Chapter Summaries

During the New Year gathering, Kanae announced that Teiichi would attend the Hashira Meeting to discuss his promotion to Wind Hashira. Half a month later, Teiichi and Kanae arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters for the meeting.

• A drunken Corps member named Yamamoto declared his love for Kanae, and Watanabe teased him until Shinobu Kocho sternly told them to stop.
• Kanae told Yamamoto and Watanabe to focus on training and slaying demons, while Shinobu Kocho protested her sister’s encouragement.
• Kanae said she planned to continue studying medicine and carrying out missions, then revealed that Teiichi would attend the Hashira Meeting to discuss becoming Wind Hashira.
• Teiichi wondered how his possible promotion would affect Sanemi Shinazugawa, while Kanon congratulated him and promised to keep training.
• Half a month later, Teiichi and Kanae traveled from the Butterfly Mansion, passed the Kakushi Division’s checks, and reached the headquarters grounds.

Kato Teiichi arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters with Kanae Kocho to meet the Hashira and attend the meeting. After introductions revealed the group’s members and roles, the Corps’ Hashira team began to take shape.

• Kato Teiichi and Kanae Kocho entered the headquarters and joined the four Hashira already gathered in the courtyard.
• Tengen Uzui introduced himself as the Sound Hashira and teased Teiichi about his injuries after killing Lower Rank Three.
• Gyomei Himejima introduced himself as the Stone Hashira, and Kyojuro Rengoku explained that he was attending for his father, the Flame Hashira, Shinjuro.
• Giyu Tomioka refused to introduce himself, so Kanae identified him as the Water Hashira.
• Kanae introduced herself as the Flower Hashira and welcomed Teiichi to work with her.

Teiichi refused to kneel when greeting Kagaya Ubuyashiki, explaining that he saw the Demon Slayer Corps as a job and would not surrender his dignity. Kagaya calmed the Hashira and connected Teiichi’s stance to the idea of equality, then asked whether Teiichi had encountered that culture before.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki emerged beneath the eaves and quietly reflected on how much longer he would be able to see the sunlight.
• The Hashira knelt to greet Kagaya Ubuyashiki, but Teiichi only bowed slightly, and Kanae Kocho reminded him of the proper etiquette.
• Tengen Uzui rebuked Teiichi for treating the Demon Slayer Corps like an ordinary job, while Gyomei Himejima defended the Corps’ self-sacrificing purpose.
• Teiichi said he respected the mission but would not kneel or give up his dignity, prompting Kagaya Ubuyashiki to stop the argument and tell him his greeting was acceptable.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki explained the idea of equality for all and asked Teiichi whether he had encountered that culture before.

Kato Teiichi was formally promoted to Wind Hashira after killing Lower Rank Three, Wakuraba, and agreed to be stationed on Kyushu Island. Kagaya Ubuyashiki then asked the other Hashira to help Teiichi improve his investigation skills.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki announced Teiichi's promotion, and the Hashira accepted it despite their earlier displeasure with his behavior.
• Kyojuro Rengoku voiced his hope that the Corps would reach nine Hashira and defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki encouraged everyone to work toward that goal.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki explained the Hashira's assigned territories and asked Teiichi to take responsibility for Kyushu Island.
• Teiichi agreed to the assignment, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki said a Kakushi would escort him and the Corps would arrange his residence.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked the Hashira to teach Teiichi investigation techniques because he was relatively weak at investigating.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked the Hashira to help Teiichi improve his demon-detection skills, but none could offer a technique he could use directly. Teiichi left with the idea of combining Wind Breathing and his slightly enhanced hearing to develop his own method.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked the Hashira to share detection techniques that could help Teiichi.
• Kyojuro Rengoku said his father had taught him no special techniques, and Tengen Uzui explained that Sound Breathing could track demons by their rhythms, though Teiichi declined to switch styles.
• Giyu Tomioka said he simply found demons at mission sites and killed them, while Gyomei Himejima said his enhanced hearing came from his blindness and could not be taught.
• Kanae Kocho recommended seeking information from the Kakushi Division when no special detection technique was available.
• Teiichi proposed combining Wind Breathing with his slightly improved hearing to develop a detection technique, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki wished him success.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki discussed the nationwide rise in demon sightings with the Hashira, who considered possible reasons and how the Demon Slayer Corps should respond. The meeting ended with Kagaya thanking them and hoping they would all return in six months.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki reported that demon sightings and casualties had risen across the country over the past year or two.
• Gyomei Himejima, Kanae Kocho, and Giyu Tomioka confirmed that demons had become more frequent in their territories.
• Kanae Kocho suggested that Muzan Kibutsuji might be reacting to the changing era, while Teiichi privately suspected Muzan was expanding the demons searching for the Blue Spider Lily.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked the Hashira to focus on how to respond, and Tengen Uzui proposed expanding the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki thanked the six figures at the meeting and said he hoped to see them again in six months.

