Hinokami (ヒノカミ Hinokami?) is the fortieth chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Summary[]
On a cold wintery night, a young Tanjiro watches with his mother as his father performs a ceremonial kagura. Kie tells him that as their family works with fire, to keep themselves safe, they offer a dance and prayers to Hinokami, the fire god, at the start of each year. Tanjiro watches his father intently, looking at his attire and movements. In another time, he asks his father on how he could perform for so long in the cold, remarking his lungs could freeze.
Tanjuro tells he there is a special way of breathing that doesn't allow him to tire no matter how much he moves. If he can learn it, he'll be fine even in the cold and he could dancer forever. His father then makes him promise to wear his earrings when he performs the kagura, and to always wear them so they are not lost.
After seeing his memories, Tanjiro's Water Breathing ignites in fire as he uses Hinokami Kagura: Dance, slicing Rui's strongest threads before him. The demon instantly forms new ones in his path but Tanjiro pushes on and is determined to behead him, knowing that by switching to Hinokami Kagura from Water Breathing, he will reel from the exhaustion when he stops. He senses the Opening Thread but only his arm will reach him. He asks his father to forgive him as he closes in on Rui, believing that saving Nezuko can only be done if he sacrifices himself to kill the demon.
Nezuko, still strung in the threads, is visited by Kie, who asks her to wake up and tells her daughter she is now able. She tearfully tells her that if she doesn't act now, Tanjiro will die. Nezuko suddenly regains consciousness and stretches out her arm as she spots Rui and Tanjiro. Using Blood Demon Art: Exploding Blood, she wills her blood on the threads in Tanjiro's path to burn and destroys them, surprising Rui to see his attacks on fire. With Tanjiro's attack being countered by Rui, he had strung threads to kill him as he gets close, but Nezuko's blood stained on them has burned them away without harming Tanjiro.
His sword, containing a drop of Nezuko's blood, reaches Rui's neck, and despite the demon believing he won't be able to cut through, Nezuko's burning blood gives enough force for the blade to cut through, as Tanjiro declares that the bond between them won't be severed by anyone. With one final push, the Demon Slayer beheads Lower Five in a bright circle of flames.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Kie Kamado (Flashback)
- Tanjuro Kamado (Flashback)
- Takeo Kamado (Flashback)
- Hanako Kamado (Flashback)
- Nezuko Kamado
- Rui
Events[]
- Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado vs Rui.
- Tanjiro uses Hinokami Kagura for the first time.
- Nezuko uses her Blood Demon Art, Exploding Blood, for the first time.
- Rui's head is cut off.