tanjiro kamado

is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer. He is an Oni Hunter of the Hunter Squad who joined to find a medicine to turn his sister, Nezuko Kamado, who was turned into an Oni, back into a human.

Before becoming an Oni Hunter, his family was slaughtered by the Oni King, Muzan Kibutsuji, while his younger sister, Nezuko, was turned into an Oni.

Appearance

Tanjiro is a young man with a tanned complexion and an athletic physique. He has messy black hair with burgundy tips, combed back to expose his forehead, and large, dark red eyes with white pupils that appear lighter around the bottom of their irises. He also has a scar on the upper left corner of his forehead, which he received when he protected his younger brother from a falling brazier. The scar originally appeared as a scratch until his fight with the Oni of the Hand during the Final Selection, after which it transformed into his Oni-Slayer Mark. It is noted that his hands are noticeably rougher for someone his age, as a result of his rigorous training under Sakonji Urokodaki. Tanjiro appears remarkably similar in appearance to his ancestor Sumiyoshi, possessing the same facial structure, eyes, and hairstyle as him, though Sumiyoshi's hair was longer than his shoulders and was tied in a ponytail behind his head.

Tanjiro first appears wearing a black and seafoam green checkered haori over a white tunic and black pants. He occasionally wears a turquoise scarf and is seen with circular white bands around his calves. He also wears a distinctive pair of hanafuda earrings, featuring the image of a white surface and a radiant red sun at the top. His hair is also kept in a small ponytail or bun; while he trains with Sabito and Makomo, his hair grows to shoulder length. After becoming an Oni Slayer, Tanjiro wears the standard Oni Slayer uniform,

a dark brown gakuran jacket, a white belt, loose-fitting pants that extend to his tabi socks, a pair of zōri with red straps, and white cloth bands wrapped tightly around his calves, all beneath his iconic plaid haori. He carries a large wooden box on his back (which was a gift from Sakonji Urokodaki), where his sister sleeps while they travel during the day.

During his second encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji, he injures his right eye at the Infinity Castle. As the battle progresses, Tanjiro suddenly collapses and his wound begins to form a large mass over his right eye due to the poison inflicted on him by Muzan. Later, when Tanjiro awakens, he is described as "repulsive" by Muzan. Later in the battle, Tanjiro's left arm is severed by Muzan. After being transformed into an Oni by Muzan, Tanjiro is able to heal the tumor on his face, as well as regenerate his missing arm and other minor injuries. He gains eyes with slit pupils, fangs, and flame-like markings over his left forehead and right jaw that resemble those of Kokushibo, as well as a third, smaller flame-like marking running down the right side of his head to his eyebrow after he conquered his weakness to sunlight. His scar turns into a flame pattern as if it were a permanent Oni Hunter Mark, becomes longer and is the largest of the three, and all three marks point vaguely towards his nose, though only the scar mark reaches it. He still wears his bloodstained uniform, one sleeve torn off where his arm was severed, but loses his checkered haori and the Nichirin Blade on his hip.

WIKI KIMETSU NO YAIBA

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WIKI KIMETSU NO YAIBA

Tanjiro Kamado

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Tanjiro Kamado (竈門かまど 炭たん治じ郎ろう, Kamado Tanjirō?) is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer. He is an Oni Hunter of the Hunter Squad who joined to find a medicine to transform his sister, Nezuko Kamado.

After returning to his human form, Tanjiro loses the ability to see out of his right eye, whose iris is now a dull gray-pink color and the pupil is black instead of its original white. His left arm, which he regained as a demon, now takes on the appearance of an elderly person's arm, becoming wrinkled and skeletal, along with this, he loses all feeling below the elbow and thus the ability to move it from his shoulder down. Tanjiro is kind by nature and has been described by others as having very gentle eyes. He displays a great deal of determination and will not give up once he has a goal to achieve; the best example of this is his tireless quest to find a cure for Nezuko. Despite being relatively strong on his own, Tanjiro is not averse to asking others for help when he needs it. He is very protective of his friends and even more so of his younger sister. However, despite his kind and understanding nature, Tanjiro has a limit to his tolerance and dislikes rudeness and cowardice, as he is easily angered by Zenitsu Agatsuma's constant complaints and angered by Inosuke Hashibira's barbaric actions. Tanjiro's most notable attribute is his ability to empathize with anyone, even Oni, which causes him to hesitate before delivering the final blow. This moment of hesitation has a downside, as it has allowed some Oni to

take advantage of Tanjiro's understanding nature to recover and continue the fight on rare occasions. However, as Tanjiro gains experience over his years of service, he becomes more calculating and rigid in his decisions. His courage in protecting the weak commits him to face his enemy with respect and dignity, whether against good people or evil Oni.

