Giyu Tomioka/Synopsis

Past
Giyu grew up alongside his older sister, Tsutako Tomioka. When he was still a child, his sister sacrificed herself to protect him from the Demons.

After the death of Tsutako, Giyu tried to tell others that she was killed by a Demon, however, he was labeled as mentally ill and was sent away to one of his relatives, a doctor. Giyu ran away during the journey there and almost died on a mountain, but he was rescued and became apprenticed under Sakonji Urokodaki.

Giyu was 13 years old when he met Sabito while training under Sakonji, and they became good friends due to their similar pasts and age. Together, they entered the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane. Giyu was injured after a Demon's attack and was saved by Sabito, who defeated nearly every Demon on the mountain. However, after the week went by, it was revealed to Giyu that Sabito was the only one who died during their selection. As a result of this, Giyu started developing a doubt for the authenticity of his position after becoming the Water Hashira.

Final Selection Arc
While Tanjiro Kamado was struggling to fend off the attack from his Demon-turned sister, Nezuko Kamado, Giyu attacks the latter from behind, only to fail as Tanjiro moves Nezuko out of the way. Recovering quickly, the swordsman asks the boy why he protected the Demon, and he replies that the Demon is his sister. Looking at the maddened Nezuko, Giyu questions this statement before swiftly removing the girl from her brother's grip.

As Tanjiro calls out to his sister in alarm, Giyu tells him not to move, stating that it is his job to kill Demons like Nezuko. The swordsman then listens as Tanjiro attempts to defend his sister and explain their current predicament, commenting afterwards that her change in demeanor is simple to explain: any open wound bathed in Demon blood causes that person to become a Demon themselves, thus increasing their overall numbers. When the boy exclaims that his sister hasn't eaten any humans, Giyu reminds him of what had just transpired, shortly thereafter bluntly remarking that there is no way to cure a person once they are turned into a Demon, despite Tanjiro petitioning that there must be a way. As Tanjiro continues pleading for his sister to be released, Giyu brings his sword up to Nezuko's throat.

Tanjiro prostrates himself before the swordsman, begging for his sister's life. Giyu grows angry at his actions, stating that he has no authority over who lives or who dies. He continues that Tanjiro was too weak to protect his family, and all of his talk about finding a cure for his sister's condition and finding his family's killer is ridiculous. Stating that neither he or the Demon Lords would have any respect for such a miserable display, Giyu asks Tanjiro why he thought that covering his sister's body with his would be more effective instead of swinging his hatchet and that Tanjiro's mistakes are what lead to her capture and states also that Giyu could have skewered them both and have been done with it. As the boy ponders these words, Giyu silently encourages him to find the resolve necessary to accomplish all of the lofty goals he had placed upon himself. He then stabs Nezuko in the chest, causing Tanjiro to throw a stone at him in fury.

Giyu blocks the stone with the hilt of his sword, avoiding another of the projectiles as Tanjiro charges at him. Seeing the attack attempt as only a simple act of emotion, the swordsman angrily drives the hilt of his sword into his attacker's back, knocking him to the ground. Staring down at the fallen boy, Giyu wonders where his opponent's axe is. Looking up, he sees the weapon spinning towards him through the air, narrowly dodging it. He then muses over Tanjiro's clever strategy, without even realizing that the boy was empty-handed when he attacked. Deciphering Tanjiro's plan, Giyu realizes that Tanjiro likely thought to take him out with the surprise attack, even if it meant perishing as well.

Distracted, the swordsman is attacked by Nezuko, dodging backwards from her kick. Cursing himself, Giyu watches as the girl reaches for her brother, certain that she was going to devour him. To his surprise, she instead stands protectively in front of his prone body, before charging at him again in rage. Giyu recalls Tanjiro's previous assertion that Nezuko wouldn't eat humans, noting that somebody a long time ago had said the same thing and had been killed regardless. He reflects on the nature of Demons, in particular, the high amount of stamina lost during the transformation process, and what they do to alleviate the lost stamina and prevent starvation: eat humans, even those closest to them. Seeing that Nezuko was not following this example, Giyu sheathes his sword, incapacitating the unusual Demon with a barehanded blow to the neck.

