The Rise of the New Hashira - First Missions and the Battle of Mount Natagumo

Tanjirō's First Mission: Kidnapper's Bog

Tanjirō's first mission took him to a small, secluded village plagued by mysterious disappearances. The bog demons were terrorizing the villagers, kidnapping young women and dragging them into their swampy lair. Tanjirō, newly adorned with the title of Sun Hashira, arrived with a calm determination.

The bog demons tried to ambush him, their sickly, watery forms emerging from the swamp with malevolent grins. Tanjirō immediately launched into action, using his refined Sun Breathing techniques to slice through the thick mist and mud. His movements were precise, each slash igniting with the heat of the sun. With the Hinokami Kagura: Dance, he cleaved through the demon's forms, burning their regeneration abilities to ash. The fight ended swiftly, with Tanjirō standing victorious, the bog purified in the light of the rising sun.

Zenitsu's First Mission: The Arrow Demon

Zenitsu's first solo mission had him trembling before it even started. He was sent to confront the Arrow Demon, a fearsome foe with the ability to control vectors and send enemies flying with invisible arrows. Zenitsu, despite his newfound power as Thunder Hashira, was still terrified at the thought of fighting alone. But then he remembered my promise—the gentleman's place—and his resolve hardened.

As the Arrow Demon sent waves of invisible force his way, Zenitsu closed his eyes, calming his nerves. He slipped into unconscious combat, where his instincts took over. In an instant, he launched forward with Thunder Breathing: First Form – Thunderclap and Flash. He dashed toward the demon at lightning speed, his blade slicing through the air. The demon barely had time to react before Zenitsu's blade found its mark, severing its head in one clean strike. As the demon's body dissolved, Zenitsu collapsed in a heap, snoring loudly, oblivious to his victory.

Inosuke's First Mission: The Temari Demon

Inosuke's first mission was against the Temari Demon, who wielded destructive temari balls with devastating force. True to form, Inosuke's solution was simple—headfirst. Quite literally.

The moment the demon launched its deadly temari, Inosuke roared, "BRING IT ON!" and charged. Dodging wasn't his style, so he simply met the projectiles head-on. With his twin blades spinning, he sliced through the balls like a wild beast, shattering them mid-air. "Your stupid balls are no match for Inosuke-sama!" he yelled, charging straight toward the demon.

As the demon hurled more temari, Inosuke used his Beast Breathing: Fifth Fang – Crazy Cutting, turning into a whirlwind of slashes. In mere seconds, the demon's temari and head were severed, both flying in opposite directions. Inosuke stood victorious, chest puffed out. "Too easy!"

The Tsuzumi Mansion Arc: Three Hashira, One Mansion

Tanjirō, Zenitsu, and Inosuke's paths converged at the Tsuzumi Mansion, a demon-infested labyrinth controlled by a powerful Drum Demon. The trio, each having completed their first missions, found themselves teaming up for the first time, though their teamwork was… chaotic, to say the least.

Inside the mansion, the rooms shifted, walls spun, and gravity itself seemed to warp at the beat of the Drum Demon's instruments. As soon as they entered, Inosuke declared, "This place is MINE! I'm the leader now!" and charged ahead, completely ignoring any plan.

Tanjirō sighed but followed, knowing it was useless to argue with Inosuke.

Zenitsu, on the other hand, clung to the nearest wall, shaking. "Why… why did it have to be a haunted mansion?! Why can't we fight in a tea house… with nice ladies…?"

The battle against the Drum Demon was as intense as it was dizzying. With the room constantly changing, Tanjirō had to use his Sun Breathing: Fake Rainbow to dodge the shifting walls and drum beats while closing in on the demon. Inosuke's ferocity and Zenitsu's thunderous speed allowed them to synchronize—well, sort of.

Zenitsu's unconscious form blazed through the mansion, dodging traps and demons with ease. Meanwhile, Inosuke was smashing through everything in sight, laughing maniacally as he called out to the Drum Demon. "HEY, WHERE ARE YOU HIDING?! COME OUT AND FIGHT, YOU COWARD!"

Eventually, Tanjirō found the Drum Demon's room and, with a combination of Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky, managed to slice through the demon's defenses. With Inosuke and Zenitsu backing him up, they took down the Drum Demon, leaving the cursed mansion in ruins behind them.

