Tetsu no Sosuke had not let the exchange go to his head and declared that he belonged to her.
• Kanae worried over Tetsu no Sosuke's torn clothes and offered to sew him new clothes, shoes, and socks.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae nearly kissed before the courtyard gate opened, making them separate in embarrassment.
• Members of the Hidden carried a stretcher into the courtyard, and Tetsu no Sosuke laughed at how quickly they had found it.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae parted from the injured Demon Slayers and returned to the Butterfly Estate. Kanae reassured Tetsu no Sosuke about the Corps’ dangers, and Shinobu Kocho learned that he had slain another of the Twelve Demon Moons.

• The Hidden carefully carried Sato Ami away on a stretcher while Kotani Tetsuya returned to the Butterfly Estate to recover.
• Kashima Taro said goodbye to Tetsu no Sosuke and the others, and the groups went their separate ways.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reflected on the Demon Slayer Corps’ death toll, and Kanae told him to focus on protecting others and doing his duty.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae rode Big Hammer ahead of the Hidden and reached the Butterfly Estate two days later.
• Tetsu no Sosuke’s wounds nearly healed, but Kanae kept him in bed for two more days.
• Shinobu Kocho teased Tetsu no Sosuke for getting injured early in his mission, then fell silent when she learned he had slain another of the Twelve Demon Moons.

After recovering, Tetsu no Sosuke served sugar-fried cicadas at dinner, horrified the women and girls, and insisted the dish was delicious. Kanae ordered him restrained while she and Shinobu Kocho treated the food as a possible poison, leaving the fate of the dish uncertain.

• Tetsu no Sosuke ate watermelon in the courtyard and noticed Kanao watching a cicada.
• Tetsu no Sosuke served sugar-fried cicadas at dinner, and Shinobu Kocho drew her Nichirin Blade in alarm.
• Kanao repeatedly tossed her coin before finally trying to decide whether to eat the cicadas.
• Tetsu no Sosuke ate a cicada and praised its taste while the others watched in horror.
• Kanae ordered the women and girls to pin Tetsu no Sosuke down, checked him for poisoning, and told Shinobu Kocho to analyze the dish.

Kuwajima Jigoro came to apologize to Tetsu no Sosuke for Kaigaku’s actions and took responsibility for failing to teach him. Tetsu no Sosuke tried to help the old man rise, while Zenitsu Agatsuma knelt behind him, trembling.

• Tetsu no Sosuke wondered whether to visit Kotani Tetsuya and Sato Ami, but learned that Kuwajima Jigoro had arrived.
• Tetsu no Sosuke went to meet Kuwajima Jigoro and considered how the old man might feel about Kaigaku’s death.
• Tetsu no Sosuke found Kuwajima Jigoro and Zenitsu Agatsuma kneeling with their foreheads to the floor.
• Kuwajima Jigoro apologized for Kaigaku’s threats and said he did not dare ask for forgiveness.
• Tetsu no Sosuke tried to help Kuwajima Jigoro up and told him he had already forgiven him.

Tetsu no Sosuke tried to stop Kuwajima Jigoro from committing seppuku over Kaigaku’s crimes. He argued that Jigoro’s death would burden the living and leave Zenitsu Agatsuma to pay for something he had not done.

• Kuwajima Jigoro apologized to Tetsu no Sosuke for Kaigaku’s actions and declared that he would commit seppuku.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma begged Tetsu no Sosuke to forgive Jigoro and offered to die in his place.
• Tetsu no Sosuke pulled Jigoro to his feet and urged him to stay alive for Zenitsu’s sake.
• Jigoro offered to leave Zenitsu in Tetsu no Sosuke’s care as repayment for Kaigaku’s wrongdoing.
• Tetsu no Sosuke argued that Jigoro’s death would make him feel guilty and force Zenitsu to bear the consequences of Kaigaku’s actions.

Tetsu no Sosuke persuaded Kuwajima Jigoro to atone by choosing better disciples and devoting himself to the Demon Slayer Corps. Afterward, Jigoro realized he had been tricked into accepting a difficult life of service, while Zenitsu Agatsuma remained confused.

• Kuwajima Jigoro agreed to Tetsu no Sosuke's demands: carefully judge future disciples, train promising children, and devote himself to the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kuwajima Jigoro to stop dwelling on the past, rest, and tour the Butterfly Estate the next day.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma followed Kuwajima Jigoro to their room, still puzzled by what had happened.
• Kuwajima Jigoro realized Tetsu no Sosuke had fooled him into accepting a demanding life of service.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma called Jigoro's new commitment nearly the same as killing himself.

Kuwajima Jigoro decided to keep living and train swordsmen for the Demon Slayer Corps, while Zenitsu Agatsuma misunderstood the moment as a chance to seek a wife. Shinobu Kocho arrived with food and knocked Zenitsu across the room when he tried to propose to her.

• Kuwajima Jigoro realized that living and training strong swordsmen could help atone for his past and decided not to die.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma celebrated Kuwajima Jigoro's decision and rushed off to find someone to marry.
• Zenitsu Agatsuma proposed to the young woman outside the door, and she knocked him into the wall.
• Shinobu Kocho introduced herself to Kuwajima Jigoro and explained that Tetsu no Sosuke had sent her with food.
• Kuwajima Jigoro introduced the battered boy as his student, Zenitsu Agatsuma.

