Tanjiro's next destination, according to his Kasugai Crow, is to the south-southeast. On the way, Tanjiro runs into his fellow Final Selection survivor, the swordsman Zenitsu Agatsuma. Tanjiro has a hard time dealing with Zenitsu's passive attitude as they head deep into the mountains. They encounter two children whose older brother was taken away right in front of their house. There, Zenitsu hears the sound of a tsuzumi ringing out from somewhere.

After a desperate fight to the death, Tanjiro prevails over Kyogai. He exits the house to find Zenitsu who had escaped earlier. But it is then that he sees the strange circumstances before him... The battered Zenitsu holding the box containing Nezuko in his arms while the man in the boar's head mask stands in the way with two Nichirin Swords drawn.

Swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps known as Hashiras have arrived on Mt. Natagumo. Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, slays the Father Spider Demon with a single strike. Inosuke, thrilled to see such a display of swordsmanship by someone in a totally different league from himself, challenges Giyu to a duel. Meanwhile, Zenitsu lies near death as the poison circulates throughout his body. Just then, the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho appears before him.

When Rui assaults him with his Blood Demon Art, Tanjiro braces himself for certain death. As his life flashes before his eyes, he suddenly remembers his father's dance, the kagura, and unleashes a new, non-Water Breathing attack. Hinokami Kagura Dance. Knowing that he’ll be receiving a simultaneous blow from the demon, he uses his new move to slice off Rui’s head. As Tanjiro crawls towards Nezuko, who lies on the ground, riddled with wounds, someone appears before him.

As Tanjiro and the others are devoted to their rehabilitation training, the absolute master of the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, gathers the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki. The demons, too, are preparing to make their next move. As training draws to a close, Tanjiro has improved to the point where he can fight on equal terms with Kanao. Just then, he receives word of a new mission from his Kasugai Crow.

Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke join Rengoku on the Mugen Train. Having heard that there may be demons on the train, they are on high alert, but they find themselves falling into a slumber. Within his dream, Tanjiro is reunited with his long lost family. However, it is soon revealed that this is a trap set by Enmu (Lower One).

After waking up from his dream by cutting his own neck, Tanjiro battles Enmu, who is the source of all the turmoil on the train. Enmu appears to be getting pleasure from inflicting pain on the passengers, which only infuriates Tanjiro even more. Tanjiro succeeds in severing Enmu's head, only to discover that Enmu's body is fused with the Mugen Train itself. Tanjiro is backed into a corner, but a freshly-awakened Inosuke comes to assist him and...

After Tanjiro visits the Rengoku residence and meets Kyojuro's younger brother, Senjuro, to deliver Kyojuro's last message, Tanjiro spends his days training and completing missions. One day, he returns to the Butterfly Mansion to find Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, attempting to take Aoi and Naho away on a mission against their will. Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke offer to go on that mission instead, and they head to their next destination - the Entertainment District.

After being told of Zenitsu’s disappearance and to leave the Entertainment District by Uzui, Tanjiro and Inosuke decide that they will rescue Zenitsu. That evening, Tanjiro picks up a scent of a demon, which leads him to Koinatsu Oiran being swallowed by Daki’s belt. With Uzui nowhere in sight, Tanjiro must face the Upper Six demon alone.

After Nezuko attempts to attack innocent bystanders as her demon form advances, Tanjiro is finally able to make her fall asleep by singing a lullaby. Meanwhile, another demon emerges out of Daki's body after being beheaded by Uzui - Gyutaro, Daki's older brother and the other form of Upper Six. Uzui must now face both demons, Daki and Gyutaro.

Uzui deflects all of Gyutaro's Blood Demon Art attacks, and despite getting pierced in the jaw, Tanjiro is able to slice off Gyutaro's head. Though wounded from head to toe, Zenitsu and Inosuke also behead Daki, and they succeed in decapitating both demons at the same time. Just when it seems as though they've defeated the Upper Six demons after a fierce struggle, Gyutaro unleashes his Blood Demon Art...