Noticing (
Summary[]
As Giyu and Akaza face each other, Giyu rationalizes why he fights as an individual. Though he is usually hesitant to draw his sword and isn't one to fight for amusement, standing now and facing an opponent who can overwhelm him, he realizes his senses have sharpened in a short amount of time; senses that once lie dormant in him and just now are brought out onto the battlefield he stands on. He finally understands the intense struggle to increase one's own skills; as Tanjiro looks on, the Water Hashira manifests a splash-like mark on his cheek.
A Marked Giyu attacks Akaza with Fourth Form: Striking Tide
Giyu makes a powerful swing at Akaza, just barely missing his mark. The demon responds with a punch straight to his head but Giyu ducks down and slashes his neck, forcing Akaza to back away. Tanjiro notes that with his Mark manifested, Giyu's speed has increased greatly; the Hashira uses Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide and attacks Upper Three head-on, splitting the demon's arm but sustaining a gash to his head. Watching from a distance, Tanjiro notes that despite both fighters moving at tremendous speeds, Akaza was able to quickly adapt to Giyu's enhanced abilities.
Realizing that a lengthy battle will decided by a demon's endless strength and that their true goal is defeating Muzan, he scrambles to find a way to beat Akaza. He tries to understand how the demon attacks so precisely and is able to react to attacks he cannot immediately see. Recalling when Akaza had complimented Kyojuro on his highly developed fighting spirit, he attempts to define what it is and recalls a conversation he had with Inosuke.
In the Butterfly Mansion, Inosuke informs Tanjiro he feels a tingle where an opponent is aiming at him, which Tanjiro surmises is the reason he was able to survive when Gyutaro had stabbed him from behind. He claims that even when someone is behind him, he can determine where they are looking; as a demonstration, he asks Tanjiro to look at his back, upon which he correctly answers that he was looking at his right shoulder. Inosuke adds that when someone looks at him with the intent to kill, he can tell immediately.
Remembering this moment, Tanjiro realizes Inosuke was able to do so because of his honed sense of touch. At the same time, Inosuke had angrily remarked that if someone isn't looking at him with hostility, he cannot sense them; he points out the old woman at the Wisteria House, as she once sat behind Inosuke without him able to detect her. He believes that if he was able to get close to an opponent without emitting hostility, they wouldn't be able to detect him. However, Tanjiro added that while an elderly lady had no reason to harm him, it would be impossible to kill a demon without showing hostility.
Akaza catches Tanjiro's sword without looking.
Despite remembering the moment as a silly conversation, he realizes it was still able to help him learn. What Akaza senses is fighting spirit but he remains unsure of what it is exactly and whether he can use it to disrupt Akaza's Compass Needle. As the two continue to clash, Akaza parries Giyu's blade, throwing him off-balance and attempting to throw a punch. Tanjiro goes for his exposed neck and uses Hinokami Kagura: Dance, but the Upper Rank grabs his sword from behind him and throws a punch with his other hand, mocking Tanjiro for leaving himself open.
He is barely able to dodge the blow and sustains a cut across his stomach. Giyu engages him again as Tanjiro backs away, attempting to find what Akaza is sensing until he has an epiphany.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Giyu Tomioka
- Akaza
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Kyojuro Rengoku (Flashback)
- Inosuke Hashibira (Flashback)
- Hisa (Flashback)
Events[]
- Giyu awakens his Demon Slayer Mark.
- Tanjiro tries to understand what Akaza senses to make him so precise.
- Tanjiro realizes the answer.