In the next morning
Tanjiro: Excuse me. Would it be ok if I took that basket, some straw, and some bamboo.
Man: Sure, you're welcome to take it; that basket is full of holes.
Tanjiro: Then I'll pay you for it.
man: "No, that's quite alright." I mean, it's a basket full of holes.
Tanjiro: I'm still paying you anyway.
man: "No, don't worry about it." You can have the bamboo and straw for free, too.
Tanjiro: I'm still paying you.
man: I said it's fine! You're one stubborn kid!
Tanjiro put the coin on the man's hand, hard. as he feels the pain from the coin.
Tanjiro: Please accept this, even if it may not be much! Thank you very much.
as Tanjiro ran while carrying the material.
In the cave
Tanjiro: huh? Nezuko? She's gone!
This worried him as he saw something pop up in the hole.
Tanjiro: Oh, there she is! D-di-did she dig a hole? I can't believe my little sister turned into a mole!
Nezuko's face is scrunched up.
Tanjiro thought: And she's got a giant frown on her face, she's really doesn't want to come near the sunlight, huh?
Tanjiro: Hold on for just a second, okay.
He quickly used the bamboo and straw that he just bought to repair the broken basket. When he finished, he walked into the cave with the basket and started to talk to her.
Tanjiro: Hey, Nezuko? Can you fit inside? I want to keep moving during the day as well. So I'll carry you in here.
She looked at him speechlessly, as it was getting a little awkward.
Tanjiro: Inside, can you fit inside the basket?
She begins to get out of the hole and go into the basket, but she is too big to fit in the basket.
Tanjiro thought: "Not a perfect fit; Nezuko's really grown into a big girl." It feels like yesterday that she was a little girl.
Tanjiro: hmm? Hey nezuko. Remember how your body got bigger before? Do you think you can do the opposite and get smaller?
He patted her back while saying this.
Tanjiro: become smaller! Smaller!
Suddenly she pushes the basket up with her body, trying to get in, and shrinks.
Tanjiro: Wow, good girl. That's a good girl. I'm impressed! patting her head.
when he covered the basket with a white sheet. when he finishes covering it. He looked at the katana on the ground next to the walls.
Tanjiro thought: "My father's sword." He told me once that this sword had been passed down to our family, just like the Hanafuda earring. I don't want to leave it behind. It's too important for my family and my ancestors.
He picked up the katana and unsheathed it, revealing a red, crimson-colored blade as he lifted it up.
Tanjiro: I wonder, why is it so red?
noon
Lady: If you want to get to Mt. Sagiri, you'll have to cross that mountain, but... the sun is already setting. Are you really heading there with all that luggage and that katana of yours? It's too dangerous.
Tanjiro: You don't have to worry; I'll be careful, and this katana is not for show. I'm sorry to have scared you. This katana has been passed down to our family since, and I don't want to leave it behind.
He bows down
Tanjiro: and thank you very much.
Lady: be careful, young man. People have been missing as of late! Make sure you don't get lost.
Tanjiro waved at the lady as he left.
night
Tanjiro crosses the mountain while carrying Nezuko. It was dark now. He put down the basket and let her get out of it. He grabbed her hand and put the katana on his left waist. as they continued walking. On the way, he saw a temple.
Tanjiro: There's a temple here. The lights are on, so someone might be around. Let's check it out.
but suddenly he smells blood.
Tanjiro: the smell of blood. This mountain path is pretty rough! Someone's probably hurt!
They run to the stairs of the temple as Tanjiro quickly kicks the door.
Tanjiro: Are you okay?
He froze for a moment when he saw a man-eating demon eating people in the temple.
Demon: What the hell? This is my turf. If you set foot in my territory, you're going to regret it!
Tanjiro thought: "Shock! "It's a man-eating demon!"
behind him Nezuko is drooling as she looks at the dead body.
Demon: huh? You give off a strange vibe. Are you two humans?
The light went out as suddenly the demons pounded toward him and pushed him outside the temple. Tanjiro quickly grabs his axe from its sheath and slices the demon's chin. The demon stopped and stood there for a while.
Demon: "An axe!" Ha! Ha! HA! Not bad! But a scratch like this will heal in no time. See that? The bleeding has stopped already. My! My! Why are you so shocked? Why aren't you using your katana? Are you a demon slayer? My! This is my lucky day, is it?
In the temple, Nezuko was still frozen as she stared at the dead body, drooling.
Outside of the temple, Tanjiro grips his axe as he faces the demon. But he disappeared as he grabbed Tanjiro's neck.
Tanjiro: "He's fast!" And he's got tremendous strength!
Demon: You won't fool me twice, demon slayer. You already lost; you have your chance to slay me with that sword of yours. Now, then, is the time to break your neck.
as Tanjiro is struggling from the demon's grip, feeling the pain as he screams. Nezuko heard this as she ran toward the demon, kicking his head.