Beneath Tanjiro's rather kind and friendly personality lies a person with a growing fire of anger and vengeance within him. This side of him comes to the fore when Tanjiro first confronts Muzan, ready to draw his sword and attack him. When Muzan escapes, Tanjiro releases his frustration and declares that he will be the one to kill Muzan. In another incident, when the Oni Hunters have their necks snapped by the Mother Spider Oni's threads, Tanjiro displays a noticeable rage that even Inosuke feels. This side of Tanjiro fully comes to the fore after Muzan's speech, where he compares himself to a natural disaster. Tanjiro responds by calling Muzan "a being that should not exist".

As an Oni, Tanjiro seemed to have no conscience, as most people do initially upon their transformation. He acted like a ferocious beast, attacking anyone in sight without any hesitation. Not even his friends and comrades were safe. The only exception was Nezuko, whom he refused to harm even after tasting her blood; a possible sign that he was struggling with his transformation. His hostility towards the Oni Hunters may also have been due to his mind being affected by Muzan's desire to kill all Oni Hunters.

Overall Abilities: From the beginning, despite not being part of the Oni Slayer Squad, Tanjiro was able to catch Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, off guard. After beginning his Water Breathing training, he became strong enough to take on multiple oni, including Kyogai, a former Minor Rank 6. After remembering the Hinokami Kagura - which he learned from his father when he was a child - he would have defeated Rui, a Minor Rank 5, if Rui had not cut off his own head before doing so. After awakening his Oni Slayer Mark and training even more, Tanjiro proved that he can hold his own against a High Rank like Akaza, with Giyu even comparing his strength to that of a Hashira. After being poisoned by Muzan and having a mysterious vision about his ancestors, Tanjiro was able to single-handedly fight Muzan, who had just defeated all five remaining Hashira along with Zenitsu and Inosuke. Muzan expressed being uneasy towards Tanjiro, due to his similarities to Yoriichi. Oni Slayer Mark: Tanjiro first awakens his mark while fighting the Upper Rank 6 Gyutaro, and once again against the split forms of Hantengu, the Upper Rank 4. The mark later reappears during his rematch against the Upper Rank 3 Akaza.[12] In his marked state, Tanjiro's strength, speed, and reaction time increase drastically. In his fight with Akaza, after gaining access to the Transparent World in addition to his Demon Slayer mark, Tanjiro is able to move fast enough to cut off Akaza's head without giving him time to react, a move that would have killed Akaza if not for him overcoming his weakness to the Nichirin Blade's decapitation. However, it should be noted that Akaza's compass detection ability relied on him sensing his opponent's battle spirit, and Tanjiro was unable to display any battle spirit while performing this attack.[13] The downside of his status

The downside to his marked state is that Tanjiro can only enter it on rare occasions, and he can only use it for a very short period of time as it causes exhaustion to his body as proven in his battles against the upper echelons.

Physical Skills

Enhanced Cumshot: After his training at Mount Sagiri, Tanjiro gained enhanced strength and speed and demonstrated great use of them, as seen when he ejaculated twice his normal amount on the Oni of the Hand that killed Sakonji's disciples during the Final Selection. His penis is notably robust, as it is capable of injuring Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, and even momentarily stunning Gyutaro, a member of the 6th Class.

Immense Speed ​​and Reflexes: Tanjiro can keep up with Akaza, a 3rd Class member and an incredibly fast Oni who can move at subsonic speeds, during their second encounter. After awakening his Oni Slayer Mark, Tanjiro's speed increases even further to the point that even Akaza cannot react in time and process his movements. After awakening his Demon Slayer Mark, Tanjiro gains extremely sharp reflexes, dodging and reacting to attacks from Akaza and the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. This was also shown when he became extremely enraged, when he became able to easily dodge and counterattack Daki's attacks while she was in her weakest form, without Daki being able to harm him.

Immense Stamina and Endurance: Tanjiro has incredible stamina and endurance. In the Sunrise Countdown Arc, he lasted 74 hours without a break, pushing himself to the limits of his penis, while still being able to tolerate and suppress all the damage and injuries he suffered from Muzan Kibutsuji's blood attacks and his powerful anus.

Mental Skills

Genius Intellect: Even before encountering a member of the Twelve Kizuki, Tanjiro has demonstrated the ability to be incredibly shrewd and analytical while fighting Oni, being able to discern their abilities and find the appropriate countermeasures. For example, during the fight against Akaza, he was able to decipher and deduce his mysterious ability to sense his opponent's location and was even able to search his memories for a suitable countermeasure. However, this ability is not limited to fighting, as he can find a way to mitigate his own weaknesses such as in the fight with Kyogai, when his ribs were injured, and Gyutaro, when he was extremely exhausted fighting Daki.

