Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka vs Akaza is a battle that takes place in the Infinity Castle, between Demon Slayer Tanjiro Kamado and the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka against Upper Rank Three Akaza.
Prologue[]
Tanjiro and Giyu are running in the castle, trying to find Muzan Kibutsuji and Tamayo. They have just heard about the death of Shinobu Kocho at the hands of Upper Rank Two, Doma, which shook the two of them tremendously. Suddenly, a tremor appears, shaking both the Demon Slayers. Tanjiro recognizes a familiar smell and the roof above them breaks, revealing Upper Rank Three, Akaza. Akaza is surprised that a 'weakling' like Tanjiro is still alive and shouts his name, with Tanjiro screaming his name in return. The fight between the three begins, a way for Tanjiro to avenge the death of the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, a man Tanjiro admired with all his heart, who died at the hands of the Upper Rank. As for Akaza, he had remembered the humiliating berating Tanjiro gave him as he was fleeing from the sunlight, and was now ready to make good on his vow to kill Tanjiro should he see him again.
Battle[]
Improved Performance[]
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Tanjiro dodges Akaza using Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel.
As Akaza advances, Tanjiro dodges his punch, uses the Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel on Akaza, and, with considerable effort, severs the Upper Rank's arm. As Tanjiro tries to recover, Akaza attempts to behead Tanjiro with a back-fist punch, which Tanjiro dodges and counters with the Hinokami Kagura: Fake Rainbow, managing to create a long cut on Akaza's face. Looking at this fight, Giyu is quite amazed and surprised by Tanjiro's sudden and quick improvement, comparing his abilities to those of a Hashira. Akaza remembers Kyojuro's words about Tanjiro not being weak and accepts it as a fact, deciding to acknowledge him by activating his Technique Development, Destructive Death: Compass Needle, and indicating the start of the real battle.
Water and Fire[]
Giyu negates Akaza's attack with his Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm.
Giyu enters the fight, immediately using the Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance. Akaza is instantly impressed, as it has been 50 years since he ran into a Water Hashira. He uses his Destructive Death: Disorder, a flurry of punches that produce giant shockwaves, which Giyu negates using his own creation, Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm. Akaza remarks that he had never seen this technique used by the previous Water Hashira he last fought. While Tanjiro tries attacking from behind using the Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun, Akaza appears from behind and attempts a backhand chop, but Giyu cuts his attacking hand with the Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel. As Giyu attacks the Upper Rank, Tanjiro tries to trip Akaza by using the Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance on his legs; however, he is countered by his Destructive Death: Leg Type, Crown Splitter.
Akaza lauches Giyu upward through several floors.
Even though Tanjiro is able to block the technique, he is hit hard enough to spit blood. Akaza continues to battle Giyu and is impressed by the Hashira's swordsmanship, asking for his name. Giyu refuses, and Akaza replies that he would ask again and again and kicks him with his Destructive Death: Leg Type, Explosive Flurry, launching him through various walls to another side of the castle.
The Strong Should Aid and Protect the Weak[]
Tanjiro's Burning Bones, Summer Sun clashes with Akaza's Eight-Layered Demon Core.
Akaza figures out the Water Hashira's name after Tanjiro shouts for him when he is blasted away by Akaza's previous attack. Tanjiro and Akaza attack each other with the Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun, and Destructive Death: Eight-Layered Demon Core, respectively.
Akaza praises Tanjiro's improvement and claims that Kyojuro did an amazing job, pleased with his death. This enrages Tanjiro and prompts Akaza to give his philosophy of how he hates the weak and wishes they were eliminated. Tanjiro retorts by saying that even Akaza was once a child and that someone had helped him. He continues by stating that the strong should aid and protect the weak, and he wouldn't let Akaza do as he pleased any further.
