Samurai (
Summary[]
Kokushibo remarks about feeling disturbed whenever he saw Yoriichi smile; when they spoke about how the various Breathing Styles he taught had no successor, he smiled because he saw the situation with optimism. Kokushibo was proud of the fact that his generation alone was special, feeling sickened with disgust and irritation by his brother's baseless optimism for the future.
He curses the persistence of the Hashira as he recalls his memories of Yoriichi; the children of the future don't release their blades even when dismembered (Muichiro), they can use Blood Demon Arts as humans (Genya), they refuse to bleed to death as they are continually cut down (Sanemi), and they grow and surpass their limit at a rate that even matches demons (Gyomei). They do not use Sun Breathing, yet are able to turn their weapons bright red. He questions what he found amusing about such a future and claims that just the thought of losing is making him boil over with rage.
Upper Rank One vows never again to lose, even after a decapitation; with this, he stops the bleeding in his neck. Gyomei sees this and orders Sanemi to attack with everything he has and drive Kokushibo into a corner; Muichiro and Genya have given their lives, and he refuses to let them die in vain. A tearful and enraged Sanemi acknowledges and promises to shred the demon into nothing. Using Wind Breathing, Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash, Sanemi surrounds Kokushibo and slashes his body, while Gyomei performs Stone Breathing, Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice and strikes the area around the demon to trap him. Kokushibo slashes off Muichiro's dead body with his hand and attempts to pull his katana from out of his body.
Kokushibo's monstrous new form.
Declaring he will not crumble, he surmises he can still heal; with Muichiro and Genya's deaths, the bright red blade and Blood Demon Art of trees will fade and allow him to conquer death from decapitation. The Wind and Stone Hashira attack together, but Kokushibo suddenly vanishes before appearing behind them. The demon has regenerated his head, but his unstable regeneration has caused him to attain a grotesque, monstrous form. Sanemi is livid to see him regrow a head, but Gyomei realizes his body will be weakened because of it. Seeing that he does not heal as quickly as Muzan, they aim for his head again. Proud of his efforts, Kokushibo sees that he has finally defeated death by being decapitated, leaving only the sun as the last option to kill him.
But as he boasts that he will never lose again, he sees his reflection in Sanemi's blade. Kokushibo is disgusted by his new form, before he suddenly hears a young Yoriichi's voice behind him. "My brother, is your dream to become the strongest samurai in the land? I want to be like you. I... want to become the second strongest samurai." He questions whether what he appears now is truly the look of a samurai, if it was something he really wanted. In that moment, the area where Muichiro had stabbed him in the body begins to crumble to ash, distracting Kokushibo long enough for Gyomei to destroy his head once more.
Unable to attack, Kokushibo's body is destroyed as Gyomei and Sanemi overwhelm him.
As Sanemi follows through with a ripping attack to shred his body, Kokushibo desperately attempts to use his Blood Demon Art but is unable to. As his body crumbles faster, he tries to believe he can still regenerate but sees Yoriichi's wizened visage before him, pitying the Upper Rank for his state. As Sanemi and Gyomei relentlessly destroy his body, Kokushibo remarks on his unwillingness to accept defeat, despite being decapitated, dismembered, and crushed by his enemies. He has been living in disgrace for hundreds of years just to die now, and he wonders if his fear of death had caused him to become a monster that eats humans.
"Did I become this miserable creature because I didn't want to die? No. Yoriichi... I just wanted to be you."
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Yoriichi Tsugikuni (Flashback)
- Kokushibo
- Gyomei Himejima
- Sanemi Shinazugawa
- Muichiro Tokito
- Genya Shinazugawa
Events[]
- Demon Slayers vs Kokushibo.
- Enraged by his brother's optimism for the future to surpass him, Kokushibo regenerates his head, attaining a monstrous form in doing so.
- Muichiro Tokito is killed.
- Kokushibo sees his reflection in Sanemi's blade, causing him to mentally collapse as he begins to doubt his existence.
- Unable to fight back or heal, Kokushibo is helpless as Sanemi and Gyomei overwhelm and destroy his body.