Demon slayer: Breath Of The Eclipse

Chapter Fourty Three: Defeating an Upper Rank demon

Deflecting the wave of Kunais,  Gyutaro watched as Tengen ducked down below, his swing sliced off both his legs. Struck by a stray knife laced with Wisteria poison, Gyutaro was left unable to heal. Tengen and Tanjiro seized their moment and swinged their blades at the demon's neck as Hinatsuru watched from above. In a past visit to Tengen's family grave, Tengen and his wives prayed for the deceased souls of Tengen's family, lamenting that he is unable to drink with them, Tengen poured sake on the headstone and said they can all drink together one day. All four Shinobi then sat down for lunch. As they were enjoying their meal, Hinatsuru asked if Tengen still had his siblings in mind. Tengen answered that not a day goes by whare he doesn't recall them, and it seemed like only recently did he leave his home with his wives.

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As Suma and Makio stared in wonder at his remark, Tengen asked that they eat as well. Suma loudly exclaimed about the delicious food, causing Makio to berate her despite Tengen's words to dig in. As the girls were eating, Tengen randomly muttered that he will go to hell someday, much to the girls shock. Tengen took back his words but reminded them that they don't need to berate him again. Tengen stared at the headstone and proudly declared he will live "The flashiest life possible for my siblings sake". A sudden gust of wind arrived, blowing sakura petals from the trees. Tengen gently picked one off of Hinatsuru's hand causing her to blush. When Makio asked for the same treatment, she was denied and told she put the petals on herself, much to her chagrin. Hinatsuru asked for the petal from him, clutching it gently in her hands and thanking him warmly. Suma and Makio saw this and asked for a petal from Tengen as well, he remarked that they can grab one themselves, causing them to exasperatedly call him cruel, to Hinatsuru's subtle laughter.

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Hinatsuru asked Tengen about living as ordinary people after he defeats an Upper Rank, she added that they were raised as Shinobi, they still needed to atone for the murders they have committed or live with regret. She remarks that the day it happens, non of them may be alive, and she gently asked him not to take her words too hard. Remembering her words, Tengen angrirly ripped the obi apart and yelled for Hinatsuru to be left alone. His pleas startle Tanjiro who saw Hinatsuru in Gyutaro's grasp!. Unwilling to lose another innocent life, Tanjiro quickly ran towards her. Tanjiro realized that Gyutaro saw him as a threat because he was strong so he planned to suprise him with the Hinokami Kagura. He fended off incoming obi and commented that he can reach her quickly with Hinokami Kagura. And in a immense burst of speed, Tanjiro used Hinokami Kagura and sliced off Gyutaro's hand and saved Hinatsuru. Gyutaro was stunned by the lightning-fast move!, he knew that Tanjiro was a threat but he never knew he was this strong!.

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Tanjiro commends himself for his use of his family's technique. He comments that all the best swordsmen only became great after they fought long and hard and found the style that best suited them. Gyutaro leaped at Tanjiro and prepared to attack him, the demon blocked Tanjiro's sword with his left Kamas and attacking with the right, Gyutaro knew that this wouldn't be enough to kill Tanjiro, since he is part demon but he knew it would slow him down, Tengen knew that he should stay out and not interfere, he didn't want to get caught in a fight between two demons!. Elsewhere, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke struggled with the sheer number of obis to look out for, and Inosuke became intensely annoyed that he was unable to attack them directly, with the obi being to slithery and tough and hard to cut. Launched into the sky by Daki, Inosuke panicked, seeing Tanjiro about to make contact with Gyutaro!, Zenitsu then warned him of an incoming obi, and he narrowly dodged it.

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Realizing that they would need to get to Daki and cut her head off too, an inraged Inosuke began to charge towards her, erratically swatting the obis away. But regardless, he was forced back again, and Zenitsu told him to calm down, as they still need to attack despite Tengen and Tanjiro beheading Gyutaro, causing Inosuke to remark about his friends sudden seriousness. Meanwhile the fight between Tanjiro and Gyutaro had begun. Tanjiro swinged his sword but Upper Rank Six, blocked the blade with his Kama. " do you actually believe that you can decapitate me Daken!" said Gyutaro mocking Tanjiro as the flesh from his Kamas attached to Tanjiro's blade, Tanjiro was unable to free his blade so it was time for Tengen to help. The Sound Hashira tried to behead Gyutaro again, only for Tengen to also end up stuck. Tengen tried to use his second blade to try and decapitate Gyutaro, but the Uppermoon Six had simply twisted his head around and bit down on it.

