Successors (
Summary[]
As Tanjiro and Giyu run through the Infinity Castle, the former nearly falls through an open floor, only barely managing to grab the ledge and save himself. As Giyu warns him to keep aware and alert, Tanjiro remarks that it is as if the castle is alive, actively trying to separate him from Giyu. Knowing he must reach Muzan and the rest of the Corps' members, he then realizes Tamayo is running out of time, and yet they don't know where Muzan is.
A Kasugai crow then calls out the announcement that Shinobu is now dead, killed in a battle against Upper Rank Two. Upon hearing it, Tanjiro wells up with tears thinking about Kanao and the girls of the Butterfly Mansion. At the same time, Giyu notices the crow has a piece of paper attached to its neck, remarking that messages are being sent rather quickly.
Kiriya Ubuyashiki, the new Oyakata of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Similar pieces of paper, talismans of Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, appear on the head of Kiriya Ubuyashiki and his sister Kanata and Kuina. Kuina confirms Shinobu's death to Kiriya and notes the remaining Hashira are alive. He asks if she is the only one to have faced an Upper Rank, and Kuina answers that she is not; he then asks Kanata if all the crows sent with Yushiro's vision talismans have reached half of the Demon Slayers, to which she answers that they have not.
Being the eldest son, Kiriya has now taken the mantle of Oyakata at the age of eight. Despite the deaths of his parents and sister, Kiriya does not mourn them and instead focuses on the mission, having no time to shed tears. Kuina and Kanata have also pushed their grief aside to help him. His deceased elder sisters were Nichika and Hinaki, who never left their parents' side.
As a father, Kagaya was strict in rearing his children due to his short life, quickly raising them into adulthood; Amane was similarly firm as well. With his death, Kiriya is now the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. Due to their lack of information, Kiriya orders the crows to spread as many talismans as possible. Kuina confirms Muzan's location has not changed, and the Hashira are spread thin; he orders them to head north. Kuina adds that the two Demon Slayers currently facing Upper Ranks are Kanao and Zenitsu, who is facing Upper Rank Six.
Zenitsu informing Kaigaku of Jigoro's death.
Kaigaku claims that Zenitsu has not changed. "You're still a shabby, little runt. Still weak." He asks if he is now a Hashira and if he is still only able to use the first form. Zenitsu responds by noting Kaigaku's excitement in attaining the lowest position of the Upper Ranks, a rank he has taken that is only meant to fill a blank spot. Surprised, Kaigaku laughs at his new ability to talk back at him. Zenitsu asks why he had become a demon, why someone poised to acquire Thunder Breathing would choose to become a demon, before angrily revealing that Jigoro had committed seppuku because of his defection.
He explains that during seppuku, another person must behead the condemned to prevent prolonged pain. Yet, Jigoro chose to slit his stomach instead of his throat to atone. He died in agony and alone because the wielders of Thunder Breathing had produced a demon. Kaigaku laughs off the news and mockingly asks if he should repent, claiming that he does not care about anyone who doesn't value him. He will always serve those who know his worth, and is happy that Jigoro is dead because he wouldn't anoint him his sole successor despite everything he did. "The old bastard said he would make me joint successor with scum like you."
Zenitsu evades Kaigaku's attack.
As he insults their trainer as a senile old man, Zenitsu rejects his words. "If I'm scum, then you're trash! I feel sorry for Grandpa for having such pathetic successors... I can only do the first form and you can do everything except that!" Angered that he would claim they are the same, Kaigaku draws his blade and uses Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder. Zenitsu suddenly rushes past him and claims he is too slow. To the Upper Rank's shock, Zenitsu has already slit his neck, with the demon noting that he now moves like a completely different person.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Kiriya Ubuyashiki
- Kuina Ubuyashiki
- Kanata Ubuyashiki
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Giyu Tomioka
- Shinobu Kocho (Flashback)
- Kanao Tsuyuri (Flashback)
- Aoi Kanzaki (Flashback)
- Sumi Nakahara (Flashback)
- Kiyo Terauchi (Flashback)
- Naho Takada (Flashback)
- Hinaki Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
- Nichika Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
- Kagaya Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
- Amane Ubuyashiki (Flashback)
- Zenitsu Agatsuma
- Kaigaku
- Jigoro Kuwajima (Flashback)
Events[]
- Kiriya Ubuyashiki becomes the new Oyakata, assisted by his sisters Kuina and Kanata.
- The Ubuyashikis use Yushiro's Blood Demon Art to map the Infinity Castle and coordinate the mission.
- Zenitsu reveals Jigoro killed himself to atone for Kaigaku's transformation.
- Zenitsu Agatsuma vs Kaigaku.