Shinobu Kocho left after teasing Tetsu no Sosuke about proposing to her, then watched Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke flirt. As they walked together beneath the stars, they discussed Kuwajima Jigoro and Kaigaku, leaving Tetsu no Sosuke reflecting on what he had overlooked.

• Shinobu Kocho stormed out of the courtyard after Tetsu no Sosuke teased her about being an aging single woman.
• Kanae agreed to teach Tetsu no Sosuke a lesson, alarming Shinobu Kocho when he invited her to his room.
• Tetsu no Sosuke walked beneath the stars holding Kanae's hand and nervously looked around for Shinobu Kocho.
• Kanae admitted she was afraid of Shinobu Kocho, and she and Tetsu no Sosuke smiled at each other.
• Kanae asked about the Former Rumble Hashira, and Tetsu no Sosuke said Kuwajima Jigoro had likely accepted things and reflected on how much Kaigaku meant to him.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae discussed the guilt an old Hashira felt over Kaigaku and Kanao’s growing independence, then shared a playful moment about their own “illnesses.” The next day, Kotani Tetsuya praised Tetsu no Sosuke for his dealings with the Twelve Demon Moons, revealing that the Hidden had spread stories about him.

• Tetsu no Sosuke explained that Kaigaku’s betrayal had deeply wounded his former trainer, who blamed himself for raising him.
• Kanae told Tetsu no Sosuke that Kanao had shown progress by refusing something she found unbearable.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae joked that love could cure illness, and Tetsu no Sosuke called his own illness lovesickness.
• Tetsu no Sosuke visited the recovering Kotani Tetsuya and Sato Ami the next day.
• Kotani Tetsuya apologized for underestimating Tetsu no Sosuke and said the Hidden had told him about Tetsu no Sosuke’s success with the Twelve Demon Moons.

Tetsu no Sosuke visited Sato Ami, but Shinobu Kocho’s odd reaction left him confused about Ami’s condition and his relationship with her. A Kasugai Crow then sent him on a routine mission, which he completed with ease.

• Tetsu no Sosuke visited Sato Ami while Shinobu Kocho was treating her.
• Shinobu asked whether Ami was pretty, then accused Tetsu no Sosuke of being fickle and rushed off to tell her sister.
• Sato Ami told Tetsu no Sosuke that she was engaged, leaving him confused.
• A Kasugai Crow delivered Tetsu no Sosuke a new Demon Slayer Corps mission.
• Tetsu no Sosuke quickly defeated the demon with his Hammer Sword and completed the mission.

After receiving an assignment to investigate suspected Demon activity west of the inn, Tetsu no Sosuke reached the mountain path and waited for another Demon Slayer. As he started to doze, he heard someone sneaking up behind him.

• Tetsu no Sosuke received a Kasugai Crow's message about more than ten missing people and suspected Demon activity ten li west.
• Tetsu no Sosuke set out after breakfast and spent much of the journey asking locals for information.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reached the mountain path and waited for the Demon Slayer assigned to meet him.
• Tetsu no Sosuke heard rustling behind him and wondered whether a thief was sneaking up on him.

Tetsu no Sosuke mistook Shinobu Kocho for a thief and nearly struck her with his Iron Hammer. They traded accusations and challenged each other to fight, but Sosuke refused, suspecting Shinobu was setting him up to complain to her older sister.

• Tetsu no Sosuke swung his Iron Hammer at someone sneaking up behind him, but changed its course when he saw Shinobu Kocho and smashed the boulder instead.
• Shinobu Kocho accused Tetsu no Sosuke of trying to kill her and threatened to tell her older sister.
• Tetsu no Sosuke pointed to the foxtail grass in Shinobu Kocho's hand and accused her of sneaking up to do something while he slept.
• Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke argued about their past fight and challenged each other to a match.
• Tetsu no Sosuke put away his Hammer Sword and refused to fight, claiming Shinobu Kocho would fake injuries and accuse him to her older sister.

Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke met to work together in the mountains, but fell into their usual bickering before stopping to share lunch. They remained on the mission together as Tetsu no Sosuke reflected on his salary from the Demon Slayer Corps.

• Shinobu Kocho arrived and tried to sneak up on Tetsu no Sosuke with a foxtail grass stem.
• Tetsu no Sosuke grabbed Big Hammer and nearly brought it down on Shinobu Kocho.
• Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke argued about his fighting ability and his hopes of becoming a Pillar.
• Tetsu no Sosuke called a truce when he noticed the sun overhead, and Shinobu Kocho offered to share her rice balls.
• Tetsu no Sosuke said he had brought provisions and thought about using his Demon Slayer Corps salary to buy houses.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho investigated reports of a demon on the mountain and headed for the charcoal seller’s cabin before the other Demon Slayers arrived. A quiet swordsman appeared at the mountain’s foot as they set out, and the two reached the cabin.

• Tetsu no Sosuke told Shinobu Kocho that people had vanished on the mountain five days earlier and the charcoal seller had also stopped coming down.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho decided the charcoal seller’s house might be the demon’s lair and went to investigate before nightfall.
• Shinobu Kocho left her Kasugai Crow behind to guide any late arrivals, while Tetsu no Sosuke kept his crow with them.
• A quiet man with a sword appeared at the foot of the mountain and said he had met Tetsu no Sosuke before.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho followed a winding path through the trees and reached a small house.