Recaps

Teiichi defeated Yoriichi Type Zero by knocking the wooden swords from its hands, then brought Kotetsu to Tetsumoto Homura to discuss a new blade. He began explaining his unusual requirements by running his hand along his Nichirin Blade.

• Teiichi used Wind Breathing: Modified, Second Form: Wind Firmament Wandering Dragon to disarm Yoriichi Type Zero without breaking it.
• On the walk back, Teiichi told Kotetsu he was a little stronger than the Hashira and advised him to activate Yoriichi Type Zero regularly.
• Teiichi and Kotetsu returned Yoriichi Type Zero to Kotetsu's family workshop, then went to Tetsumoto Homura's workshop.
• Tetsumoto Homura asked Teiichi what he wanted for his new blade, and Teiichi said it needed to be heavy and have another unusual quality.
• Teiichi drew his Nichirin Blade and ran his left hand over it while Tetsumoto Homura and Kotetsu watched.

Kato Teiichi asked Tetsumoto Homura to forge him a heavy Nichirin Blade, and Homura measured him to determine its size. Teiichi revealed that his previous blade had lasted eight or nine years before breaking in a battle against Upper Rank One, shocking Homura while Kotetsu asked what Upper Rank One meant.

• Tetsumoto Homura asked Kato Teiichi about his requirements for a new Nichirin Blade, and Teiichi said he wanted one weighing under five hundred jin.
• Homura explained that their ore could produce a blade of its usual shape weighing only two hundred to three hundred and fifty jin, and Teiichi accepted that range.
• Homura measured Teiichi's hand and arm, watched him swing his blade, and recorded the measurements for the new weapon.
• Homura asked when he had forged Teiichi's current blade, and Teiichi said it had been eight or nine years earlier.
• Homura asked when the blade broke and what demon had broken it, and Teiichi answered that it had broken about three years earlier fighting Kokushibo, or Upper Rank One.
• Homura reacted in shock, while Kotetsu asked what Upper Rank One was.

Teiichi encouraged Kotetsu to pursue learning blade forging and mechanical devices while waiting for his Nichirin Blade to be made in the Swordsmith Village. Elsewhere, Kagaya Ubuyashiki ordered a search for information on Kokushibo and the others, and a rain-soaked delivery to Kuroishi Village ended with Watanabe and Shinsuke spotting seven or eight people descending a mountain path.

• Teiichi told Kotetsu that talent was his to judge and urged him to study so he could pursue his dream of making combat dolls.
• Kotetsu hurried off to learn from Tetsumoto Homura and promised to help make Teiichi's Nichirin Blade.
• Teiichi continued training and checking on the blade's progress as Kotetsu worked diligently at the workshop.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki ordered people to search for information on Kokushibo and the others and told them to report any findings without acting on their own.
• In heavy rain, Shinsuke and Watanabe struggled to haul a cart toward Kuroishi Village, then stopped when Watanabe noticed seven or eight people coming down a mountain path.

Shinsuke discovered that the villagers were hiding where Yuta had gone, and Watanabe suspected the village’s shift in worship might be connected. In Osaka, grieving businessman Takahashi met Yamamoto, who invited him to join his religion for comfort.

• The village chief and villagers helped Watanabe and Shinsuke bring the delivery safely to Kuroishi Village in the rain.
• Shinsuke went to give Yuta a roly-poly doll, but the neighbors said Yuta had gone to stay with relatives.
• Shinsuke told Watanabe that Yuta had said he had no relatives and noted that the village had switched its worship from Inari to the Goddess of Harvest.
• Watanabe warned Shinsuke to act normally and leave the matter alone, then went to check the village chief’s accounts.
• At a business reception in Osaka, Takahashi spoke with Yamamoto, who offered condolences for his wife’s death and invited him to join his religion for solace.

At a banquet, Takahashi questioned Yamamoto about the sect he wanted him to join and initially dismissed it as a group using religion to pursue personal desires. When Yamamoto said the Eternal Paradise Cult had helped his association grow, Takahashi became suspicious and learned the sect’s name.