The Battle of Mount Natagumo

It was the mission that would test them all—the battle against the demon family of Mount Natagumo. The stakes were higher than ever as Tanjirō, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Kanao, Genya, and Senjurō faced off against the spider demons.

The first to engage was Genya. He was assigned to fight the Spider Demon (Mother). Despite her terrifying control over puppet-like corpses, Genya's brutal combat style overpowered her. Using his Rain Breathing: Seventh Form – Downpour, he unleashed a torrent of strikes, slashing through the puppet strings and cutting down the demon. With a swift and final strike, Genya severed her head, ending the threat in a downpour of blood.

Next was Kanao, who faced the Spider Demon (Daughter). The daughter's agility and silk traps would have overwhelmed any normal slayer, but Kanao's sharp reflexes and precise movements with Flower Breathing: Final Form – Equinoctial Vermilion Eye allowed her to avoid being ensnared. In a flurry of beautiful, petal-like slashes, she cut through the webbing, overwhelming the demon and ending the battle with a graceful, single stroke.

Meanwhile, Zenitsu had encountered the Spider Demon (Brother). The sight of the grotesque, crawling brother sent Zenitsu into an immediate panic. "SPIDERS?! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SPIDERS?! I HATE SPIDERS!" he screamed, bolting in the opposite direction—until he fainted, of course.

With Zenitsu unconscious, the real fight began. His Thunder Breathing: Sixth Form – Rumble and Flash electrified the forest as he moved with impossible speed, cutting through the spider threads with precision. His swordsmanship, guided by instinct, overwhelmed the brother in a flash of lightning, severing the demon's head in a single, decisive strike. As he stood victorious, still unconscious, Zenitsu muttered, "Where are the nice ladies…?"

Inosuke, meanwhile, was fighting the Spider Demon (Father). The hulking brute was easily ten times Inosuke's size, but that didn't faze the Berserk Dragon. Inosuke lunged at the demon with reckless abandon, using Beast Breathing: Eighth Fang – Explosive Rush, his dual blades crashing against the demon's thick hide.

The Father Demon roared, swiping at Inosuke with tree-sized arms, but the boar-headed slayer was too quick. He ducked, dodged, and countered with wild, unpredictable movements. "You think you're strong?!" Inosuke bellowed, grinning madly as he leaped onto the demon's back. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT REAL STRENGTH IS!"

With one final, powerful thrust, Inosuke used Tenth Fang – Circular Cleave, spinning mid-air and decapitating the Father Demon in a single, spinning slash. The giant demon collapsed, and Inosuke stood on its chest, panting but victorious. "Too easy!"

The Showdown: Tanjirō and Senjurō vs. Rui

The main battle, however, was between Tanjirō, Senjurō, and Rui, the Lower Rank Five demon. Rui was no ordinary demon—his blood demon art allowed him to create incredibly strong spider webs, capable of slicing through anything.

Tanjirō and Senjurō fought side by side, their synchronization flawless. Rui's webs filled the battlefield, slicing through trees and ground alike, but the brothers were undeterred.

"Senjurō, stay close!" Tanjirō commanded, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Rui's movements.

Senjurō nodded, his blade gleaming with fire. "I'm ready, big brother."

Rui launched another wave of web attacks, but Tanjirō countered with Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun, a fiery slash that incinerated the webs on contact. Senjurō followed up with Fire Breathing: Flame Tiger, a roaring flame that pushed Rui back.

"You're strong," Rui sneered, "but strength alone won't save you."

Rui's threads turned red, glowing with a deadly power. He lashed out, but Tanjirō and Senjurō moved in perfect harmony. With their combined strength, they overwhelmed the demon. Tanjirō unleashed Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance, while Senjurō used Flame Breathing: Ninth Form – Rengoku. The brothers' attacks intertwined, creating a blazing vortex of flame and power that consumed Rui, burning him to ash.

As the battle ended, Tanjirō and Senjurō stood victorious, their swords still burning with the power of their breathing forms.

The battle on Mount Natagumo had been brutal, but the new Hashira had proven themselves in the heat of combat. Each one had faced their greatest challenge and emerged stronger, their swords sharper, their resolve firmer.

And as they stood together, bruised but victorious, the future of the Demon Slayer Corps had never seemed brighter.