Chapter 148

Clashing (ぶつかる) is the one hundred and forty-eighth chapter of Koyoharu Gotōge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Summary
Giyu uses the Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance to maneuver around Akaza, the latter recognizing him as the Water Hashira and stating it has been fifty years since he had faced a Hashira that uses the Water Breathing. Akaza responds by using his Destructive Death: Disorder, disrupting Giyu's movements and forcing him to use the Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm to negate the attack. The Upper Moon mentions the last Water Hashira he faced never used such a form. Tanjiro appears from behind, using the Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun to slash at Akaza's neck, only for the blow to miss and for the demon to appear behind him instead, about to punch through his neck. Tanjiro nearly gets hit trying to use the Hinokami Kagura: Fake Rainbow to dodge, when Giyu saves him by slicing Akaza's arm off using the Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel. Akaza's arm grows back nearly instantly however, and Giyu quickly attacks again, followed by Tanjiro using the Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance. Akaza sees him trying to slice his foot and uses Leg Type: Crown Splitter, knocking the demon slayer. Tanjiro tries to parry with his blade and though he nearly comes unscathed, Akaza's leg catches Tanjiro's nose slightly, causing him to bleed heavily from the sheer force.

Tanjiro crouches down to soak up the pain, leading Giyu to face Akaza alone. Akaza compliments his opponent's sword and asks for his name, only to be denied "I don't have a name to tell to a Demon. And I hate talking, so don't bother." The demon happily responds he loves talking and will continually asking till he gives in, using Leg Type: Explosive Flurry to hit his blade handle and knocking the Hashira away through several walls. Tanjiro sees the impact and calls at to Giyu, only for Akaza to appear alongside him, excited he now knows his opponent's name. The two swing at each other, Tanjiro using the Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun and Akaza deploying his Destructive Death: Eight-Layered Demon Core in retaliation. Akaza survives the clash unscatched, while Tanjiro is forced back, slamming into a wall.

Akaza compliments his moves and for training in a short amount of time. He praises Kyojuro Rengoku for the day of their battle, as Tanjiro "was a weakling, lying down that night". Now however, he sees Tanjiro's growth in battle and is now excited to face him. Akaza voices his gratitude at Kyojuro's death, as he believes he would never had become stronger than that day, also insulting his belief to remain human. Tanjiro hears these words and, remembering Kyojuro, Shinjuro and Senjuro, becomes enraged, telling him to stop insulting the former Flame Hashira. Akaza is confused, retorting he is praising the two, while Tanjiro only tells him he is insulting Kyojuro, as well as hating anyone who faces him. The demon claims Tanjiro is misunderstanding as he only hates the weak, repulsed by them and stating the laws of nature dictate the weak become eliminated. The demon slayer responds back that the Upper Rank himself is the product of his wrong views, as he was once weak as well and had become powerful.

Tanjiro yells that "The strong protect the weak. Then the weak get stronger and help those weaker than themselves", calling it the true laws of nature. He calls Akaza's belief unforgivable and voices he will not let him do as he like any further.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Tanjiro Kamado
 * Akaza
 * Giyu Tomioka
 * Kyojuro Rengoku (Flashback)
 * Senjuro Rengoku (Flashback)
 * Shinjuro Rengoku (Flashback)

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