• Yamamoto invited Takahashi to join his sect and described its optimistic doctrine.
• Takahashi asked how the sect supported its followers, but Yamamoto withheld details during a kabuki performance.
• Yamamoto said the sect’s young leader expected introductions to women, leading Takahashi to assume the group used religion as a pretext for personal desires.
• Yamamoto claimed that his association had grown with the help of the sect’s leader, alarming Takahashi.
• Takahashi asked for the sect’s name, and Yamamoto identified it as the Eternal Paradise Cult.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki received a report about the World Purification Cult and decided the Corps should wait before investigating, while they awaited Kanae and the others’ demon-to-human drug. In the Swordsmith Village, Teiichi sparred with Yoriichi Type Zero and reflected on the limits of the Transparent World.

• Amane Ubuyashiki read Kagaya Ubuyashiki a letter from Hayato Kurosawa reporting a suspected demon-founded group called the World Purification Cult.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki told Amane to leave the group alone for now and noted that three reports about suspected cults had all been connected to Doma.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki warned that sending Corps members to investigate might cause Doma to flee while Muzan Kibutsuji was on edge.
• Teiichi sparred with Yoriichi Type Zero in the Swordsmith Village and repeatedly knocked its wooden sword away.
• Teiichi deactivated the Transparent World and remarked that it could see people but not objects.

Teiichi returned Yoriichi Type Zero to Kotetsu's workshop, learned that his Nichirin Blade would take over a month to finish, and went to relax in the hot springs. A cheerful voice approached, and a sudden splash made him tense.

• Teiichi returned Yoriichi Type Zero to Kotetsu's family workshop and waited for Kotetsu and Tetsumoto Homura to finish work.
• Tetsumoto Homura told Teiichi that the Nichirin Blade had been quenched and would need repeated tempering to withstand his Vibrating Blade move.
• Kotetsu explained the tempering process and invited Teiichi to eat with him and Tetsumoto Homura, but Teiichi declined.
• Teiichi went to the hot springs and relaxed while using his Breathing Style to keep his blood circulating.
• A cheerful voice singing about food drew near, then a splash made Teiichi's body go rigid.

Teiichi and Mitsuri Kanroji accidentally ended up in the same hot spring, and both left embarrassed. Teiichi learned that Mitsuri had come to the Swordsmith Village to have a blade forged and would likely stay until it was finished.

• Teiichi realized Mitsuri had entered the men's hot spring and warned her that the women's bath was next door.
• Mitsuri hurried out, apologized, and plunged into the women's bath, mortified that she had accidentally entered the wrong spring.
• Teiichi left after Mitsuri, returned her robe by placing it on the women's-bath sign, and went back to his lodging.
• A villager told Teiichi that Mitsuri had arrived before evening and asked whether he wanted to eat with her.
• Teiichi learned Mitsuri had brought luggage and would likely stay in the village while her Nichirin Blade was being forged.

Teiichi wondered why Mitsuri Kanroji had come to the Swordsmith Village, then met her at dinner after recognizing her from the hot springs. Their conversation helped her relax, and the chapter ended with him offering her his untouched tempura.

• Teiichi considered whether Mitsuri had come to forge a Nichirin Blade or whether fate had brought her to the village.
• Teiichi entered the dining room and found Mitsuri eating; she realized he had been at the hot springs and blushed.
• Teiichi reassured Mitsuri that he had not seen anything because he had covered his face with a towel.
• Teiichi asked Mitsuri which dinner dish she liked best, and she enthusiastically praised the food as she ate.
• Mitsuri finished her dishes, and Teiichi offered her his untouched tempura; she called him a good person.

Mitsuri Kanroji visited the Swordsmith Village for a new Nichirin Blade and shared a meal with Teiichi Kato, challenging him to an eating contest. After she lost, the village chief told her he could no longer forge the heavy blade she needed.

• Mitsuri told Teiichi she had learned Lifting Light as Though Heavy and had come to have a new Nichirin Blade forged.
• Teiichi arranged for the villagers to bring Mitsuri food, and she challenged him to an eating contest without a bet.
• Mitsuri ate twenty-three portions, while Teiichi ate four more before stopping.
• Mitsuri said she would leave the village once her blade was ready, and Tecchin Tecchikawahara appeared to discuss the forging.
• Tecchin told Mitsuri he could no longer forge a blade with her required weight, leaving her unsure what to do.