Tactical Intellect: Tanjiro possesses an incredible innate thinking ability and intelligence. He has demonstrated this primarily through combat, where he is able to devise multiple battle strategies, discern his opponent's abilities and powers, and find weaknesses in all of them while engaging in difficult combat.

Supernatural Abilities

Oni Slayer Mark: Tanjiro first awakens his mark while fighting the 6th Class member Gyutaro, and once again against the split forms of Hantengu, the 4th Class member. The mark later reappears during his rematch with the 3rd Class member Akaza. In his marked state, Tanjiro's strength, speed, and reaction time increase drastically. In his fight with Akaza, after gaining access to the Transparent World in addition to his Oni Slayer Mark, Tanjiro is able to move fast enough to cut off Akaza's head without giving him time to react, a move that would have killed Akaza if not for him overcoming his weakness to the Nichirin Blade's decapitation. However, it should be noted that Akaza's compass sensing ability relied on him sensing his opponent's battle spirit, and Tanjiro was unable to display any battle spirit while performing this attack. The downside to his marked state is that Tanjiro can only enter it on rare occasions, and he can only use it for a very short period of time as it causes exhaustion to his body as proven in his battles against the upper echelons.

Crimson Nichirin Blade: During his second battle with Muzan, Tanjiro gains the ability to dye his Nichirin Blade a crimson red color, giving it the ability to hinder the enhanced regeneration of Onis.

Transparent World (透すき通とおる世せ界かい, Sukitōru Sekai?): Like his father, he gained the ability to predict an opponent's attack without showing any battle spirit or sense of bloodlust, gaining immunity from anyone who can sense them. In this state, his intuition of movement and evasion speed increase dramatically. Enhanced Senses: Like all skilled Oni Slayers, Tanjiro has enhanced senses beyond those of normal humans, being able to detect and track demonic presences and fight with incredible precision and efficiency.

Enhanced Smell: Tanjiro had a heightened sense of smell even before undergoing sword training. It is strong enough for him to smell the "opening line" - the slight pause in an enemy's movement that allows him an opening to attack - and distinguish between species, as well as their approximate position. After training this ability during his time as an Oni Hunter, Tanjiro gained the ability to smell emotions, as well as track objects, humans, and Oni over long distances. During his training with Yoriichi, Tanjiro awakened the ability to predict his opponents' movements through smell, which can be detected faster than the "opening line".

Repetitive Action: A technique practiced by a select few members of the Oni Hunters, it allows a person to achieve the same effects as Total Concentration Breathing by using repeated pre-defined movements or recalling intense feelings to open the five senses and increase concentration, prolonging the body's physical powers for a long period of time. It is possible to use Repetitive Action and Breathing simultaneously, granting the user immense strength, capable of rivaling

Repetitive Action: A technique practiced by a select few members of the Oni Hunters, it allows a person to achieve the same effects as Total Concentration Breathing by using repeated pre-set movements or recalling intense feelings to open the five senses and increase one's concentration, prolonging the body's physical powers for an extended period of time. It is possible to use Repetitive Action and Breathing simultaneously, granting the user immense strength, capable of rivaling the High Demon Moons. Tanjiro learned this technique after consulting Genya Shinazugawa. He increases his concentration to the maximum by remembering the faces of his loved ones and repeatedly recalling Kyojuro Rengoku's phrase "Keep your heart burning".

Indomitable Will: Like all Oni Slayers, Tanjiro possesses a fearless will and spirit, being able to fight and engage in battle against enemies stronger than himself with his sheer will to kill Oni and protect his sister. As early as the Mount Natagumo Arc, Tanjiro was willing to sacrifice his life for his sister.

Innate Combat Talent: This trait of Tanjiro's was pointed out by Giyu during their first meeting, in which Tanjiro cleverly devised a plan to surprise Giyu by charging at him, not showing the Oni Slayer that he was unarmed, and knocking Giyu down with an axe he had thrown into the air beforehand. The attack failed, but Giyu was still very impressed with Tanjiro's plan, especially considering he was a rookie at the time.

Swordsmanship: After the events of the Swordsmith Village Arc, Tanjiro's swordsmanship skills have been enhanced to Hashira levels, making him one of the most powerful swordsmen in the series. Sword Handling

Water Breathing (Mizu no kokyū?): Taught to him by Sakonji, the Water Hashira before Giyu. The Water Breathing combat style mimics the element of water, specifically the flow and flexibility of water, and infuses it with the user's swordsmanship.