Tanjiro: eh!
He was shocked as the body fell. He stood up as he looked at his sister.
Tanjiro thought: sh-she killed him!" But wait, he's a demon! So it's fine, right?
Tanjiro: N-Nezuko!
He was stopped as Nezuko kicked the moving body behind him.
Tanjiro thought: *shock* You've got to be kidding me right now—did his body just move without his head?
Demon: "You bitch!" So one of you was a demon! No wonder you seemed off. Why in hell is a demon and a demon slayer together?
Tanjiro thought: h-hi-his head can actually talk."
The demon body started moving as it charged toward Nezuko. She is struggling to face the body as ever punch hits toward her.
Tanjiro: stop!
He unsheathed his katana as he went toward the body. but he was interrupted as the head with arms went charging toward him. He saw this as he picked up the axe and blocked it, making the head bite the top part of the axe.
Tanjiro: tch! Nezuko!
Nezuko was struggling as the body kept punching and kicking her. Until she was grabbed as she was thrown. Tanjiro is also struggling, as his head is holding his shoulder.
Tanjiro thought: What's up with this guy? Why the hell is he growing arms from his head? I have to save Nezuko.
Tanjiro: tch! Out of my way!
He headbutted the head, making it let go of the axe as he felt the pain.
Demon: This guy's head is hard. His head is.
Tanjiro grabbed the head's arms as he headbutted the head again.
demon: crazy.
Tanjiro grabbed his axe as he threw the head and pinned it to the tree.
Tanjiro: yosh.
demon: My hair got all tangled up while I was wrapping it around this axe! Damn!
Tanjiro ran as fast as he could to find Nezuko.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Where are you?
When he ran, he found her scent as he ran and saw Nezuko struggling. He saw this as he unsheathed his sword and threw it at the body as it fell to the cliff. Tanjiro ran as fast as he could to grab the sword from the body's chest as he was about to fall. but was grabbed by Nezuko as she lifted him up.
Back at the table, Tanjiro gripped his katana as he slowly went to the head. He took a slow breath as he looked at the head, as Nezuko was watching him.
Tanjiro thought: "I wonder if there are a lot of demons out there." But this isn't the scene I pick up back home, he's unrelated. But... if I don't finish him, he'll end up killing people again. So, I have to do it. Damn it, just do it.
He pulls his sword up in the air as his is about to kill it. But he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder as he slowly looked behind him.
Behind him was an old man with a tengu mask and a blue water haori. He slowly calmed Tanjiro down.
Tengu Mask: You won't be able to finish him off like that.
Tanjiro thought: A tengu mask! I didn't hear his footsteps!
Tanjiro: "H-how can I finish him off?"
Tengu mask: do not rely on someone else! Can't you use your own head?
Tanjiro thought: "Is stabbing not a word?" Then crushing his head is my last resort.
He sheathed his sword as he grabbed a rock and slowly went toward the head.
Tanjiro thought: To break through his skull and smash his head up, I'll have to strike him multiple times; it'll be a painful death. Isn't there anything I can use to kill him with one blow?
Tengu mask though: he didn't use his sword. Does he not realize it by now? I see that his sympathy is keeping him from making a clear decision. He's facing a demon. Yet the scene of kindness remains. His empathy extends even to a demon. Giyuu, this kid won't make it. He didn't realize his sword was a nichirin.
The demon woke up.
demon thought: "I blocked out." Is my body dead. Then? I feel sick!
He looks at Tanjiro as he is full of rage toward him.
demon: "You brat, I'll kill you! I'll fucking eat your guts. I can't go to you, so come to me!
Tanjiro thought: I faltered too long, the sun is already rising.
When the sun rose, the demon was burning in agony as he faded away.
Tanjiro thought: He's gone with that much sun! light?! No wonder Nezuko shrank away from it!
When he looked around, he saw that Nezuko and Tengu Mask Man had already gone.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Nezuko!
When he looked around, he realized something as he went back to the temple. When he got there, he saw that Nezuko was already in the basket, as the sheets were covering her. This made him feel relieved.
Tanjiro: Nezuko! Huh! Don't scare me like that. O-oh, that's right. What about that man?
He went to look for the man as he turned to the other side.
Tanjiro thought: He buried the people who got killed.
He slowly walked toward the man.
Tanjiro: um! Excuse me.
The man stood us up as he finished praying.
Tengu mask: My name is Urokodaki Sakonji. I soppose your the one Tomioka Giyu sent my way, correct.
Tanjiro: uh! Yes! My name is Kamado Tanjiro! My sister's name is Nezuko, and.
Urokodaki: Tanjiro... what will you do if your sister devours a human?
This confuses him as the mask man slowly walks toward him as he slaps him.