Teiichi brought Mitsuri Kanroji to Tetsumoto Homura’s workshop so she could request a replacement Nichirin Blade. After Mitsuri demonstrated her original sword, Homura began assessing it and explained how flexible, extendable blades worked.

• The village chief asked Teiichi to take Mitsuri to Homura’s workshop the next day.
• While they waited outside, Teiichi explained his polite knocking style to Mitsuri, who decided to imitate it.
• Kotetsu mistook Mitsuri for Teiichi’s wife, then excitedly learned that she was the Love Hashira.
• Homura agreed to make Mitsuri a new blade and asked her to demonstrate her original Nichirin Blade.
• Mitsuri’s sword extended and narrowed as she swung it, and Homura explained that special metal gave flexible blades the ability to extend and contract.

Mitsuri brought her flexible Nichirin Blade to Tetsumoto Homura, who measured her weapon and body so he could forge a replacement. Afterward, Teiichi asked why she was following him, and she learned he was going to pick up a doll before training.

• Tetsumoto Homura examined Mitsuri's extendable Nichirin Blade and asked her to choose its maximum length.
• Mitsuri extended her blade, and Teiichi marked its endpoints with water so Tetsumoto Homura and Kotetsu could measure it at two meters sixty-seven.
• Tetsumoto Homura measured Mitsuri's hands and arms, then asked Teiichi to measure her bust after calling it a burden in battle.
• Tetsumoto Homura had Mitsuri swing her blade before Teiichi left the workshop with her following him.
• Teiichi suggested Mitsuri train while he went to pick up a doll and then train himself.

Teiichi showed Mitsuri the mechanical combat puppet Yoriichi Type Zero and watched her examine it. He questioned why her exceptional physical strength had not earned her a higher rank in the previous Hashira Battles, and Mitsuri nervously blamed her late entry into the Corps.

• Teiichi carried Yoriichi Type Zero from Kotetsu's workshop to his training clearing with Mitsuri accompanying him.
• Teiichi explained that he had been staying in the Swordsmith Village for over a month and described his daily routine to Mitsuri.
• Mitsuri excitedly peppered Teiichi with questions about the six-armed puppet until he wound it up and made it move.
• Mitsuri noticed Teiichi watching her and blushed when he asked about her muscle density.
• Mitsuri told Teiichi her muscle density was eight times that of an ordinary person.
• Teiichi asked why Mitsuri had ranked in the middle during the previous Hashira Battles, and she hesitantly blamed joining the Corps late.

Teiichi discovered that Mitsuri had held back her training because she wanted a husband stronger than herself. He showed her that the men currently stronger than her were unsuitable, leaving Mitsuri to face the possibility that she might not find the partner she wanted.

• Teiichi offered to arrange Mitsuri's training while they stayed in the Swordsmith Village, but she explained that she had joined the Corps to find a husband who could protect her.
• Mitsuri admitted she had limited her strength because she feared becoming stronger than the men she might want to marry.
• Teiichi asked Mitsuri about her last Hashira Battles ranking and established that she could now place second or third.
• Mitsuri named Himejima, Uzui, and Tokito as the men likely to rank above her, and Teiichi pointed out that Himejima was a monk, Uzui already had three wives, and Tokito was younger than her.
• Mitsuri realized that none of the men stronger than her fit her requirements, and Teiichi urged her to train without holding back.

Teiichi trained Mitsuri by having her fight Yoriichi Type Zero and then spar with him, where she struggled to land a hit despite using her Love Breathing forms. After the exhausting session, Teiichi walked down the mountain while Mitsuri followed, leaning on her wooden sword for support.

