Episode 23

Hashira Meeting (柱合会議) is the 23rd episode of the Kimetsu no Yaiba TV anime series.

Synopsis
Ubuyashiki, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, finally appears before Tanjiro.

While Ubuyashiki reveals that he’d like to accept Tanjiro and Nezuko to join the corps, the Hashira are unable to accept this decision right away.

Then, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, slashes his own arm and taunts Nezuko with his blood, trying to draw out her true colors as a demon.

Plot
Tanjiro is pinned down by Obanai but uses a breathing technique to break the ropes on his wrists and runs to Nezuko while Giyu grabs Obanai's hand so he doesn't interfere any further. He stops by the porch and calls out to her, knowing that he can't interfere directly. Nezuko remembers her family and controls her instincts, looking away from Sanemi. The Master takes that as proof that she can be trusted and Sanemi stops, shocked and upset.

The Master tells Tanjiro and Nezuko to go out and defeat demons and prove themselves and Tanjiro declares that the siblings will defeat Kibutsuji, though the Master gently points out that he's so ill-equipped he'd better start with a Twelve Kizuki, embarrassing him - though the Hashira warm up to him some, admiring his spirit. Two Kakushi, at Kocho's instruction, take Nezuko (again in her box) and Tanjiro to the Kocho mansion.

Tanjiro tries to come back to headbutt Sanemi for each time that Sanemi stabbed Nezuko, but Muichiro knocks him down with three well-placed pebble strikes to the head informing him that there is a protocol: Do not interrupt the Master. Tanjiro is taken away again. As he leaves, the Master tells Tanjiro to give Miss Tamayo his regards, making Tanjiro realize that he knows that there are good demons. At the Butterfly Manor, the Kakushi look for someone to ask permission to enter and find Kanao Tsuyuri, a Tsuguko (a swordsman trained by a Hashira). When they ask permission, she smiles but doesn't speak, confusing them.

A Kocho nurse girl, Aoi Kanzaki, interrupts them and escorts them to the infirmary; in it, Zenitsu is whining about the bitter medicine which he must take to regrow his limbs, still deformed from the venom. Zenitsu and Tanjiro happily greet each other, and Zenitsu points out Inosuke, silently laying in a bed next to him. Tanjiro is relieved that he survived and Inosuke hoarsely says not to worry, his voice damaged from the wounds which he was given by the Father demon. He's depressed and apologizes for being so weak. Nezuko is given a room of her own and she only makes it part way out of her box before falling asleep. Tanjiro affirms his promise to turn her back into a human.

The Hashira, meanwhile, resume their meeting. The demons are in an active phase right now and the Corps needs to recruit new members, and train them well, as Sanemi points out that the events at Mt. Natagumo made it clear that the caliber of non-Hashira Demon Slayers has plummeted. Shinobu Kocho voices that it is difficult to recruit in this era though as many don't believe that demons exist and the more humans there are, the less unified they become. Gyomei Himejima states that only those who have lost loved ones to demons or are descended from demon slayers are joining the Corps and asking laypeople who lack the will to fight would be too cruel.

The Master believes that Rui's drastic actions confirm that Kibutsuji is nowhere nearby as whenever the progenitor wants to hide something, he creates a diversion somewhere else that can't be ignored. After everyone leaves, the Master vows that they will bring Muzan down without fail.

Anime Notes

 * In the anime, the events which transpire during the Hashira meeting are shown whereas the manga alludes that the meeting began after Tanjiro left, without mentioning what was discussed.

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Эпизод 23