Teiichi and Kanae disagreed over his refusal to kneel before Oyakata-sama, and Teiichi chose to leave for Kyushu Island without returning to the Butterfly Mansion. He then traveled toward Kyushu by train with Ichiro Tanaka, concealing his unusually heavy Nichirin Blade beneath his uniform.

• Kanae told Teiichi that his refusal to kneel could harm unity among the Hashira, and Teiichi said equality remained important to him.
• Teiichi told Kanae he would go straight to Kyushu Island and asked her to greet Kanon for him.
• At the train station, Ichiro Tanaka warned Teiichi to conceal his Nichirin Blade because carrying swords was prohibited.
• Teiichi revealed that his Nichirin Blade weighed fifty-six kilograms and carried it hidden beneath his uniform.
• Teiichi and Ichiro Tanaka bought tickets and boarded the train bound for Kyushu Island.

Teiichi traveled to Kumamoto City to take up his post as the Wind Hashira, while worrying about how to save Kanae from her future encounter with Doma. He arrived at his isolated estate and accepted that he would live there alone.

• On the train, Teiichi worried that Kanae would encounter Doma and die, but he could not think of a way to prevent it.
• Ichiro Tanaka told Teiichi that his post was in Kumamoto City and explained the city's history and location on Kyushu Island.
• Teiichi and Ichiro discussed casualties from war and demons, and Ichiro said he would condemn a government that invaded other countries for its own people's benefit.
• The following afternoon, Teiichi and Ichiro arrived in Kumamoto City and walked to the large estate assigned to Teiichi.
• Teiichi learned that he would usually live alone at the estate, declined Ichiro's offer to request a smaller place, and entered the grounds.

After receiving a summons, Kato Teiichi headed to Mount Hiraodai, where a demon had killed several Corps members. Three Demon Slayer Corps members searched the mountain and came under a barrage of stones, prompting Shimada to charge toward the demon while Takeuchi and Iguro took supporting positions.

• Kato Teiichi trained at home until a crow summoned him to support the Corps on Mount Hiraodai.
• Shimada, Takeuchi, and Iguro searched the mountain and found five dead Corps members along the way.
• Takeuchi warned Shimada and Iguro when stones suddenly flew at them from the forest.
• Shimada used Water Breathing's Eighth Form to block the stones while Takeuchi drew some attacks away.
• Shimada told Iguro to stay hidden and advanced toward the demon with Water Breathing's Third Form.

Takeuchi tried to surprise the demon throwing stones, but Lower Rank Three caught him off guard and gravely wounded him. As Shimada and Iguro rushed to help, Takeuchi warned them to flee, but Lower Rank Three cut off his warning by beheading him.

• Shimada struggled to deflect the stones and called for Takeuchi to act before he could hold out any longer.
• Takeuchi used Thunder Breathing: First Form, Thunderclap and Flash to rush the demon from behind and attack its neck.
• Lower Rank Three revealed that he had anticipated Takeuchi's attack, punched him into a tree, and left him coughing blood.
• Shimada and Iguro ran toward Takeuchi as he realized he could not fight and warned them that the demon was Lower Rank Three.
• Lower Rank Three beheaded Takeuchi before he could finish telling Shimada and Iguro to run.