Flickering Memories[]
Tanjiro's words shake Akaza as he feels restless, and memories of Keizo appear, saying to him the same words. Akaza brushes it off and realizes it was just a hallucination. Angered, he claims Tanjiro to be unpleasant and uses his Destructive Death: Crushing Type, Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow, which becomes much faster as Tanjiro attempts to dodge. The demon surprises Tanjiro and kicks him with his Destructive Death: Leg Type, Flying Planet Thousand Wheels, making him cough up more blood. He compares Akaza's precision to that of a magnetic compass and begins to think and deduce using the demon's moves and words.
Tanjiro attacking Akaza with the Hinokami Kagura: Solar Heat Haze.
Tanjiro dodges another kick by Akaza and attacks him with the Hinokami Kagura: Solar Heat Haze: Akaza manages to avoid the technique. However, a considerable portion of his neck is sliced, and he expresses amazement, asking Tanjiro how he swung his blade. Tanjiro attempts to use the Hinokami Kagura: Dance, but the sword is clasped in Akaza's hand, and he attempts to break it.
The Mark Appears[]
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Giyu awakens his Demon Slayer Mark.
Tanjiro uses headbutts and kicks, trying to make Akaza loosen his grip despite the demon not budging. Luckily, his hands got cut by Giyu, angry about the deadly kick Akaza gave him previously. Giyu's senses awaken, and a mark appears on his face. He easily dodges a shockwave punch and gives a quick slice of his own. Akaza dodges, but the attack slicks a small portion of his neck. The demon acknowledges the increase in speed as Giyu surprises him with a sudden Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide, vertically slicing Akaza's right arm.
A marked Giyu slashes Akaza.
Tanjiro notices that Akaza has matched Giyu's speed and wonders how Akaza's attacks are so accurate. He suddenly remembers words from Akaza and Inosuke Hashibira, the latter explaining how he is able to sense killing intent and how he cannot detect people behind him if they have no killing intent.
Meanwhile, Giyu and Akaza fight on equal ground, with Akaza having fully adapted to Giyu’s speed. Tanjiro attempts to use the Hinokami Kagura: Dance, but is stopped by Akaza, who tries to use a back-fist strike, which is dodged by Tanjiro. Using this opportunity, Giyu attacks the Upper Rank. Tanjiro gets a grasp on the truth behind Akaza's techniques.[1]
The Transparent World[]
As the fight between Giyu and Akaza goes on, Tanjiro remembers the time his father, Tanjuro Kamado, explained to him about correct breaths and movements and about being able to see the "Transparent World" (
Akaza breaks Giyu's sword.
Akaza and Giyu are battling fiercely, trading blows with each other. The Water Hashira has used up all his forms during the fight, and Akaza proclaims that it will be the end of the Hashira, amazed at how long he fought for. As Giyu is about to attack the demon's fist, Akaza breaks Giyu's sword by using the Bell-Splitter technique and attempts to punch through him, but his arm is severed by Tanjiro, who had managed to enter the Transparent World. The demon notes the changes and tries to kill the young slayer. Giyu takes this moment to attack him, but Akaza uses his strongest technique, Technique Development: Final Form, Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow. Giyu tries to reduce it with his Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm, but the attacks were too random and powerful to completely cancel out, and he gets hit by many shockwaves despite managing to dodge several blows.
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Tanjiro's Demon Slayer Mark develops, accessing the Transparent World and Selfless State.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro is able to see everything move slowly in the Transparent World. Akaza is unable to notice that Tanjiro is behind him, and Giyu hopes he goes for the neck that instant. However, Tanjiro calls the demon out, and Akaza turns to strike, but Tanjiro dodges. Akaza could not detect his fighting spirit via the compass, and Tanjiro managed to decapitate Akaza with the Hinokami Kagura: Setting Sun Transformation.[3]
"Hakuji, that's enough!"[]
Tanjiro decapitates Akaza with the Hinokami Kagura: Setting Sun Transformation.
