Chapter Summaries

Teiichi met Shoura Island’s village chief, who welcomed his plans to survey the market and suggested he stay for the upcoming market. After returning home, the chief uncovered a hidden underground chamber and angrily ordered his son to come out.

• Teiichi arranged for Mrs. Matsumoto to prepare his meals and ate breakfast at the Matsumotos’ home.
• The village chief visited the Matsumotos and learned that Teiichi had come to survey the island’s market and might open a shop.
• The village chief welcomed Teiichi, offered his help, and suggested he stay to see the market in a few days.
• After leaving, the village chief hurried home, searched for his son, and opened a concealed trapdoor in the storeroom floor.
• The village chief found his son in the underground chamber and demanded that he come upstairs, but his son asked to finish first.

Hayato and the village chief argued over how to handle Teiichi, a Demon Slayer investigating Shoura Island, and decided to drug him and send him to the demon. Meanwhile, Teiichi learned that all the missing people were visiting vendors and began to suspect the village chief’s family.

• The village chief summoned Hayato and told him a Demon Slayer had come to investigate the island.
• Hayato suggested using Teiichi to satisfy the demon’s monthly demand, but the village chief feared that Teiichi’s death would bring more Demon Slayers.
• The village chief decided to drug Teiichi and send him to the demon, then warned Hayato to stay out of sight.
• Teiichi learned from White Feather that all the missing people were vendors and reasoned that humans were likely behind the disappearances.
• Teiichi recalled the village chief’s reaction to his Nichirin Blade and decided to watch him more closely as he continued patrolling.

Teiichi visited Shoura Village’s market and learned that the village chief’s son was extorting vendors, including ramen seller Takeuchi. As the vendors left after nightfall, Teiichi recorded their locations and faces so White Feather could have the Kakushi Division investigate any disappearances.

• Teiichi ordered all ten kinds of ramen from Takeuchi’s stall and watched a little girl enjoy her noodles.
• The village chief’s son collected an unauthorized stall fee from Takeuchi and threatened him if his daughter did not attend the next market.
• Takeuchi explained that he paid because the village chief’s son could prevent customers from buying from him.
• Teiichi watched the market and noted that the village chief showed no unusual behavior during his brief visit.
• As the vendors left, Teiichi recorded their stalls and owners so White Feather could ask the Kakushi Division to check whether any went missing.

Teiichi accepted the village chief’s dinner invitation, suspecting the man had targeted him. When the chief and his son realized Teiichi had uncovered their scheme, they knelt and revealed a demon had forced them to lure victims into the sea.

• The village chief found Teiichi at the market and invited him to dinner at his home.
• Teiichi met the chief’s son, Hayato, and discussed Shoura Village over a meal.
• The village chief and Hayato toasted Teiichi, but Teiichi spilled much of his wine onto the table and their cups.
• The village chief realized Teiichi had exposed his plan, dropped to his knees, and ordered Hayato to kneel too.
• The village chief explained that a demon had threatened his family and the villagers, forcing them to send victims over a bridge for it to eat.

Teiichi investigated the village chief and Hayato’s role in feeding people to the water demon, then went to Chousho Bridge to lure the demon out. He sank to the seabed without seeing it, but felt something watching him.

• Teiichi told the village chief and Hayato he would deal with the demon before handing them over to the police, and left White Feather to guard them.
• After Teiichi left, Hayato asked his father why he had confessed, and the village chief realized White Feather was watching them.
• At night, Teiichi searched both shores near Chousho Bridge but found no trace of the water demon.
• Teiichi jumped from the bridge and sank to the seabed, where he felt something watching him.

Teiichi failed to lure the water demon out and returned to the village chief’s house to ask for more information. After learning the demon had increased its demands for people, Teiichi suspected it was injured and rejected using a person as bait, just as a creak came from the storeroom.