While Tanjiro and Nezuko are unconscious, Giyu wraps the Demon in a clean cloth and straps a bamboo, muzzle-like tube across the girl's mouth. When Tanjiro regains his consciousness, the swordsman instructs him to visit Sakonji Urokodaki and to also to not take his sister out in the sun, before promptly leaving. He would later send a letter to Sakonji, requesting for him to train Tanjiro and explaining the boy and his sister's circumstances.

Mount Natagumo Arc
After receiving news of the many Mizunoto-ranked Demon Slayers perishing on Mount Natagumo, Kagaya Ubuyashiki orders Hashira Giyu and Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, to assist the lower-ranked swordsmen.

Upon arriving, Giyu saves Inosuke Hashibira from the Father Spider Demon by cutting off its arm and easily beheading the Demon with Water Breathing: Fourth Form - Striking Tide. Inosuke is quickly impressed with his strength and demands him for a fight, assuming that the Father Spider Demon was a member of the Twelve Kizuki and by defeating Giyu, who defeated the Demon, he would be made a Hashira. Giyu berates him for his lack of awareness, stating the Demon wasn't one of the Twelve Kizuki and ties Inosuke up after he tries to argue.

Giyu later intervenes in the battle between Tanjiro and Lower Rank 5, Rui, saving the former from Rui’s Blood Demon Art: Murderous Eye Basket. He praises Tanjiro for holding out so long and that he would take care of the rest. Rui, expressing great annoyance over the appearance of another Demon Slayer, attempts to use Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Rotation on the Hashira. Giyu nullifies the attack with his own Water Breathing: Eleventh Form - Dead Calm, cutting apart all the threads. While Rui is in shock over how easily the technique cut through his threads, Giyu swiftly beheads him.

After Rui disintegrates with Tanjiro's hand on his back in sympathy, Giyu steps on his kimono remains, reminding Tanjiro that Demons mercilessly kill humans and should not be pitied. Tanjiro reassures Giyu that he will always raise his sword and defeat Demons to prevent further suffering to innocent civilians, however, he will be compassionate towards those he killed that showed regret and sorrow.

While contemplating Tanjiro’s words, Giyu sees Nezuko and suddenly realizes the siblings are the pair he saved on a mountain two years ago. While the Hashira processes the thought, Shinobu suddenly appears and tries to attack Nezuko. Giyu deflects her attack and she gracefully lands, coolly inquiring him about his intervention and stating that although he previously brushed away the thought of humans and Demons living harmoniously together, he protected a Demon, something that would make others hate him. Shinobu tells him to move aside so she can kill Nezuko, but Giyu doesn’t budge and replies that he is not hated, prompting a surprised Shinobu to apologize for her words as she did not know about Giyu’s lack of awareness about others’ opinions.

Giyu asks if Tanjiro can move and tells him to run, which the boy does while simultaneously thanking him and apologizing. After the two Hashira are alone, Shinobu warns Giyu that he is violating the Demon Slayer code of conduct.

After the siblings escape, Giyu manages to hold Shinobu under his arm and prevent her from chasing after them. Shinobu tries to make him explain his motive, but she is met with silence. After further pestering, Giyu finally speaks, reminiscing over how the event with the Kamado siblings occurred about two years ago. Shinobu interrupts, annoyed about how Giyu is presumably trying to make the story long as a form of retaliation against her telling him he was hated, provoking him. She uses his reaction as a distraction to try and stab him with a blade hidden in her footwear, but a crow interrupts, relaying to the Demon Slayers that Tanjiro and Nezuko were to be brought into custody.