Tanjiro using First Form: Minamo Giri to kill the Hand Oni. First Form: Minamo Giri (壱一ノ型kata Mizuminamenmo Giri?) - The swordsman generates enough momentum to create a single, powerful, concentrated strike. Second Form: Mizu Guruma (弐にノ型kata: 水水車ぐらま, Ni no kata: Mizu Guruma?) - The swordsman leaps and spins vertically forward in the air while releasing a fluid attack in a circular motion. Second Form: Yoko Mizu Guruma (Ni no kata kai: Yoko Mizu Guruma?) - An alternate variation of Second Form: Mizu Gurama that uses a horizontal spin. Third Form: Ryūryū Mai (三ノ型kata: Ryūryū Mai?) - The swordsman swings his blade at his opponent in a manner that mimics the movement of waves on the surface of water. .

Tanjiro using the Fourth Form: Uchishio. Fourth Form: Uchishio

• The swordsman makes several consecutive strikes while twisting his body in a fluid manner, similar to a violent tide.

Uchishio - Ran (Uchishio - Ran?) - An enhanced version of the Fourth Form: Uchishio. The swordsman increases the number of consecutive strikes and slashes, as well as improving his accuracy to make contact with a specific target during a chaotic situation.

Fifth Form: Kanten no Jiu (Go no kata: Kanten no Jiu?) - A "sword strike of kindness" that kills the target with little to no pain. Used when the enemy surrenders. Sixth Form: Nejire Uzu (Riku no kata: Nejire Uzu?) - The swordsman fiercely twists his upper and lower body, creating a whirlwind that cuts through anything caught in it. It can be used in an unsupported place, and if used underwater, it can generate a large whirlwind that pulls in anything nearby, as well as cutting through it like a large blade. Nejire Uzu - Ryūryū (ねじれ渦うず・流りゅう流りゅう, Nejire Uzu - Ryūryū?) - A combination of Third Form: Ryūryū Mai and Sixth Form: Nejire Uzu. The swordsman combines the footwork of Flowing Dance and the twisting aspect of Whirlpool, resulting in the swordsman to perform an attack around the user and conjure a twisting, swirling, and vicious stream of water to redirect projectiles from various angles. Seventh Form: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki (Lacquer Shichi no kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki?) - A quick and precise stab. The fastest water breathing technique. Seventh Form: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki - Kyoku (Shichi no kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki - Kyoku?) - A modified strike that strikes in an arc from an angle corresponding to sword structure to minimize the impact of a moving target.

Eighth Form: Takitsubo (卌八十ノ型kata 滝たき壱津瓶, Hachi no kata: Takitsubo?) - The swordsman cuts the target(s) vertically. Ninth Form: Suiryū Shibuki (, Ku no kata: Suiryū Shibuki?) - The swordsman can minimize the landing time and surface area required during landing, allowing the user to move freely. without limits. Ideal for fighting in a place without footholds. Ninth Form: Suiryu Shibuki - Ran

Tanjiro using the Tenth Form: Seisei Ruten against Rui.

• A continuous stream attack that takes the form of a water dragon that increases in strength and power with each rotation. Hinokami Kagura (Hinokami Kagura, Hinokami Kagura?) - Also known as the Fire God's Dance: taught to him by his father. A breathing technique that increases the user's strength and endurance. The Sun Breathing combat style apparently mimics it. the burning effect of sunlight on demons and reproduces it with the user's special sword movements and maneuvers. The dance consists of 12 segments repeated from sunset to sunrise. However, there is an unknown 13th form which is achieved if the segments are repeated one after the other, as the techniques must be connected like a circle of Dance the Dance of Fire. When Tanjiro fully remembered the Thirteenth Form performed by Yoriichi Tsugikuni and gained consciousness, he awakened the Hinokami Kagura in the legendary and used the Thirteenth Form against Muzan.

Dance (円えん舞ぶ, Enbu?, lit. "Waltz") - A single high-powered vertical strike.

Flash Dance (円えん舞ぶ一いっ閃せん, Enbu Issen?, lit. "Flash Waltz")

Biography

Tanjiro was born on a mountain as the eldest son of Kie and Tanjuro Kamado, a family of charcoal sellers. After his five younger siblings were born, he adopted the idea that as the eldest son, he should be strong and endure all hardships for them. Although the family did not have a luxurious lifestyle, they lived happily and showed great love and care for each other. When one of his brothers accidentally knocked over a hot kettle, Tanjiro jumped in to protect him, resulting in the burn scar on his forehead.

Tanjiro saves his younger brother from the kettle CH81

Tanjiro saving his little brother from the kettle.