• Teiichi waited underwater for the demon, then surfaced and swam back to shore when it would not approach.
• The village chief and Hayato assumed Teiichi had died, while Hayato secretly headed toward the storeroom.
• Teiichi returned and asked the village chief when he had last seen the demon on land; the chief described the demon’s earlier attack and showed his scars.
• The village chief confirmed that the demon had stayed in the water since then and had recently begun demanding one person each month.
• Teiichi suspected the demon’s increased appetite meant it was injured, considered using a person as bait, and rejected the idea when a creak sounded from the storeroom.

Teiichi discovered that the village chief and his son, Hayato, were concealing a basement where five people were chained and imprisoned. He left the unresponsive captives for the Kakushi to handle after confirming that they had shut away their consciousness.

• The village chief tried to stab Teiichi, who struck him and left him unable to move far.
• Hayato emerged from the basement and denied that anything was down there.
• Teiichi hurled Hayato into a wall, then entered the basement.
• Teiichi found five captives chained to the walls, all silent and unresponsive.
• Teiichi concluded the Kakushi would have to care for them and returned upstairs.

Teiichi tortured the village chief and Hayato for information about the village’s crimes and learned that Hayato’s uncle was the mayor of Nagashima Town. After Hayato offered money and women to save himself, Teiichi realized the village chief could serve as bait and stopped his blade before striking him.

• Teiichi questioned the village chief and stabbed him until he admitted that he and Hayato had forced his wife to take the blame.
• Hayato threatened Teiichi with his uncle, and Teiichi struck the village chief unconscious so Hayato could speak.
• Hayato revealed that his uncle was the mayor of Nagashima Town and threatened to have Teiichi put on the wanted list.
• Hayato offered Teiichi money and women, then admitted that he and his father could capture more women for him.
• Teiichi stopped his Nichirin Blade above the village chief and realized the man could be useful as bait.

Teiichi carried the unconscious village chief to Shoura Bridge and used him as bait to draw out the demon, despite White Feather's protests. When the rope went slack, Teiichi plunged into the sea and attacked the demon with his Wind Breathing.

• White Feather confronted Teiichi about killing a man, and Teiichi admitted it, explaining that the victim and his father had helped a demon and imprisoned women.
• Teiichi told White Feather he planned to use the village chief as bait, then threw him off Shoura Bridge with a rope tied to his ankle.
• Teiichi explained that the rope was meant to sense the demon's movements, and sprang into action when it went slack.
• Teiichi leapt after the village chief, used his Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash to cleave open the water, and plunged beneath the sea.

Teiichi killed the water demon beneath the sea but failed to save the village chief, then told White Feather about women imprisoned beneath the chief’s house. Seven days later, a Kasugai Crow summoned Teiichi to headquarters.

• The water demon cut the rope, grabbed the village chief, and tried to escape, but Teiichi split the sea and confronted him underwater.
• Teiichi fought the water demon with his Nichirin Blade and killed him, while the village chief was swept away by ocean currents.
• Teiichi swam ashore and told White Feather he had not tried to save the village chief.
• Teiichi told White Feather to inform the Kakushi that several women were locked beneath the village chief’s house, and White Feather flew off to report the events.
• Seven days later, a Kasugai Crow ordered Kato Teiichi to proceed to headquarters, and Teiichi welcomed its arrival.

At a specially convened Hashira Meeting, Teiichi admitted to killing civilians and using civilians as bait to lure demons. The Hashira began debating his punishment, with Kyojuro calling for seppuku over the baiting, while the meeting remained unresolved.

• Kanae met Teiichi at Corps Headquarters and said she understood his reasons for killing the criminals, though she disapproved of using people as bait.
• Teiichi told Kanae he might leave the Corps rather than commit seppuku, and she reluctantly agreed not to speak up for him at the meeting.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki opened the Hashira Meeting and asked Teiichi whether he had committed the two violations; Teiichi admitted both.
• Giyu Tomioka urged the Hashira to follow the Corps rules, while Kagaya explained that the rules covered killing but not using civilians as bait.
• Gyomei Himejima and Kyojuro Rengoku condemned using people as bait, and Kyojuro called for the highest punishment: seppuku.