Rehabilitation Training Arc
Giyu is later seen aloof at the Hashira meeting, where Tanjiro and Nezuko are put on trial. While Sanemi Shinazugawa torments Nezuko, he does not interfere and elects to observe from a distance instead. When Tanjiro goes to attack Sanemi, Giyu shouts for them to stop and that their master will be there soon, distracting Sanemi enough for Tanjiro to land a headbutt on him, shocking all the Hashira.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki presents himself and the Hashira bow down in respect. After greeting him, Sanemi inquires Kagaya about the circumstance with Tanjiro and Nezuko. Kagaya apologizes for not bringing the topic up earlier and states the siblings have his approval, in which a majority of the Hashira express great discontent with. Nichika Ubuyashiki is requested by her father to read former Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki’s letter, where it is stated that Tanjiro, Sakonji, and Giyu will all commit seppuku if Nezuko were to attack and/or eat a human. Tanjiro, after hearing Sakonji’s and Giyu’s sacrifice to keep his sibling alive, breaks into tears.

Sanemi, infuriated by Kagaya’s decision, tries to provoke Nezuko into attacking him and prove to his master that she will, in fact, harm humans, by stabbing her numerous times and presenting his marechi blood in front of her. As Tanjiro tries to call out to his sister, Obanai Iguro forcefully holds him down and renders him unable to move. However, Giyu intervenes and holds back Obanai, allowing Tanjiro’s call to prompt Nezuko into refusing the blood. Obanai, angry at Giyu’s interference, thrusts his hand away.

Hashira Training Arc
Following the events at the Swordsmith Village, Giyu attends an emergency meeting with the other Hashira and Amane Ubuyashiki, where they discuss Demon Slayer Marks. After Amane reveals the planned training for Hashira that have received the mark, Giyu decides to take his leave, much to the annoyance of Sanemi and Obanai. When Shinobu requests he at least explain, Giyu states that he is different from the other Hashira and exits, as Gyomei Himejima holds back a furious Sanemi. After Tanjiro finishes healing, he receives a letter from Kagaya, where he is requested to talk one-on-one with Giyu and convince him to work alongside the other Hashira. The boy visits Giyu and talks to him about the training, much to the latter’s exasperation. After asking why he was mad, Giyu describes to Tanjiro that he should’ve stuck to Water Breathing and became the Water Hashira, as he himself was not worthy of holding the position.

Tanjiro hammers him with questions, asking him what his words meant, eventually wearing him out and finally making him admit that he technically never passed the Final Selection. Giyu goes on to reveal that he was in the same selection as Sabito, whom he met and befriended while under the instruction of Sakonji. He describes how Sabito had saved him early on and went on to defeat nearly every Demon on the mountain before his unfortunate death; in contrast, Giyu had not defeated a single Demon yet passed. This fact built his inferiority complex that made him feel unsuitable for a position as a Hashira, persuading him that Sabito would’ve likely received the mark rather than himself.

After hearing his story, Tanjiro relates Giyu’s experiences to his experiences with Kyojuro Rengoku: in both cases, they survived at the expense of the stronger, protective person’s death. Thinking about this, Tanjiro asks Giyu if Sabito’s expectations for Giyu living a fulfilled life were what held them together. These words shock the Hashira, reminding him of an interaction with Sabito where the latter convinces him to not die for the life his sister gave him. Giyu thinks of his deceased friend and sister, apologizing to them for his stubbornness and tells Tanjiro he would train. Right after completing Gyomei’s training, Tanjiro makes his way over to Giyu’s house and witnesses an intense spar between Giyu and Sanemi. As the two continue using their respective Breathing Styles to fight, their wooden swords break and Sanemi eagerly proposes fist-fighting. Tanjiro intercepts them, asking Sanemi to calm down and offers to eat ohagi together, after figuring out Sanemi enjoyed the food. Out of anger, Sanemi knocks Tanjiro out and storms off.

Tanjiro wakes up a few moments later and Giyu explains to him that he and Sanemi were just training, not fighting, as Hashira also attend each others’ training sessions. After this clarification, Giyu and Tanjiro think of ideas to befriend Sanemi.