Urokodaki: You are too indecisive! You're simply too slow at making tough decisions. You couldn't finish off that demon with your sword before daybreak. Do you know why you couldn't answer my question right away? It's because your resolve is too weak. There are only two things you can do if your sister devours a human. Kill yourself! Then cut your own stomach and die! That's what it means to continue staying by your demon sister's side. commit to memory that such a thing should never occur, no matter the circumstance. Your sister taking the life of an innocent person is the one thing that never comes to pass. Do you not understand what I'm saying?
Tanjiro: Yes, sir!
Urokodaki: I'm going to test you to see if you're fit to become a demon slayer. But first, give me your katana, it seems you're not ready for it yet. You don't have to worry; I'll give it back if you qualify to become a demon slayer.
Tanjiro nodded as he gave his family treasure to Urokodaki.
Urokodaki said, "Now get your sister ready and follow me.
few hours later
Tanjiro and Urokodaki started to run to get to Mt. Sagiri.
Tanjiro thought: "He's fast!" Just how old is this man? And still I can't hear his footsteps! Nezuko, I know you're probably uncomfortable in there, but please bear with it a little longer. You've always had to bear with everything.
flashbacks
Nezuko, all your life.
Tanjiro: You're fixing your kimono again? You know I can buy you a new one?
Nezuko: no. No, it's all right! This kimono was my favorite! I'd rather have the younger kids get more food to fill them up!
flashback end
Tanjiro thought: "I swear, I'll turn you back into a human and end this cycle of hate forever!" I swear I'll buy you a beautiful kimono someday! Everything that I couldn't do for the others I'll do it all for you!
outside of the Urokodaki home
Tanjiro was taking a deep, tired breath as he crouched down.
Tanjiro: "Now have I... passed the test?"
Urokodoki opens the door to his house as he takes off his scarf from his head.
urokodoki: The test begins now. We're going to climb up the mountain.
Inside Urokodoki House, Tanjiro lays Nezuko on the wood plink as he looks at her.
urokodoki: I'll make sure to take care of your sister in the meantime.
Tanjiro: I'll leave her in your care then.
in the mountains at night
Tanjiro thought: My legs are starting to feel numb. I'm feeling dizzy, too.
Urokodoki: "We are here; now find your way back to the house at the bottom of the mountain." This time, I'm not going to wait until daybreak.
He disappeared as the fog came out of nowhere, leaving Tanjiro behind.
Tanjiro: eh! Is that it? I see. He thinks I might get lost in this thick fog. I just have to get back by dawn, right? That's a piece of cake! I've got a great sense of smell! I've already memorized Urokodaki's scent!
He ran as fast as he could until he felt a string on his knee. He looked down and saw a rope tied between two trees. Suddenly, rocks are thrown to his side and hit his face and body.
Tanjiro: rocks?!
He would fall down and fall into a covered pit. He suddenly realizes something.
Tanjiro: I see. There are traps, huh? So that's what this is about.
He climbed up the pit and felt a tin line on his palm. Suddenly, a log tied to a rope swung toward his back and hit him.
Tanjiro: If I keep getting caught in traps, I won't make it back by dawn! And besides, this mountain is The air's really this thick here! It's way thinner than on the mountain back home. So that's why I've been gasping for air and feel so light-headed. Will I make it back in time? I might pass out. No! I'll make it back. Get your breathing and energy under control and sniff out each of those traps!
Suddenly he feels the blue energy as he reopens his eyes. He run as every trap that came to him as he dodge every trap.
Tanjiro: I've got it! I finally get it! Human traps have a slightly different smell after all!
He ran until a bamboo trap lifted him up as he went flying. hitting him toward the ground.
Tanjiro: But that doesn't mean that I'm suddenly athletic enough to dodge every single one of them! I'll make it back to you, no matter what! Nezuko!
In the house, Urokodoki put a blanket on Nezuko as she was falling asleep. Until he hears a door open.
Tanjiro: I have... returned.
Urokodaki, look at the unconscious boy. Until a flashback came to him.
flashback
Dear Urokodaki Sakonji, Please do forgive me for my briskness; I'm sending a boy your way who wants to become a demon slayer. He was brazen enough to attack me unarmed. His family was slaughtered by a demon, and the surviving younger sister has turned into one. However, I have determined that she will not harm any humans. I can sense something special about these two. They both have amount of chakra just like me but they do not fully mastered it completely yet. Like yourself, the boy appears to have a keen sense of smell. Perhaps he'll find a way to break through and become your successor. Please take him on as your apprentice. I realize that this is a self-serving request, but please bear with me. I hope that you will take good care in your endeavors. Yours truly, Tomioka Giyuu
flashback end
Urokodaki: Kamado Tanjiro, I accept you as my student.
End