The Hashira debated whether Kato Teiichi should commit seppuku for killing two people who had worked with demons and using people as bait. A vote favored seppuku, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki began announcing the meeting’s decision.

• Tengen Uzui defended Kato, while Kyojuro Rengoku and Gyomei Himejima argued that the rules required seppuku and that Kato’s actions were unacceptable.
• Teiichi explained that the two people he killed had helped demons murder people for years after sacrificing a family member to escape.
• Tengen Uzui approved of Kato’s actions, while Kyojuro Rengoku argued that the perpetrators should have been handed over to the police.
• Giyu Tomioka supported following the rules, and Kanae Kocho said Kato deserved only a minor punishment.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki held a vote, and Gyomei Himejima, Giyu Tomioka, and Kyojuro Rengoku voted for seppuku while Tengen Uzui and Kanae Kocho opposed it.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki began announcing that the final outcome was to have Kato commit seppuku.

Teiichi defended his decision to use two criminals as bait for a demon and refused to accept seppuku as punishment, arguing that the Demon Slayer Corps's rules were flawed. The Hashira challenged his views on justice, human equality, and the Corps's duty, leaving the argument unresolved.

• Teiichi refused to commit seppuku, insisting that he did not believe his actions were wrong.
• Gyomei Himejima condemned Teiichi for using people as bait, saying it violated the Corps's principle of protecting humanity.
• Teiichi criticized the rule requiring cultivators to commit seppuku if someone they trained became a demon.
• Giyu Tomioka questioned how Teiichi could claim equality while killing people, and Teiichi said their actions had put them among demons.
• Kyojuro Rengoku rejected Teiichi's distinction between humans and demons and argued that the Corps should leave human crimes to the police.
• Teiichi argued that sacrificing two evil people to kill a demon could prevent further deaths, but Gyomei Himejima insisted that lives could not be weighed so simply.

Teiichi challenged the Hashira to weigh the lives saved by pragmatic choices against their duty to protect those before them, then realized their ideals differed fundamentally from his. He told the gathered Corps members that he intended to leave the Demon Slayer Corps.

• Gyomei Himejima questioned whether Teiichi would use an innocent person as bait if no evil person could be found, and Teiichi admitted he might sacrifice one life to save many.
• Teiichi asked Kyojuro Rengoku whether he would risk dying to protect someone behind him, warning that the choice could cost many more lives.
• Kyojuro reaffirmed that he would fight to protect anyone in immediate danger, and Gyomei and the other Hashira agreed with him.
• Teiichi realized the Hashira would pursue their ideals even without assurance of success, while he had joined because he knew the Corps would ultimately win.
• Kanae brought Teiichi out of his thoughts, and he announced that he would leave the Corps.

Teiichi decided to leave the Demon Slayer Corps because his willingness to sacrifice one person to save many conflicted with the Corps' convictions and could divide its members. Kagaya Ubuyashiki accepted his decision, and Teiichi said he would keep training and killing demons, including Muzan Kibutsuji.

• Kanae told Teiichi that Kagaya Ubuyashiki's vote meant he did not have to commit seppuku, but Teiichi said the dilemma had clarified that his beliefs differed from the Corps'.
• Teiichi explained that he would abandon one person to save a greater number, while the others would choose to protect the person behind them.
• Tengen Uzui argued that Teiichi could remain in the Corps, but Teiichi warned that his beliefs might encourage members to flee and weaken the Corps' unity.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked Teiichi to reconsider, but Teiichi firmly confirmed that he would leave the Corps.
• Teiichi told Kagaya Ubuyashiki that he would keep training and killing demons, and offered to take missions no one else could accept.

After Teiichi left the Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the Hashira discussed rules about using humans as bait and holding cultivators responsible when their students became demons. Later, Kagaya worried about losing a Hashira, and Amane suggested Sanemi Shinazugawa fill the vacant Wind Hashira position.