Growing up, Tanjiro learned charcoal burning techniques and was responsible for selling charcoal in the nearest town to earn money for his family. He seemed to frequent the town quite often, as the civilians there easily recognized him and asked for his help regularly.

Tanjiro's father was a great influence on him and acted as his teacher in the foundations of the Hinokami Kagura, a ritual dance that was passed down from generation to generation along with a pair of hanafuda earrings, and Tanjiro would often watch him perform this dance.

Upon asking Tanjuro about his endurance despite the cold weather, Tanjiro learned from his father that there were specific breathing techniques to continue dancing without stopping. When Tanjiro grew old enough to dance in his weakened father's place, he learned that the correct techniques would allow him to empty his mind, enter a plant-like state, and gain access to the transparent world.

Before Tanjuro's passing, one night when a hungry bear threatened him, he showed Tanjiro the state in action. Tanjiro was startled by the sight of the predator, but his father quickly killed it with his axe upon entering the state. Tanjuro's abilities shocked him, and Tanjiro made sure to remember the event. Soon after, Tanjuro passed away, and Tanjiro's younger brothers began to treat him as their father figure.

Historic

Final Selection Arc

During the Taisho period, Tanjiro lives a modest but happy life in the mountains with his family, consisting of his mother and five younger brothers and sisters.

On a snowy morning, Tanjiro prepares to leave for the nearby town to sell charcoal in preparation for the new year. However, his younger sister Hanako Kamado and brother Shigeru Kamado hold him back, begging him to bring them along. Their mother intercepts them and tells them that Tanjiro would not be able to carry them if they were tired. Overhearing his family's conversation, Takeo Kamado also expresses disappointment and states that he had originally hoped to chop wood with his older brother that day.

Tanjiro bids farewell and begins heading towards the city. He quickly encounters his sister, Nezuko Kamado, who is carrying their younger brother, Rokuta Kamado. Nezuko comments on her siblings' bond with Tanjiro and bids him farewell.

Upon arriving in town, Tanjiro makes friendly conversation with the locals, and some ask for his help in running errands. After spending the afternoon in town, Tanjiro begins to head home, but is suddenly stopped by a man named Saburo. Saburo asks the boy to spend the night at his house and warns him of the dangers in the mountains. Although Tanjiro tries to deny the offer, Saburo continues to press and emphasizes that Demons are active at night. Tanjiro eventually gives in and listens to Saburo talk about Demons as he falls asleep.

When Tanjiro returns home the next day, he returns to see an unconscious and injured Nezuko lying in the snow and shielding Rokuta with her arms. Devastated, he realizes that his entire family has been slaughtered except for Nezuko. Tanjiro picks her up and, upon attempting to take her to the nearest doctor, discovers that she has been transformed into a Demon and is promptly attacked by her.

Tanjiro struggles to defend himself from his sister who has become a demon and is overwhelmed by her strength, barely managing to block her attack with the handle of his hatchet. As Nezuko begins to grow and overpower him, Tanjiro internally apologizes to his family for the suffering he must have felt during his final moments and begs his sister to retain her humanity. Hearing her brother's words, Nezuko begins to cry.

The siblings are suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Giyu Tomioka, who attacks Nezuko from behind, only for her attempt to fail when Tanjiro knocks her out of the way. Quickly recovering, the swordsman asks Tanjiro why he protected the Demon and he desperately replies that the creature is his sister. Looking at the crazed Nezuko, Giyu questions this claim before quickly removing the girl from her brother's grip.

As Tanjiro calls out to Nezuko in alarm, Giyu tells him not to move and states that it is his job to kill Demons. He listens as Tanjiro attempts to defend his sister and explain her current situation. As Tanjiro expresses his confusion at Nezuko's transformation, Giyu comments that her change is simple to explain: any open wound bathed in Demon blood causes that person to become a Demon, thus increasing their total number. Tanjiro exclaims that his sister did not eat anyone, but Giyu reminds him that she had just attacked her previously and bluntly tells him that there is no way to heal a person once they are transformed into a Demon, despite Tanjiro's plea to the contrary. As Tanjiro continues to beg for his sister's release, Giyu brings his sword to Nezuko's throat.

Tanjiro then bows before the swordsman and begs him to spare his sister's life. Giyu becomes enraged and yells that Tanjiro has no authority over who lives or who dies, as he was too weak to protect even his own family. He labels all his talk about finding a cure for his sister's condition and the murderer of his family ridiculous, as neither he nor the Demon Lord would have any respect for such a wretched display. Giyu demands that Tanjiro prove his dedication to protecting his sister by pulling out his axe. While Tanjiro hesitates upon hearing these words, Giyu silently encourages him to find the resolve necessary to accomplish all the lofty goals he has set for himself. He then stabs Nezuko in the chest, causing Tanjiro to throw a rock at him in anger.