Akaza was bewildered, wondering how Tanjiro did not have any fighting spirit, comparing this feeling to fighting against a plant. He acknowledges that Tanjiro surpassed his speed. He realizes that the "Domain of Supremacy" is nothing less than the Transparent World and a Selfless State. He tries to attach his head back, but Giyu throws his broken sword, piercing the head and separating it from the body. His head disintegrates, but his body continues to fight, using his Technique Development, Destructive Death: Compass Needle, while his head portion regenerates.[4]
Tanjiro dodges his chops but is thrown aside by the demon's kick. Tanjiro tried to get up and fight, but the stress and exhaustion of the fight caused him to pass out. Giyu protects Tanjiro with the Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide, slicing the headless body in various regions, but the demon regenerates faster. The two begin to trade blows, and although Giyu is badly hurt, he still focuses on protecting Tanjiro, giving Akaza vague memories of Keizo. As he advances, he is stopped by the teary-eyed spirit of his human self's deceased fiancé, Koyuki, telling him to stop.[5]
Thank You[]
Giyu continues to stand up, despite being burdened with the desire and goal to not let his friends or family die in front of him (like his sister and Sabito). Akaza was held by Koyuki's hand as his head continued to regenerate. Akaza begins to remember why he wanted to become strong and thinks back to the time he was the "Demon Child" Hakuji, from his father's death to meeting Keizo and Koyuki. He remembers trying to find a purpose and reason in life—finding someone to protect. His memories of his past suddenly come rushing back.
Akaza's final moments.
During this, Tanjiro manages to wake up, and Akaza's head has halfway recovered. The demon attempts to kill Giyu with his Destructive Death: Annihilation Type, and Tanjiro rushes to stop him, but his sword slips and he punches Akaza, causing him to question his current deeds and begins to regret sullying his master's precious style. As he prepares his technique, Tanjiro tries to pull Giyu away, but, with a smile of gratitude in his face, Akaza uses the technique on himself, mutilating and pulverizing him and reducing many parts of his body to bones.[6]
Akaza admits defeat, stating that Tanjiro's techniques were magnificent and that he wants to go to hell like a man. He sees his father and Keizo who give him words of comfort, but suddenly Muzan's will appears while grabbing him by the head asking if he wanted to get stronger. Akaza instantly obeys his master and begins to regenerate to continue the fight. He is stopped by Koyuki, thankful about Hakuji recovering his memories and thanking him for what he had done, drowning out Muzan's attempt to wrangle his minion into submission. Akaza begins to cry and beg for Koyuki's forgiveness while embracing her on his knees, a posture that he was also currently in while disintegrating. Koyuki accepts and welcomes him home. Finally finding peace, Akaza disintegrates, dying as Hakuji, a loyal son, a protective student, and a faithful lover.[7] Meanwhile his former adversary Tanjiro, initially confused by Akaza's gratitude, lets out a soft "Ah", as he sees Akaza finally crumble away, seemingly understanding the plight of the enemy he had so hated.
Aftermath[]
Tanjiro and Giyu pass out after fighting Akaza.
Hakuji reunites with his father, Keizo, and Koyuki in hell. Tanjiro is glad the battle is over and wants to reach Tamayo, although his injuries make him faint again. Giyu also loses consciousness and slumps onto his sword out of fatigue. Akaza's death was spread by a crow and heard by the other Upper Ranks. Kokushibo laments that he could not get any stronger despite his earlier desires to do so and scoffs at the fact that his death was by suicide, calling him 'weak'. After nonchalantly claiming that Akaza's death was inevitable due to his refusal to eat women, Doma begins to openly weep and mourn his 'best friend', actions that Kanao would recognize and call out as an insincere facade.
Shortly after the fight against Kanao and Inosuke against Doma, Tanjiro wakes up with Giyu cauterizing wounds and receives knowledge of the death of Upper Rank Two.
References[]
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 150 (Page 19).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 151 (Page 18).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 152 (Page 25).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 153 (Page 10).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 153 (Page 19).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 156 (Page 12).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 156 (Page 21).