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With his enemy's locked in place, Gyutaro seeped more blood into an other wave of Rotating Circular Slashes. As Tanjiro and Hinatsuru braced for impact, Tengen pulled himself and Gyutaro away from them,  sending the two to the ground, whare the blood blades burst and nearly hit Tanjiro and Hinatsuru. With Tengen fighting the demon alone, they call out to him but were suddenly warned by Inosuke as the obi now converge on them. Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke fended off the obi, while Tanjiro and Hinatsuru backed off. With Inosuke incensed that the obi is forcing them to change tactics, Zenitsu reminded them that Daki was still weaker then Gyutaro and they can behead her. Asking of Tanjiro can still move, Zenitsu was answered when Tanjiro escaped being cocooned again with his Moon Breathing. Suddenly blood blades flew and nearly hit him, making Tanjiro realize that Gyutaro was still actively attacking him while fighting Tengen!. Hinatsuru retreated to safety, while Daki happily noted that their movements were now slower.

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Inosuke lamented that with Tengen wounded, it was up to him, Zenitsu, Tanjiro and Nezuko, remembering their training with Tanjiro and the Hashira, Inosuke angrirly stated that he will not let it be all for nothing!. Tanjiro told him it will take incredible speed to take down Daki and they will need to slash her from multiple directions or risk failling. Watching as the obi closed around Tanjiro, Inosuke saw the attack seemingly slowing down as well. Reinvigorated, Inosuke leaped into the sky and deflated all the obi around him. Inosuke exclaimed that it was up too him, being the dual wielder to attack in multiple directions, he declared that himself along with Nezuko and Zenitsu will beat Daki!. Nezuko informed that she and Zenitsu will protect Inosuke from the obi, which he acknowledged."You ugly freaks can't beat me, especially you, you ugly can't decapitate me even with that ugly Daken girl on your side!" said Daki as she launched more obi towards the trio, sending them back. As Tanjiro called out to Inosuke, he told them not to be late and he trusted his sister Nezuko to lead the attack, while he went to continue fighting Gyutaro.

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With the obis deflated by his friends and his path freed, Inosuke breathed in deeply, strengthened his body and used Beast Breathing, Eighth Form: Explosive Rush. As he speeds towards the obi demoness, he was saved from getting slashed by Nezuko and Zenitsu flanking his sides. Charging behind Inosuke Nezuko and used WaterBreathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance, and lead on, while Zenitsu simultaneously used Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunder Clap and Flash Eightfold, together the two eviscerated all the obis in Inosuke's path. He continued to charge to his target and ignored sustaining multiple cuts to focus on his goal. Unable to hit him while moving too quickly, Daki was forced to watch as Inosuke swinged both of his swords into her neck, as  she told them there's no way he can behead her.

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Inosuke used Sixth Fang: Palisade Bite, sawing the chipped blades and decapitating Daki. As her head falls,  Inosuke catches it and sprints away to prevent her from reattaching it to her body, when the obi chase him, Nezuko and Zenitsu parry them away from him, while Inosuke instructed them to help Tengen. As he ran away with Daki's severed head, she demanded that  he let her go and tried to grab the Demon Slayer with her hair. He slashed them away and called her attacks lame, infuriating her. And then without warning, Gyutaro appeared and stabed Inosuke in the chest from behind with his Kama!, and retrieving his sister's head in the process. As a shocked Tanjiro watched from afar, he realized that Inosuke was now both wounded and poisoned. Wondering how Gyutaro was able to reach him, he looked around for the Sound Hashira and stared in horror at the sight of Tengen's unconscious body. To slow to react, Tanjiro heard Zenitsu suddenly calling out to him as the area began to glow brightly. Daki's obi slashed into the surrounding houses as Zenitsu pushed Tanjiro away from the attacks path. Tanjiro told his friend to forget about him as he lamented his lack of focus, which has led to Inosuke and Tengen both getting mortally wounded, apologizing to everyone and Nezuko.

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Author's Note: we are getting closer to the end of the Red Light District Arc and close to the final battle between Tanjiro and Gyutaro!.