Obanai Iguro and Shimada faced Lower Rank Three after Takeuchi was killed, but the demon’s barrage of stones wounded Shimada and injured Obanai. Obanai moved Shimada behind a sturdier tree, then rushed out to hold the demon off.

• Shimada urged Obanai Iguro to flee after Takeuchi was killed, but Obanai pointed out that Lower Rank Three would not let them escape.
• Shimada and Obanai used their Breathing forms to deflect the demon’s first barrage of stones.
• The next barrage wounded Shimada in the abdomen, leaving him unable to fight, while Obanai suffered a bleeding thigh wound.
• Obanai carried Shimada behind another tree as the demon kept hurling stones and refused Shimada’s offer to cover his retreat.
• Obanai told Shimada to rest behind the new tree and rushed out to hold Lower Rank Three off.

Obanai Iguro tried to survive Lower Rank Three’s pebble barrage until dawn, but the demon lured him out by targeting the injured Shimada. Obanai rushed in to protect Shimada, endured another volley, and prepared to seize his chance to kill the demon.

• Obanai chose to stall until dawn rather than abandon Shimada and the others or risk charging Lower Rank Three head-on.
• Lower Rank Three stopped throwing pebbles at Obanai and searched for the injured Shimada.
• Obanai noticed the sudden silence and spotted Lower Rank Three near Shimada, then charged with Serpent Breathing’s First Form.
• Lower Rank Three turned and hurled a prepared volley of pebbles at Obanai.
• Obanai blocked most of the pebbles with Serpent Breathing’s Third Form, suffered several wounds, and launched Serpent Breathing’s Fourth Form as the demon’s opening appeared.

Obanai Iguro attacked Lower Rank Three Shokugetsu, but Shokugetsu’s Blood Demon Art slowed Obanai’s blade and let him land a heavy punch. Obanai learned the demon’s ability and its range, while Shokugetsu remained confident that he would kill the Demon Slayers.

• Obanai used Serpent Breathing’s Fourth Form against Shokugetsu, but his blade slowed as it neared the demon.
• Obanai abandoned his attempt to cut Shokugetsu’s neck and leaped to avoid a fatal blow, but Shokugetsu’s punch struck his abdomen and sent him flying.
• Obanai landed, spat blood, and noticed his Nichirin Blade was damaged from blocking stones.
• Shokugetsu introduced himself as the newly promoted Lower Rank Three and said his Blood Demon Art could speed up or slow objects near his body.
• Shokugetsu explained that Boundary Speed worked within twenty centimeters of his body and could reach up to forty times its normal speed.

Obanai Iguro learned the limits of Shokugetsu’s Boundary Speed Blood Demon Art and adapted his attacks to keep the demon from predicting his blade. After Shokugetsu injured Obanai’s left hand, an unfamiliar voice called out to Lower Rank Three, hinting that reinforcements had arrived.

• Shokugetsu explained that Boundary Speed slowed anything within twenty centimeters of him fortyfold and accelerated objects he threw, though the acceleration quickly faded with distance.
• Obanai charged Shokugetsu with Serpent Breathing, concealing his blade’s approach and forcing the demon to dodge rather than rely on his usual counterattack.
• Obanai and Shokugetsu fought among the trees, each struggling against the other’s abilities and finding their advantage diminished.
• As Obanai slowed, Shokugetsu dodged his strike and punched him; Obanai blocked with his left hand and retreated, fearing it was broken.
• A puzzled voice called out to Lower Rank Three across the battlefield.

Teiichi found the wounded Shimada while Obanai Iguro fought the Lower Rank Three demon Shokugetsu. After teaching Shimada to use his breathing to stop his bleeding, Teiichi joined the battle and revealed that he held Hashira Rank.

• Teiichi found Shimada bleeding beneath a tree and told him he was the Wind Hashira.
• Teiichi guided Shimada to focus his breathing and visualize repairing his blood vessels, and Shimada's bleeding stopped.
• Teiichi hurried to the battle and arrived as Shokugetsu knocked Obanai Iguro back.
• Teiichi recognized the demon as Lower Rank Three and identified the wounded swordsman as Obanai Iguro.
• When Obanai asked Teiichi's rank, Teiichi said he was Hashira Rank.

