Chapter 172

A Weakling's Potential (の) is the one hundred and seventy-second chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Summary
Sanemi Shinazugawa is hit by Kokushibo's attack and loses the index and middle fingers of his right hand. Cursing his inability to react to the demon's strike, Sanemi notes that were it not for Gyomei Himejima using his chain to divert the trajectory of the attack, he would have lost both of his arms. He also sees that the smell of his rare blood was beginning to lose it's effect on Kokushibo, ruing that he may quickly become a burden.

A crow flies overhead and Kuina Ubuyashiki asks Kiriya Ubuyashiki if they should send over either of Giyu Tomioka or Tanjiro Kamado to assist the Demon Slayers in defeating Upper Rank 1. However, Kiriya is firm in his belief that Gyomei, Sanemi, Muichiro Tokito and Genya Shinazugawa could defeat the demon and orders for Giyu and Tanjiro to continue onward to Muzan Kibutsuji.

Kokushibo unleashes a Moon Breathing: Seventh Form - Mirror of Misfortune - Moonlit  that sends shockwaves at the Demon Slayers from afar. Gyomei is taken aback at the range of the attack as Kokushibo continues to hammer away at the Hashira, this time with a Moon Breathing: Eighth Form - Moon-Dragon Ringtail that catches Sanemi's ankle and causes bleeding. Sanemi is frustrated at his inability to get in close to the demon's head, having to use all his skill simply to dodge his attacks as Kokushibo lines up another attack. Performing a Moon Breathing: Ninth Form - Waning Moonswaths, Kokushibo causes yet more damage to Sanemi, slashing his back with the attack.

Gyomei yells out to Sanemi but the Wind Hashira says to forget about him as Kokushibo attempts to finish him off with a Moon Breathing: Tenth Form - Drilling Slashes - Moon Through Bamboo Leaves but Muichiro saves Sanemi. He says that he would not let Sanemi die as he was still capable of wielding his blade with both arms.

Meanwhile, Genya looks on from behind a pillar, frozen in fear that he would simply be effortlessly dispatched by Kokushibo again. Ruing his weakness but still determined to keep his brother alive and help his friends, Genya stays rooted to the spot, neither making a move to attack Kokushibo nor retreating. He suddenly remembers Tanjiro's words that it was the weakest who had the most potential, when he explained how he had been able to turn the tide against Daki and Gyutaro. He had told Genya that after a certain number of combatants, people would always prioritize the strongest and thus their guard would be thinner against a perceived weaker opponent. Resolving to do his best, Genya takes out a shard of Kokushibo's blade, ready to do his best to defeat the demon.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Muichiro Tokito
 * Genya Shinazugawa
 * Sanemi Shinazugawa
 * Gyomei Himejima
 * Kokushibo
 * Kuina Ubuyashiki
 * Kanata Ubuyashiki
 * Kiriya Ubuyashiki
 * Tanjiro Kamado (flashback)
 * Inosuke Hashibira (flashback)

Events

 * Sanemi loses two fingers.

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