Chapter 9

Welcome Back (おかえり) is the ninth chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Summary
After surviving Final Selection, an exhausted Tanjiro walks back to Mount Sagiri, using a stick to support himself on his trek back to his trainer's hut. He laments his inability to gather information from at least eight demons, who did not answer his questions and tried to kill him, apologizing to Nezuko for his ill-fated optimism and failure.

As night falls, he finally makes it back to Sakonji's hut. To his surprise, the door is kicked down and Nezuko walks out onto the yard. Seeing her awake for the first time in two years, he calls out to his sister and she runs to him. Tanjiro tries to race down to meet her but falls down due to his exhausted state. As he gets up, Nezuko reaches around and pulls him into a hug, while Tanjiro cries and holds her close, asking why she was asleep for so long. Sakonji then appears and embraces the siblings as tears fall from his mask, happy that a student of his has finally come home.

Fifteen days later, a man with unusual clothes and a hat lined with furin appears in Sakonji's residence. He introduces himself as Haganezuka and states that he has forged the sword of Tanjiro Kamado. Tanjiro says he is the recipient but Haganezuka puts down his Nichirin Sword onto the ground to unwrap it, ignoring Tanjiro's offer to come inside. He explains that the iron and sand used to forge it absorb sunlight, and it originates from a mountain that is constantly bathed in light. Inside his hut, Sakonji is annoyed that Haganezuka is speaking his mind without the consideration of others.

Suddenly, he turns to face Tanjiro, who is shocked to see him wearing a hyottoko mask. He calls Tanjiro a 'child of brightness', though he attempts to correct him by saying he is actually the son of Tanjuro and Kie. Haganezuka points out that he is talking about his red hair and eyes, saying he must come from a family that works with fire, surprising him. He turns to Sakonji and states that it would mean his blade would turn red.

Inside, Tanjiro prepares to unsheathe his blade for the first time. Haganezuka mentions that Nichirin Sword are also known as 'color-changing sword' as they do so with each wielder. Upon revealing the blade, Tanjiro watches as it turns black. Hearing Sakonji's and Haganezuka's reaction, the former puts his student at ease by pointing out that a black blade is simply uncommon, not a symbol of bad luck. However, Haganezuka is less than pleased, as he had hoped to see a red sword, and proceeds to attack Tanjiro.

Tanjiro's Kasugai crow interrupts the dispute to inform Tanjiro to disembark on his first mission, to resolve the mystery of girls disappearing night after night in a neighboring town.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Tanjiro Kamado
 * Nezuko Kamado
 * Sakonji Urokodaki
 * Hotaru Haganezuka
 * Matsuemon Tennoji
 * Satoko
 * Kazumi

Events

 * Tanjiro returns from Final Selection.
 * Nezuko is awake after a two-year long sleep.
 * Tanjiro meets Haganezuka and receives his Nichirin Sword.
 * Tanjiro's Kasugai Crow delivers his first mission.

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