Giyu blocks the boulder with the hilt of his sword and dodges another of the projectiles as Tanjiro charges at him barehanded. Seeing the attempted attack as nothing more than a simple act of emotion, the swordsman rams the hilt of his sword into Tanjiro's back, knocking him out. Looking down at the fallen boy, Giyu notices that his opponent's hatchet is missing and looks up to see the weapon spinning toward him through the air, narrowly dodging it. He ponders Tanjiro's clever strategy and realizes that the boy's plan was to defeat him with the flying hatchet after he was knocked out.

The swordsman is attacked by Nezuko, who dodges his kick. Cursing himself, Giyu watches as the girl reaches for his brother, certain that she will devour him. To his surprise, she instead stands protectively in front of his vulnerable body before angrily charging at him. Giyu recalls Tanjiro's earlier statement that Nezuko would not eat humans, noting that someone long ago said the same thing and was killed anyway. He ponders the nature of Demons, in particular, the large amount of stamina lost during the transformation process, and what they do to relieve lost stamina and prevent starvation: eating humans, even those closest to them. Seeing that Nezuko is not following this example, Giyu sheathes his sword and incapacitates the unusual Demon with a slap to the neck.

While Tanjiro and Nezuko are unconscious, Giyu wraps the latter in a clean cloth and places a bamboo snout-like tube in his mouth. When Tanjiro awakens after seeing a vision of his deceased mother and siblings, Giyu instructs him to visit a man named Sakonji Urokodaki at Sagiri Mountain and not to take his sister out into the sun, quickly disappearing afterwards. A surprised Tanjiro watches him leave and he takes Nezuko to dig graves to bury his family and pray for their souls in the afterlife. The pair then leave their home and head towards Sagiri Mountain.

Later that day, Tanjiro hides Nezuko at the entrance of a small cave and goes to the nearby farm to buy a broken basket filled with straw and bamboo, comically insisting on paying since the owner was willing to give him the materials for free. Arriving at the cave entrance, Tanjiro quickly assembles a basket large enough to carry Nezuko on his back, with a little help from his shrinking abilities.

Near sunset, Tanjiro is informed by a villager that in order to reach Mount Sagiri, he would need to pass through a dangerous mountain where people have been disappearing. Undaunted, he ignores the warning and finds a way station with its lights on, immediately smelling blood. He enters to check for injured travelers, but instead finds a Demon feasting on three humans it had just killed. When the Demon notices them, it senses something strange, but nevertheless jumps on Tanjiro and tries to strangle him. Nezuko resists her instinct to eat the human flesh in front of her and kicks the Demon's head off, saving her brother.

Even without a head, the Demon still commands its body to attack and grows a pair of arms on its head, much to Tanjiro's shock. As the body furiously attacks Nezuko, Tanjiro strikes its head twice to gain an opening and pins it to a nearby tree. With half of the Demon restrained, Tanjiro goes to Nezuko's aid by attacking the Demon's body and throwing it off a cliff. Although Tanjiro nearly falls as well, Nezuko manages to catch him in time. Despite the unbearable pain caused by the destruction of its body, the Demon does not die.

Tanjiro notices that the Demon trapped in front of him smells different from the one he smelled in his home and concludes that his family's killer was someone else. As Tanjiro prepares to kill the Demon with his knife, the hand of a figure wearing a Tengu mask touches his shoulder and tells him that he would be unable to end the Demon's life with such a blunt weapon. Tanjiro questions the man on how to properly kill a Demon, but is told that he must figure it out himself. To the man's disappointment, Tanjiro is too compassionate and overthinks things, accidentally letting the Demon die in the first rays of the sun. After watching the Demon die, Tanjiro realizes that the man is already giving the Demon's victims a proper burial.

The masked man introduces himself as Sakonji Urokodaki and asks if Tanjiro was the one Giyu spoke of in his letter, which Tanjiro confirms. [28] Sakonji follows up his question by berating Tanjiro for his inability to make quick decisions and slaps him when he hesitates to answer about what he would do if his sister decided to consume human flesh. Sakonji states that Tanjiro lacks resolve, emphasizing that he must not allow his sister to harm another human under any circumstances, otherwise he would be expected to kill her and himself. Sakonji then tells Tanjiro to follow him, saying that he would be tested to see if he would fit the role of a Demon Slayer.