• Kagaya Ubuyashiki reassured the Hashira that Teiichi’s departure did not change their shared goal of defeating Muzan Kibutsuji.
• The Hashira agreed to record cases of using humans as bait while keeping the practice from being publicized.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki proposed reducing cultivators’ punishment for students who became demons to three months of confinement, and the Hashira accepted the compromise.
• Amane Ubuyashiki comforted Kagaya as he worried that Teiichi’s departure had left the Corps with one fewer Hashira.
• Amane suggested appointing Sanemi Shinazugawa as Wind Hashira, and Kagaya agreed.

At dinner, Teiichi explained why he had voluntarily left the Demon Slayer Corps and asked the Butterfly Mansion residents to decide for themselves whether they would save one person nearby or many people farther away. That night, an unidentified figure entered Shinobu Kocho’s room, and she woke to its approach.

• Kanon learned Teiichi had left the Corps and grew angry about the crimes that had prompted his decision.
• Teiichi clarified that he had chosen to leave and described his choice to save the greater number of people, while Kanae said she would save the person in front of her.
• Teiichi urged Kanon and Shinobu Kocho to consider the dilemma independently, and Kanon began to understand something as she watched Teiichi and Kanae talk.
• That night, Shinobu Kocho woke when a dark figure quietly entered her room and approached her bed.

Kanon visited Shinobu in the middle of the night and learned that Kanae and Teiichi were likely together, leaving her heartbroken. Teiichi resumed sparring with the Butterfly sisters, and months passed until the post-New Year Hashira Meeting approached.

• Shinobu mistook the figure sneaking into her room for Teiichi, but caught Kanon and released her after realizing who she was.
• Kanon asked whether Kanae and Teiichi were together, and Shinobu said their relationship had likely begun after Teiichi saved Kanae from Upper Rank Two.
• Kanon cried over her lingering feelings for Teiichi, and Shinobu comforted her as she fell asleep.
• The next day, Teiichi suggested restarting daily sparring with Shinobu, Kanae, and Kanon, and Shinobu agreed to tell Kanae.
• Teiichi trained at the Butterfly Mansion for several months and spent another New Year there before the customary Hashira Meeting.

Sanemi Shinazugawa attended his first Hashira Meeting and angrily confronted Kagaya Ubuyashiki over the Corps’ dangerous work and Masachika’s death. Kagaya explained his own limitations and gave Sanemi Masachika’s final letter, which Sanemi began to read.

• Sanemi Shinazugawa questioned why he had become a Hashira after Masachika died, then insulted Kagaya Ubuyashiki for sending Corps members into danger.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki apologized and explained that he had tried to wield a sword but could not, and that he wished he could protect people himself.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki told Sanemi Shinazugawa that he remembered every fallen Corps member and expressed sorrow over Masachika’s sacrifice.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki said Masachika’s final letter described his hope for a bright future and gave it to Sanemi Shinazugawa.
• Sanemi Shinazugawa steadied his trembling hand, took the letter, and unfolded it.

At the Butterfly Mansion, Kanae told Teiichi about the new Wind Hashira and her anger at his behavior, then revealed she had taken first place in the Hashira Battles. The chapter ended with Teiichi praising Kanae and Kanae bashfully reminding him that she was not his yet.

• Saito questioned whether Teiichi was human for training with an overweight iron sword, while Yamashita told him he could not train with it.
• Kanae told Teiichi that the new Wind Hashira had refused to kneel to Oyakata-sama and insulted him at a meeting.
• Teiichi recalled that the new Wind Hashira was Sanemi Shinazugawa, and Kanae complained about his temper despite having cared for him during treatment.
• Kanae said she had been hurt in the Hashira Battles but had received treatment, and Teiichi asked how she had placed.
• Kanae revealed that she had taken first place because Himejima had not participated, and Teiichi praised her for beating Uzui.
• Kanae blushed and told Teiichi that she was not his yet.