Kidnapper

Four months after Kyojuro's death, the trio drills hard at the Butterfly Mansion between solo assignments. Zenitsu complains less while Inosuke grows wilder, and Tanjiro reflects that the grueling work is bearable because they shoulder it as a group. Returning from a mission, Tanjiro hears screaming and finds the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, dragging Aoi and Naho away as the other girls beg for their release.

Aoi cries out to Kanao, who hesitates but then grabs hold of the two captives. Tengen barks at Kanao to obey and insults her when she stays silent, frightening the girls. They rally their nerve and swarm him to halt the abduction. Tanjiro arrives and headbutts at Tengen, only for the former ninja to slip the blow effortlessly.

Tanjiro insists Tengen free the girls while Kiyo and Sumi hurl insults, which inflames the Hashira into demanding obedience as their superior. Tengen explains he requires female corps members for his mission and, since the girls are not Tsuguko, claims he needs no permission from Shinobu. When told Naho is not even a member, he tosses her aside and moves to take only Aoi.

Tanjiro offers himself in Aoi's place, and Zenitsu and Inosuke arrive to back him up, all three volunteering. Tengen relents and returns Aoi. As the boys set out, they ask where they are bound, and Tengen reveals their destination as the Entertainment District, the most decadent place in the land.

This chapter opens the Entertainment District Arc and introduces Tengen Uzui in full as the Sound Hashira. It marks the formal start of the new mission for Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. The events correspond to anime Episode 34, and the chapter appears in Volume 8.