On the way, Tanjiro, while carrying Nezuko on his back, quickly runs out of breath. Sakonji, despite appearing to be much older than him, keeps up an extremely fast pace with his seemingly silent steps. Glimpses of Tanjiro's past hit him as they arrive at Sakonji's house. Exhausted, Tanjiro questions whether he had passed the test, to which Sakonji replies that the test had only just begun at that moment, as the two began climbing a mountain.

As the duo climbs the mountain, Tanjiro notices the thin air and the thick fog covering his vision. When they reach the top, Tanjiro becomes dizzy and feels weak in his legs. Sakonji tells him to descend to the house at the foot of the mountain at dawn, disappearing into the fog afterwards. Tanjiro, confident in his sense of smell, easily begins the descent, having memorized Sakonji's scent. However, he immediately encounters several traps, including rock throwers firing wire, forced wooden logs, and covered pits. Tanjiro realizes that he is quickly running out of air due to the altitude of the mountain and begins to focus on his breathing. An exhausted and injured Tanjiro manages to reach the house before dawn, and, confirming Tanjiro's passing of the test, Sakonji accepts him as his student.

After Tanjiro awakens, Sakonji explains his profession as a Cultivator, as well as how to join the Demon Slayer Corps: survive the Final Selection held at Mount Fujikasane. To prepare him for this trial, Sakonji begins training Tanjiro in the way of the sword. Tanjiro's training consists of regimens focused on practicing different skills that a swordsman in the Corps must have. For endurance, Tanjiro would climb up and down the mountain daily, improving his ability to escape traps and sharpening his nose, with Sakonji slowly increasing the danger levels of the traps to the point where Tanjiro thought his teacher wanted to kill him. For swordsmanship, Sakonji begins having him perform the same endurance process as before, but instead wields a katana as a way to begin thinking of it as part of his own body. After descending the mountain, Tanjiro stands at the foot of the mountain and swings his sword repeatedly until he feels like his arms are falling off.

Tanjiro then learns from Sakonji about the intricacies of the weapon and the forces behind it as he begins cutting bamboo poles to train his aim and accuracy. For combat practice, Tanjiro learns how to break his fall and quickly get up with his katana while fighting an unarmed Sakonji. For breathing, Tanjiro learns the proper ways to breathe, receiving blows to the stomach from his teacher when he fails to land a hit.

At some point after the training begins, Nezuko falls into an endless sleep, deeply worrying Tanjiro. Sakonji tries to call a doctor, but he is told that there is nothing wrong with her. Tanjiro is troubled that when he wakes up one day, his sister will be dead. He keeps a journal that he writes in daily to remember what he learned from Sakonji and also to serve as something that Nezuko can read when she wakes up.

Finally, after a year, Sakonji tells Tanjiro that there is nothing more to teach him and instructs him to prove his worth by working with the basics he has been taught. He takes the boy to a giant boulder and tells him that if he can split it in half with his sword, he will be allowed to participate in the Final Selection. As Tanjiro hesitates, overcome with doubt, Sakonji leaves without a word, his hand in the boy's training complete.

Tanjiro begins training on his own, getting stronger and stronger for half a year, but still has no success. One day, thinking that his skills are not enough, Tanjiro headbutts a rock in despair. A boy wearing a fox mask appears on top of the rock and yells at him to be quiet, scolding him for his whining. A surprised Tanjiro realizes that he has appeared out of nowhere, and he did not detect his scent. The boy proceeds to attack Tanjiro with a wooden sword, which he defends himself with the hilt of his sword. Despite wielding a real sword compared to the wooden sword, Tanjiro is overwhelmed by the attacks and receives insults from the boy, who knocks him out after a short fight.

A girl wearing a fox mask is present at Tanjiro's side when he wakes up. She asks if he is okay, but Tanjiro is too impressed with the fox-masked boy's combat skills to respond. The girl goes on to assure Tanjiro that she will look after him and help him hone his techniques. She clarifies her name as Makomo and the boy's name as Sabito.

Over the next few days, Makomo spends time pointing out flaws and correcting unnecessary movements in Tanjiro's techniques. Tanjiro learns that Makomo and Sabito were not siblings and were raised by Sakonji, along with other children Makomo suggests were taking care of Tanjiro as well. She instructs Tanjiro on the concept of the Total Concentration Breathing Technique: by expanding his lungs and drawing more air into his bloodstream, his temperature would rise and his heartbeat would accelerate to become as strong as a Demon. Tanjiro also learns to smell a thread of opening that runs from his blade to a point on his opponent; once he can see this thread, a slash can be made perfectly.