Infinity Castle Arc
Following Oyakata's death, Giyu is seen with the other Hashira attacking Muzan Kibutsuji. He eventually enters Nakime's Infinity Castle alongside Tanjiro. The two defeat numerous demons, all of which are on par with the title and power of Lower Kizuki. The two are then soon ambushed by Akaza. Giyu watches as Tanjiro goes up against Akaza on his own for a short moment, amazed by his growth and pronouncing his skills as one equal to a Hashira.

After Tanjiro manages to dodge Akaza's attack, Giyu uses Third Form: Flowing Dance. Akaza immediately recognises Giyu as the Water Hashira and states that it has been 50 years since he ran into someone good. Akaza then uses Destructive Death: Disorder to attack Giyu, but Giyu easily counters this with his Eleventh Form: Dead Calm. Akaza then praises Giyu's Eleventh Form as he had never seen the previous Water Hashira use an Eleventh Form. Tanjiro then attempts to land a hit on Akaza with Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun, but Akaza evades this attack. He then appears behind Tanjiro and aims for his neck, but his attack fails when Giyu slices his arm off using Second Form: Water Wheel. As the fight proceeds, Akaza praises Giyu's elegant swordsmanship while they fight. He then asks for Giyu's name, and Giyu states that he doesn't like to talk. Akaza says that he loves talking and asks Giyu for his name again, but seeing that Giyu isn't going to respond, he sends him flying away by using Destructive Leg Form: Explosive Flurry. Giyu soon returns, angry, and finally manifests a mark as he begins fighting Akaza, causing his speed to increase. Giyu seems to be able to face Akaza on equal grounds for that moment, and even numerous times land close attacks near his neck. However, Akaza immediately matches Giyu's new speed and the two go on par for a while. After Giyu starts utilizes all his Water Breathing forms again, Akaza notes that he has no more forms to utilize, and breaks Giyu's blade with a punch to the side of the blade. As Akaza closes in for the final blow, his hand is cut off by Tanjiro mid-attack, saving Giyu. Giyu then re-engages Akaza once more, but Akaza uses his Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow. While Giyu did manage to dodge and deflect some attacks, other attacks broke through his Eleventh Form: Dead Calm. Akaza compliments Giyu for still being alive after getting hit by his strongest attack. Akaza then asks Giyu to become a Demon, and meanwhile Giyu sees Tanjiro behind him. Tanjiro then yells Akaza's name, causing Akaza to recognize him. Tanjiro then enters the Selfless State so that Akaza's Compass Needle cannot detect his next movements. Tanjiro then successfully manages to behead Akaza.

After Akaza's beheaded body begins attacking Tanjiro, the injured Giyu defends Tanjiro, vowing to protect him with his life even as he continues to take damage. After Akaza's death, Giyu and Tanjiro falls unconscious from fatigue.

Sometime before Tanjiro awakened, Giyu had regained consciousness and started a fire. Utilizing the fire to heat his blade and cauterize his wounds, the two are informed about Shinobu, Kanao, and Inosuke’s victory over Upper Rank 2. The two then begin making their way to Muzan's location again (as ordered), rather than assisting in battle against Upper Rank 1. As Giyu and Tanjiro continue moving, Muzan suddenly appears no less than a few meters in front of the two. Muzan and the two slayers exchange a few words before they engage in combat. Giyu and Tanjiro start evading and blocking Muzan’s strikes, the latter being struck in an attempt to get close. After some time in battle, they are both informed by Muzan that Obanai and Mitsuri Kanroji have been killed. Tanjiro after loses footing and nearly gets killed. However, to both Muzan and the slayers’ surprise, Mitsuri breaks through the roof and strikes Muzan. Obanai then appears and helps Tanjiro, as Muzan discovers and interferes with Yushiro's control over Nakime. Giyu, along with, Obanai, Mitsuri, and Tanjiro, distract Muzan while Yushiro brings the castle to the surface. Muzan ends up killing Nakime, however, Yushiro still succeeds in bringing them all to the surface.