• Teiichi told Mitsuri to begin training against Yoriichi Type Zero and warned her not to damage the poorly maintained doll.
• Mitsuri defeated Yoriichi Type Zero and asked Teiichi to teach her.
• Mitsuri circled Teiichi before attacking with Love Breathing, but his Fourth Form, Rising Dust Storm, blew her whip back.
• Mitsuri pressed her attack with Love Breathing’s Third and Fifth Forms, while Teiichi deflected her whip with his wooden sword.
• Mitsuri used her Final Form, Cat-Legged Winds of Love, but the chapter did not reveal whether she struck Teiichi.
• At sunset, Teiichi walked down the mountain as Mitsuri followed, exhausted and leaning on the wooden sword.

Teiichi trained Mitsuri until she was exhausted, then walked with her back to the guesthouse and discussed their dinner and how he preferred greeting villagers. The chapter ended with Teiichi explaining that his informal manner reflected his personal preference, not a rule Mitsuri had to follow.

• Mitsuri complained about Teiichi’s demanding strength training, but resolved not to ease up on the Corps members when she returned.
• Teiichi and Mitsuri guessed what dinner would be, and Mitsuri correctly identified udon, grilled chicken skewers, and tempura by smell.
• A villager greeted Mitsuri formally but greeted Teiichi casually, prompting Mitsuri to ask why he was treated differently.
• Teiichi explained that he had asked the villager not to bow because he disliked formal greetings and felt Hashira and villagers were no different beyond their responsibilities.
• Mitsuri argued that villagers should show respect to Hashira, and Teiichi said she could choose her own preferred way of greeting people.

Teiichi and Mitsuri ate dinner in the Swordsmith Village and debated whether delicious food made people happy. When the village chief confirmed that Mitsuri would get a Nichirin Blade, Teiichi asked where its forging ore came from.

• Mitsuri told Teiichi she would find food delicious enough to make him admire it.
• Mitsuri happily ate udon while Teiichi showed no particular joy at the meal.
• The village chief asked about Mitsuri’s Nichirin Blade, and Teiichi said Mr. Tetsumoto would forge one for her later.
• Teiichi asked where Nichirin Blade ore came from, and the village chief identified crimson red iron sand and crimson red ore.

Teiichi and Mitsuri learned how crimson red ores absorb sunlight and discussed their training plans in the Swordsmith Village. Mitsuri agreed to teach Teiichi flexibility and they began addressing each other by their given names.

• Teiichi asked the village chief about crimson red iron sand and crimson red ore, and learned that the ores absorbed sunlight that let Nichirin Blades kill demons.
• Teiichi told Mitsuri to wake at five thirty for Breathing Style practice and training, and Mitsuri resolved that she could become as strong as Upper Rank One with enough practice.
• Teiichi asked Mitsuri about the Corps members she trained, and she offered to teach him flexibility.
• Teiichi invited Mitsuri to call him Teiichi, and she asked him to call her by her name too.

Teiichi trained his ability to control the Wind Field while Mitsuri practiced against Yoriichi Type Zero. The next day, Mitsuri made him matcha cake, and Teiichi praised it and pretended it had made him happy to please her.

• Teiichi practiced multitasking while refining his control of the Wind Field as Mitsuri fought Yoriichi Type Zero.
• Mitsuri defeated Yoriichi Type Zero despite fighting with reduced speed and strength.
• Mitsuri asked Teiichi for the following day off, but he misunderstood her reason and suggested she take more time to rest.
• Mitsuri revealed that she had taken the day off to make Teiichi a matcha cake and urged him to try it.
• Teiichi found the cake delicious but told Mitsuri he felt happy and refreshed even though he did not mean it.

Mitsuri challenged Teiichi's opinion of her cake, while Teiichi continued training with Yoriichi Type Zero in the Swordsmith Village. Tengen Uzui arrived to request another Nichirin Blade, and Teiichi invited him to test the combat doll; that night, Uzui relaxed in the village hot spring.

• Mitsuri noticed Teiichi was pretending to enjoy her cake, took the plate, and insisted she would not give up.
• Teiichi trained against Yoriichi Type Zero, adjusting his strength and speed to improve his swordsmanship.
• Tengen Uzui arrived to have another Nichirin Blade forged after learning Lifting Light as Though Heavy through improved body control.
• Teiichi and Mitsuri explained that their blades took longer to forge because they required greater resilience.
• Teiichi introduced Yoriichi Type Zero to Tengen Uzui and invited him to try fighting it.
• Tengen Uzui relaxed in the Swordsmith Village hot spring that night and praised its comfort.

