Clashing (ぶつかる Butsukaru?) is the one hundred and forty-eighth chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Summary[]
Using Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance, Giyu maneuvers around Akaza and evades his numerous attacks; he remarks that it had been fifty years since he fought a Water Hashira. The demon uses Destructive Death: Disorder to force him to retaliate, with Giyu using Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm to dispel the shockwaves. Akaza becomes impressed, having never seen the technique as the last Water Hashira he had killed did not use it. Tanjiro attacks him from behind, using Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun to go for his neck.
Akaza evades the slashes and appears behind him, attempt to chop off his head. He fails to perform Fake Rainbow in time but is saved when Giyu slashes off the Upper Rank's arm with Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel, though he regenerates the limb instantly. The two clash head on; attacking again from behind him, Tanjiro tries using Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance to cut down the demon but Akaza uses Destructive Death: Leg Type, Crown Splitter to fend him off. He blocks the attack with his sword but the demon's leg grazes him, causing his nose to bleed from the sheer force.
Akaza launches Giyu with Leg Type: Explosive Flurry.
As Akaza evades Giyu's slashes, he marvels at his superb technique and demands to know his name, wishing to remember. Giyu refuses to divulge his name to the demon and tells him he hates talking; the amused Akaza responds that he enjoys talking in battle and decides he will continually ask for it instead. Using Destructive Death: Leg Type, Explosive Flurry, Akaza kicks at Giyu in rapid succession and launches him away with his shockwaves; despite blocking the attack with his sword's handle, Giyu is sent flying through numerous walls.
Burning Bones, Summer Sun clashes with Eight-Layered Demon Core.
Tanjiro attempts to call out to Giyu but Akaza appears before him, satisfied to know the Hashira's name. The Demon Slayer and Upper Three clash, with Tanjiro performing Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun and Akaza retaliating with Destructive Death: Eight-Layered Demon Core. The attack's vibrations ring loudly in his sword but Tanjiro is able to escape the attack unharmed. Akaza compliments him for his growth and his training to reach his level. He commends Kyojuro for Tanjiro's success, recalling their first encounter when he was lying on the ground too weak to be notices, but as of right now, he is happy and excited to battle him.
He tells Tanjiro he is glad that Kyojuro is dead, believing he had already reached his peak because he valued being human. Upon hearing the demon's statement, Tanjiro becomes furious and demands he take back his words. Confused, Akaza responds he is praising the two of them, but Tanjiro retorts he is only insulting those he calls weak. The demon believes Tanjiro misunderstands him and states that he only despises the weak because it disgusts him; to him, it is the law of nature to weed out the weak.
Tanjiro tells Akaza that him standing now is proof he is wrong; everyone begins life as a baby, born weak and needing help from someone, including him. He states that the true law of nature is that the strong protect the weak, and the weak become stronger to help those less than them; telling Akaza his way of thinking is unforgivable, he declares his days of doing what he pleases are over, causing the demon to clench his fist in anger.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Akaza
- Giyu Tomioka
- Kyojuro Rengoku (Flashback)
- Senjuro Rengoku (Flashback)
- Shinjuro Rengoku (Flashback)
Events[]
- Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka vs Akaza.
- Akaza commends Tanjiro for developing his power and skill to reach him.