Sunrise Countdown Arc
Massive amounts of debris and wreckage are in the area as the Infinity Castle crashes into the surface. With everyone now in the city, the battle is for a moment suspended. The Hashira and Tanjiro appear to be unharmed from the crash and collision. Muzan at first nowhere to be seen, but soon himself present as he destroys and launches the rubble that he was buried under. The three Hashira engage Muzan as he releases multiple attacks toward them. They swiftly dodge and strike back with their individual forms; however, Muzan’s regeneration is leagues above other Demons. Their attacks do nothing as he regenerates while they are still in the motion of cutting him. With all three of the Hashira being close, Muzan attempts to to kill them, but is stopped by multiple lower ranked Demon Slayers who using their bodies as shields for the Hashira. This leads to nearly all of their deaths, along with the Hashira's temporary safety.

Muzan, while dealing with the slayers, brings their attention to Tanjiro, who to Giyu’s horror has fallen. The Hashira and Muzan engage combat once more, with Giyu’s priority being to get a blade that isn’t broken. The Hashira are hit numerous times, and the poison of Muzan’s blood spreads and Kanroji becomes unable to dodge Muzan’s next attack. Nearly killed, and if not, fatally injured, the Love Hashira is saved by Gyomei. Sanemi joins the battle as well, and the five Hashira continue fighting against the Demon King. Muzan's speed increasing against the Hashira as he puts more pressure on them. Eventually, Mitsuri is harmed by an unknown suction technique from Muzan. Giyu, Gyomei, and Sanemi all defend Obanai as he helps Mitsuri. The three continue to stall Muzan on their own before Obanai soon rejoins them. Giyu loses his blade in the constant battle from his weakened grip. He is defended by Gyomei and Obanai and ordered by Sanemi to get himself together. Giyu finds a non-broken blade to use and pushes himself, using Third Form: Flowing Dance.

They all, however, feel the poison’s affect on them, and when they are on the verge of collapse a cat miraculously appears, carrying doses of cures to Muzan’s poison. The Hashira are struck by each dose, which cures them of the poison and allows them to regain a portion of their strength. Muzan, out of rage and anger against Tamayo, releases more suction attacks toward the Hashira. They barely avoid them. Obanai, soon after in an attempt to dye his blade bright red, almost loses consciousness and becomes unable to move. Giyu attempts to save Obanai from Muzan’s attack, but is too late. However, to everyone’s surprise, Obanai is unharmed in the air, and Muzan is attacked multiple times by invisible fighters. These “invisible” slayers that joined the battle are revealed to be Kanao, Inosuke, and Zenitsu once Muzan destroys the tags that were on their persons, which were made by Yushiro using his Blood Demon Art. With the aid of more slayers and Yushiro’s Demon Art, the slayers push themselves to strike Muzan numerous times. Eventually, Giyu and Sanemi are able to clash blades and dye them both red. Soon afterwards, Muzan releases a blitzing quick attack, disabling and knocking away all of the slayers except Kanao. This attack causes Giyu to lose his left arm. Giyu and most of the others are knocked out for the majority of the rest of the battle. Tanjiro, being cured by Yushiro, awakens and starts to engage Muzan, utilizing the final form of Sun. He is soon joined by Obanai, as the two start to assist each other. Tanjiro’s Sun Breathing and Obanai’s bright red Nichirin blade cause devastating damage on the ever weaker growing Muzan. The two drive him to near death before Muzan releases an attack that causes Tanjiro to have seizure like effects. Inosuke and Zenitsu stop Muzan from escaping and calm Tanjiro enough for him to release himself from the effects of Muzan’s attack. While this is happening, the other Hashira start to get up and move toward Muzan despite their devastating injuries. Zenitsu and Inosuke continue to engage Muzan before being quickly joined by Tanjiro. The once intense high speed becomes battle a slow battle of sheer endurance. The trio fight together before Inosuke and Zenitsu reach their limits and are knocked out of the battle. Tanjiro pins Muzan to a wall attempting to hold him down for as long as he can. Mitsuri arrives and rips Muzan’s arm off before he can release any attacks, against Tanjiro. Sanemi arrives slashing off Muzan’s other arm while Obanai stops Tanjiro from being eaten. Muzan releases another attack launching both Sanemi and Obanai away, Tanjiro still holds losing his right arm in the attack. Giyu arrives gripping Tanjiro’s blade, and turning it red inflicting more damage on Muzan. The sunlight starts to beam on Muzan, the latter becoming more dire about the situation. Muzan creates an armor of flesh in the appearance of a baby to slow his body from completely burning in the chance to escape. Tanjiro being absorbed into his body as he expanded. The massive flesh baby crawled around trying to get into shade, while the Demon Slayer Corps tried to slow it down.

