TheDemon SlayerHashira are the most elite and strongest warriors of the Demon Slayer Corps, well known for their incredible strength, skill, and dedication to taking down demons. Each of the nine pillars stands, representing a symbol of hope and power for humanity in the face of the terrifying threat of demons.
But despite their unmatched power and knowledge of demonkind,the Hashira have never encountered Muzan Kibutsuji. This lack of knowledge about Muzan left the Hashira confused and unprepared in the last episode ofDemon Slayer: The Hashira Training Arc.
In the finale of the most recent season ofDemon Slayer,the Hashira finally came face to face with Muzan. Their confusion and shock at the encounter were extremely noticeable, especially when compared to their usual confidence. The fact that this was the first moment any of them had laid eyes on the demon king is shocking considering their status within the Demon Slayer Corps.
On the other hand, Tanjiro Kamado, a relatively new member of the Demon Slayer Corps compared to the Hashira, was the only person in that scene who had previously encountered Muzan.
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The Hashira’s Unfamiliarity With Muzan
The main reason why the Hashira were confused when they first saw Muzan was because, up until that moment, none of them had ever seen him.Muzan is a master of disguise and deception, capable of altering his appearance at will. This ability had allowed Muzan to evade detection by the Demon Slayer Corps for centuries, despite their unending search for him. Even though theHashira had fought and killed countless demons, they had only heard rumors and second-hand accounts of Muzan. Without any photos or direct confrontation, the Hashira simply did not know what their greatest enemy looked like.
In addition to this,Muzan does not look like a typical demon, particularly one as ancient and powerful as he is. Unlike many of the monstrous and grotesque demons the Hashira have faced,Muzan’s appearance is more human-like. He is often dressed in fancy clothing, which is very different from most of the other demons throughout the series. Most of the times, he lives under the guise of a child to further avoid detection. The almost ordinary appearance of Muzan added to the Hashira’s confusion.
Tanjiro’s Encounter With Muzan
Despite the Hashira never seeing Muzan, Tanjiro Kamado had a direct and personal encounter with the progenitor of all demons much earlier in the series. This key moment happened during his early days as a Demon Slayer in Asakusa, wherehe accidentally bumped into Muzan in the midst of a busy crowd. Thanks to his superhuman sense of smell, Tanjiro recognized the man as the demon who slaughtered his family.
Previously, his master Urokodaki had told Tanjiro that Muzan was the only one who could create new demons, thus making him the only possible culprit of the massacre, as Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko had been transformed into a demon. Understandably, this chance encounter left a memorable impression on Tanjiro. Unlike the Hashira, Tanjiro had a face associated with Muzan.
When Muzan appeared during the final battle in theHashira TrainingArc,Tanjiro was the only one who recognized him immediately.
Tanjiro’s prior knowledge of Muzan’s appearance gave him an advantage that the Hashira did not have. When Muzan appeared during the final battle in theHashira TrainingArc,Tanjiro was the only one who recognized him immediately. His instantaneous reaction to attack Muzan, driven by his fear and anger, was very different from the Hashira’s confused and shocked reactions.
At the end ofDemon Slayer: The Hashira Training Arc, Tanjiro’s experience and knowledge became key to rallying the Hashira to fight the one enemy they had all been hunting, yet none had truly known.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Cast
Set in Japan’s Taisho Period, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows Tanjiro, a young boy whose family is killed by demons. With his sister Nezuko transformed into a demon, Tanjiro embarks on a quest to become a demon slayer, seeking vengeance and a cure for his sister’s condition.