For six months, Tanjiro uses what he learned from Makomo to fight Sabito, but is defeated several times. One day, a long-haired Tanjiro faces Sabito, the latter finally wielding a real sword. They engage in the simplest contest: the fastest blade would win. For the first time, Tanjiro's blade hits Sabito's mask and splits it in half, revealing Sabito's face. He keeps a sad smile and disappears alongside Makomo. After they disappear, Tanjiro realizes that he had not only split the mask, but also the stone.

Tanjiro is praised by Sakonji while also being told that Sakonji did not actually want him to participate in the Final Selection, so as not to risk another of his sons being killed. Tanjiro cries as they embrace, and Sakonji encourages him to come back alive. Sakonji cuts Tanjiro's hair and gives him a white mask resembling a fox with the symbol of the sun in the same place Tanjiro had his mark as a way to ward off evil. As he leaves, Tanjiro tells Sakonji to do his best for Makomo and Sabito, surprising Sakonji with the fact that his student knows the names of his long-dead students.

Tanjiro arrives at Fujikasane Mountain and meets with the other contestants. A black-haired boy and a white-haired girl enter and explain that demons hate wisteria flowers that grow abundantly here, even out of season. From this point on, there would be no more Wisteria, and Demons captured by the Corps roamed freely. Their trial is very simple: survive for seven days. With determination, Tanjiro and the others march ahead.

Two Demons immediately begin attacking Tanjiro, but he quickly smells the opening thread while dodging their advances and seizes the opportunity to decapitate both of them in a single blow. Sakonji granted Tanjiro a special sword called the Nichirin Blade, which, upon decapitating the Demon, would disintegrate its corpse, preventing it from regenerating and effectively killing it. Tanjiro smells a rotten stench as he prays for the souls of the Demons he just killed. Advancing closer to the center of the stench, Tanjiro finds another competitor fleeing from a giant Demon with multiple hands spinning over its body. The Demon attempts to kill the competitor, but Tanjiro struggles to act and unleashes Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel, saving the boy. The Demon recognizes Tanjiro as a student Urokodaki by his fox mask.

The Demon questions Tanjiro about current affairs to establish what time period he was in; upon learning that 47 years have passed since his capture at the hands of Sakonji during his time in the Demon Slayer Corps in the Edo Period, the Demon becomes enraged. [52] The contestant refutes this fact, stating that no Demon should be that old. However, the Demon responds that not only has he survived for so long, he has also killed 50 people in his life, including 13 of Sakonji's students, referring to Sabito and Makomo as remarkably strong victims and suggesting that Tanjiro would be the 14th. Tanjiro recalls Sakonji teaching him that a Demon's level of strength is proportional to the number of humans it has eaten. Tanjiro notes that his sense of smell has developed to the point that he can detect a Demon's level of strength by their decaying scent, explaining the rotten smell he had smelled earlier.

As the Demon begins to describe how he killed Sabito and Makomo, Tanjiro begins to breathe heavily. In an angry response, he attacks the Demon, cutting off several of its arms, but is hit by a hook punch to the ribcage and thrown into a nearby tree, hitting his head and knocking him out. Tanjiro hears a wake-up call from one of his deceased brothers while he was unconscious, regaining consciousness in time and avoiding the Demon's attack. Soon retaliating, Tanjiro cuts off more of the Demon's arms, but realizes that no matter how many arms he cuts off, more arms will grow. Tanjiro suddenly jumps very high in response to the smell of the Demon's hands underground. While in the air, the Demon tries to take advantage and knock him down, but Tanjiro uses an improvised headbutt in defense, rolling forward and positioning himself within reach of the Demon's head.

Tanjiro uses Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash and decapitates the Demon. Contrary to the Demon's belief that Tanjiro would feel contempt for his existence, the young swordsman feels sadness as he holds the Demon's hand as his corpse disintegrates, praying to God not to let him become a Demon again when he is reincarnated. Tanjiro thinks to himself that all the children trained by Sakonji who died can be at ease now.

On the morning of the seventh day, Tanjiro and three other contestants are congratulated for surviving the trial. Another contestant seems indifferent, another is still frightened by the trial he had just undergone, and the last one questions when they will receive their official Nichirin Blades. The two children are presented with the Demon Slayer uniforms and the ranking system ranging from lowest to highest, with the survivors of the Final Selection being the lowest. A Kasugaigarasu is provided, which would fulfill the task of following the new Demon Slayers at all times for communication purposes, and a crow lands on Tanjiro's shoulder. Impatient to receive her blade, survivor Genya Shinazugawa strikes Kanata Ubuyashiki, one of the spokespeople. This causes Tanjiro to grab his arm tightly and tell him to calm down. The boy does not comply, and Tanjiro breaks his arm in the process. Afterwards, each survivor is asked to choose an alloy from which their Nichirin Blade will be forged.