Cars are driven and rammed into Muzan before he crushes the cars and continues. The Demon Slayers slow and block Muzan off from shade with another bus like vehicle. Muzan starts crushing and climbing the vehicle as well, nearly killing multiple Demon Slayers however is cut down by Sanemi using Ninth Form: Itaden Typhoon. Muzan suffers more flesh loss but still goes on, managing to get on top of the bus. In panic the Demon Slayers question what to do. Gyomei and multiple other Kakushi supporting manage to pull Muzan back onto his back using the chain from Gyomei’s weapon. Muzan continues to burn, but attempts to start digging into the ground. Going underground to survive. Giyu, Sanemi, and Obanai attempt to stop him utilizing Tenth Form: Constant Flux, Fifth Form: Winter Gale, and Fourth Form: Twin Snake Heads. Muzan continues digging down as hope of him dying to the sun dwindles. But Tanjiro from inside releases a slash with what little energy he has capable, of causing Muzan to jolt upward and burn to ashes.

The Demon Slayers pause in anticipation before cheering and crying as they have finally killed Muzan. As everyone goes to tend to the wounded and help with recovery, Giyu is frantically looking for Tanjiro. Multiple Kakushi try to tell him to not move and block him from seeing Tanjiro, but Giyu catches a glimpse of Tanjiro. Giyu is told that Tanjiro doesn’t have a pulse and isn’t breathing, he has died. Giyu apologizes to Tanjiro for failing to protect him asking for forgiveness.

Tanjiro’s eyes jolt open, blankly staring ahead of him. His missing arm suddenly regenerates, causing to Giyu recognize what has happened. Giyu saves a Kakushi nearby from being killed by Tanjiro. Giyu calls to the other Kakushi nearby Tanjiro to get away from him. However their slow reaction nearlt causes Tanjiro to kill them. Due to the sunlight, however he is interrupted and starts to burn. Giyu calls out to everyone to get weapons proclaiming Tanjiro has turned into a demon. Tanjiro attempts to get in shade however is pinned down by Giyu. Giyu pleads for Tanjiro to stay as himself and die as Tanjiro. However Tanjiro stops burning becoming immune to sunlight similar to Nezuko. Tanjiro manages to strike Giyu in the jaw before Inosuke arrives. Inosuke attempts to behead Tanjiro, however can not bring himself to do it. Nezuko now turned into a human arrives on the battlefield, hugging Tanjiro before he can get the chance to kill Inosuke. Tanjiro bites her as she talks and nearly kills Nezuko but Zenitsu stops him now. Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Nezuko attempt to hold him down and stop him, however Tanjiro pushes them all back including Giyu. Nezuko barely holds on to him, as Tanjiro grows multiple tendrils. He launches several of them toward Zenitsu. Giyu using Fourth Form: Striking Tide stops the attacks but also notes they have no way to kill Tanjiro. Giyu continues to block the attacks and tendrils from Tanjiro, hoping that Tanjiro can regain himself. Kanao utilizing the final form of Flower Breathing, Equinoctial Vermilion Eye manages to inject Tanjiro with a medicine capable of turning demons back into humans. Tanjiro stops attacking as he undergoes the reverse demon transformation becoming human again. The battle is truly over now.

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Гию Томиока Giyu Tomioka