Inosuke Hashibira

Tanjiro and Zenitsu marvel at the contrast between the stranger's delicate face and his muscular build. He gives his name as Inosuke Hashibira but cannot say how it is written, then suddenly faints from the earlier headbutt, having taken a concussion. He soon springs up demanding a fight, only for Tanjiro to goad him into helping bury the dead by suggesting he is too weak for the task.

Descending the mountain, the slayers part with the children, and the Kasugai Crow leaves Kiyoshi a pouch of wisteria to ward off demons drawn to his marechi. Along the road, Inosuke shares that he grew up alone in the mountains, learned of demons and Final Selection from slayers he fought there, and joined despite never training under a cultivator.

Inosuke repeatedly mangles Tanjiro's name into nonsense as they travel. At nightfall the crow guides them to a house bearing a Wisteria crest, where an old woman named Hisa welcomes them. The crow explains that families saved by the Corps shelter slayers freely, marking their homes with the crest. A doctor confirms all three have broken ribs.

As they eat, Inosuke's crude manners disgust the others, and his attempt to provoke Tanjiro is met only with kindness. Zenitsu quietly asks why Tanjiro keeps a demon, praising him as a good person, before Nezuko's box stirs in the corner. She steps out, leaving Zenitsu speechless at her beauty, then furious that Tanjiro never mentioned his lovely sister.

This chapter formally introduces Inosuke Hashibira as a brash, combative youth and establishes the Wisteria-crested households that aid the Demon Slayer Corps. It belongs to the Tsuzumi Mansion Arc, is collected in Volume 4, and is adapted in Episode 14.

The introduction of Hisa and her home gives the trio a place to recover and sets the stage for their next assignment.