Wind Hashira Kato Teiichi arrived to help Obanai face Lower Rank Three Shokugetsu, whose Blood Demon Art slowed Teiichi’s blade and let him evade repeated attacks. The battle was interrupted by urgent news that the Flower Hashira had encountered Upper Rank Two and needed immediate support.

• Obanai identified Kato Teiichi as the Wind Hashira and warned him that Shokugetsu could alter the speed of objects near his body.
• Shokugetsu ambushed Teiichi with gravel accelerated by his Blood Demon Art, but Teiichi dodged every pebble.
• Teiichi charged and slashed at Shokugetsu, whose ability slowed the Nichirin Blade enough for him to evade the attack.
• Teiichi pursued Shokugetsu with more slashes, but stopped when a bird announced that the Flower Hashira had encountered Upper Rank Two and called for support.

After learning that Kanae had encountered Upper Rank Two, Teiichi stopped playing with Lower Rank Three and killed him with Wind Breathing before rushing to support her. He left Obanai and Shimada to head down the mountain, and Obanai was left awed by the Wind Hashira’s strength.

• White Feather announced that the Flower Hashira had encountered Upper Rank Two and called for support.
• Lower Rank Three threatened to kill Obanai if Teiichi left to help Kanae, but Obanai urged Teiichi to go anyway.
• Teiichi used Wind Breathing’s Seventh Form, Gale: Tengu Wind, to kill Lower Rank Three.
• Teiichi told Obanai to leave with Shimada, removed his 110 kilograms of weights, and asked Obanai to return them through the Kakushi.
• Teiichi followed White Feather toward Kanae, while Obanai stared at the furrow left by the battle and reflected on the Wind Hashira’s strength.

Kanae successfully operated on an injured Demon Slayer Corps member at the Butterfly Mansion, then rested with Kanon and reassured her about her progress. Their conversation ended when someone called for Kanon because a visitor had arrived.

• Kanae used her Breathing Style to cut open the patient's uniform and carefully removed a branch from his thigh.
• Kanae repaired the patient's blood vessels and nerves, stitched the wound, and dressed it after confirming his condition was stable.
• Kanae told two Kakushi members that the surgery was finished, and they took the patient to the ward.
• Kanae made tea while Kanon praised her many skills, and Kanae reassured Kanon that her progress was impressive.
• Someone called from the corridor to tell Kanon that a visitor had arrived.

Kobayashi Kanon received her pink Nichirin Blade from the swordsmith Tantetsu Ryū, who explained how to care for it and how its color changed. Their visit was interrupted by a Kasugai Crow ordering Kanae to investigate signs of a suspected Lower Rank in Mine City.

• Aoi Kanzaki told Kanon that a masked visitor had come to see her, and Kanae guessed he was a swordsmith delivering Kanon's Nichirin Blade.
• Tantetsu Ryū introduced himself and confirmed that he had forged the blade for Kobayashi Kanon after she passed Final Selection.
• Kanae invited Tantetsu Ryū inside, where he explained the blade's care and handed it to Kanon.
• Kanon drew her Nichirin Blade, which turned pale pink, and proudly showed it to Kanae.
• A Kasugai Crow arrived and ordered Kanae to go to Mine City, where signs of a suspected Lower Rank had appeared.

Kanae set out alone for Mine City after learning a suspected Lower Rank demon had been sighted there, while Kanon stayed behind to train. In Mine City, Sae enjoyed the night market with her boyfriend and accidentally bumped into a girl wearing a butterfly-patterned haori.

• Kanae learned that a suspected Lower Rank had been sighted in Mine City and that Gyomei was away on a mission.
• Kanon asked to accompany Kanae with her new Nichirin Blade, but Kanae refused because the mission might be dangerous and Kanon could soon receive a mission of her own.
• Kanae told Kanon to keep training, saw Tantetsu Ryū off, and left for Mine City.
• At night, Sae browsed jewelry and strolled through Mine City’s busy shopping street with her boyfriend.
• Sae bumped into a girl in a butterfly-patterned haori and apologized, while her boyfriend watched the girl leave with his rainbow-colored eyes.