Teiichi and Tengen Uzui relaxed in a hot spring while Uzui questioned whether Mitsuri had fallen for Teiichi, who dismissed the idea. Days later, a Kasugai Crow delivered a mission to investigate possible traces of Doma, and Teiichi prepared to go alone.

• Teiichi told Tengen Uzui he had spent over a month with Mitsuri but denied having romantic feelings for her.
• Tengen Uzui insisted Mitsuri seemed to like Teiichi, but Teiichi argued she followed him because he was the only person she knew in the Swordsmith Village.
• Teiichi wondered whether he should keep his distance from Mitsuri, while Tengen Uzui reconsidered his assumptions.
• Several days later, a Kasugai Crow brought Teiichi a letter asking him to confirm possible traces of Doma.
• Teiichi refused Tengen Uzui and Mitsuri's offers to accompany him and said he would go alone with a spare Nichirin Blade.

Teiichi encountered Muzan at a late-night train station and attacked him with his Nichirin Blade. Muzan transformed and unleashed blood whips, leaving Teiichi defending against them on the platform.

• Teiichi boarded the platform to catch his train and recognized Muzan as they passed each other.
• Teiichi launched a surprise attack, but Muzan caught the Nichirin Blade at his neck and called out Teiichi’s name.
• The crowd screamed and fled as Teiichi and Muzan faced off, with Muzan demanding to know why Teiichi was there.
• Muzan transformed and sent blood whips at Teiichi while gripping the blade.
• Teiichi kicked Muzan in the face, freed his blade, and parried the incoming blood whips.

Teiichi pressed Muzan across the platform, and their battle brought down the roof as Muzan tried to escape into the Infinity Castle. When Muzan threatened the passengers in a train car and attacked it, Teiichi continued charging straight at him.

• Muzan called Nakime to open a door to the Infinity Castle, but decided he could not risk Teiichi following him inside.
• Teiichi and Muzan clashed across the platform, with Teiichi's attacks overpowering Muzan's claws as deflected blood whips damaged the structure.
• A blood whip smashed a supporting pillar, bringing down the platform roof and filling the area with dust.
• Teiichi used Sixth Form: Vibrating Blade and began his Wind Breathing attack as Muzan moved toward the train car.
• Muzan threatened the passengers, knocked the train onto its side with an enlarged arm, and prepared to strike it again.
• Teiichi ignored Muzan's attack on the train and charged directly at him.

Teiichi repeatedly slashed Muzan with his azure Nichirin Blade, but Muzan’s regeneration kept healing every wound. After Muzan escaped by exploding his body several times, he regenerated again and opened his mouth.

• Muzan redirected his colossal arm away from the train, and Teiichi cut through it and severed Muzan’s head.
• Muzan immediately regenerated his head, so Teiichi kept cutting him while his blade began to strain.
• Muzan regained focus, feared he would die, and exploded his body into scattered chunks of flesh.
• Teiichi inhaled and slashed through hundreds of Muzan’s chunks, forcing Muzan to regenerate and explode repeatedly.
• Muzan finally regenerated without exploding again and swiftly opened his mouth.

Teiichi drove Muzan out of the train station and countered his sonic roar, but Muzan escaped into the Infinity Castle before Teiichi could kill him. Exhausted and shaken by the fight, Muzan blamed Kato Teiichi and vowed to desecrate his remains.

• Teiichi interrupted Muzan’s attempted attack, decapitated him, and kicked his body out of the train station.
• Muzan opened mouths across his body and unleashed a roar that knocked Teiichi unconscious briefly, but Teiichi recovered using the Wind Field.
• Muzan retreated into the Infinity Castle before Teiichi could stop him, and Teiichi’s damaged Nichirin Blade broke apart.
• Muzan collapsed from exhaustion in the Infinity Castle, questioned why Kato Teiichi had fought him like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and shouted a curse against Teiichi.