Giyu Tomioka, Tanjiro Kamado and Yaka Tsugikuni vs Akaza

**Tanjiro Kamado, Giyu Tomioka and Yaka Tsugikuni vs Akaza** is a battle that takes place in the Infinity Castle, between Demon Slayer Tanjiro Kamado, the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka and the Sun Hashira Yaka Tsugikuni against Upper Rank Three Akaza.

## Prologue

Tanjiro, Giyu and Yaka are running in the castle, trying to find Muzan Kibutsuji and Tamayo. They have just heard about the death of Shinobu Kocho at the hands of Upper Rank Two, Doma. Suddenly, a tremor appears, shaking the three Demon Slayers. Tanjiro recognizes a familiar smell and the roof above them breaks, revealing Upper Rank Three, Akaza. Akaza is surprised that a 'weakling' like Tanjiro is still alive and shouts his name, with Tanjiro screaming his name in return. The fight between the three begins, a way for Tanjiro to avenge the death of the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, a man Tanjiro admired with all his heart, who died at the hands of the Upper Rank.

## Battle

### Improved Performance

As Akaza advances, Tanjiro dodges his punch and uses the **Hinokami Kagura: Fire Wheel** on Akaza and, with considerable effort, severs the Upper Rank's arm. As Tanjiro tries to recover, Akaza attempts to behead Tanjiro with a back-fist punch which Tanjiro dodges and counters with the **Hinokami Kagura: Fake Rainbow** managing to create a long cut on Akaza's face. Looking at this fight, Giyu and Yaka is quite amazed and surprised by Tanjiro's sudden and quick improvement, comparing his abilities to that of a Hashira. Akaza remembers Kyojuro's words about Tanjiro not being weak and accepts it as a fact, deciding to acknowledge him by activating his **Technique Development, Destructive Death: Compass Needle** and indicating the start of the real battle.

### Water and double Fire

Giyu and Yaka enters the fight, Giyu starts with immediately using the **Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance** and Yaka uses **Hinokami Kagura, Sunflower Thrust**. Akaza is instantly impressed as it had been 50 years since he ran into a Water Hashira but, he has never fought a Sun Hashira. He uses his **Destructive Death: Disorder**, a flurry of punches that produce giant shockwaves, which Giyu negates using his own creation, **Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm** and Yaka uses **Hinokami Kagura, Fake Rainbow**. Akaza remarks that he had never seen this technique used by the previous Water Hashira he last fought, and he has never seen any Sun breathing abilites. While Tanjiro tries attacking from behind using the **Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun**, Akaza appears from behind and attempts a backhand chop but Giyu cuts his attacking hand with the **Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel**. As Giyu attacks the Upper Rank, Tanjiro tries to trip Akaza by using the **Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance** on his legs and Yaka uses **Hinokami Kagura, Raging Sun** on both of his arms, however, he is countered by his **Destructive Death: Leg Type, Crown Splitter**.

Even though Tanjiro is able to block the technique and Yaka dodge the attack, Tanjiro was hit hard enough to spit blood. Akaza continues to battle Giyu and Yaka and is impressed by the Hashira's swordsmanship's, asking for Giyus's name. Giyu refuses and Akaza replies that he would ask again and again and kicks him with his **Destructive Death: Leg Type, Explosive Flurry**, launching Giyu through various walls to another side of the castle.

### The Strong Should Aid and Protect the Weak

Akaza figures out the Water Hashira's name after Tanjiro and Yaka shouts for him when he is blasted away by Akaza's previous attack. Tanjiro, Yaka and Akaza attack each other with the two **Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun** and **Destructive Death: Eight-Layered Demon Core**, respectively.

Akaza praises Tanjiro's and Yaka's improvement and claims that Kyojuro did an amazing job, pleased with his death. This enrages Tanjiro and Yaka and prompts Akaza to give his philosophy of how he hates the weak and wishes they were eliminated. Tanjiro retorts by saying that even Akaza was once a child and that someone had helped him. He continues by stating the strong should aid and protect the weak and he wouldn't let Akaza do as he pleased any further.

### Flickering Memories

Tanjiro's words shakes Akaza as he feels restless and memories of Keizo appear, saying to him the same words. Akaza brushes it off and realizes it was but a hallucination. Angered, he claims Tanjiro and Yaka to be unpleasant and uses his **Destructive Death: Crushing Type, Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow** and becomes much faster as Tanjiro and Yaka attempts to dodge. The demon surprises Tanjiro and Yaka and kicks them with his **Destructive Death: Leg Type, Flying Planet Thousand Wheels**, making Tanjiro and Yaka cough up blood. Tanjiro compares Akaza's precision to that of a magnetic compass and begins to think and deduce using the demon's moves and words.

Tanjiro and Yaka dodges another kick by Akaza and attacks him with the two **Hinokami Kagura: Solar Heat Haze**, Akaza manages to avoid the technique. However, a considerable portion of his neck is sliced and he expresses amazement, asking Tanjiro and Yaka how he swung his blade. Tanjiro attempts to use the **Hinokami Kagura: Dance** and Yaka attempts to use **Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance**, but the sword is clasped in Akaza's hand and he attempts to break it both of the swords.

### The Mark Appears

Tanjiro uses headbutts and kicks, trying to make Akaza loosen his grip despite the demon not budging. Luckily, his hands got cut by Giyu, angry about the deadly kick Akaza gave him previously. Giyu's senses awaken and a mark appears on his face. He easily dodges a shockwave punch and gives a quick slice of his own. Akaza dodges, but the attack slicks a small portion of his neck. The demon acknowledges the increase in speed as Giyu surprises him with a sudden **Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide**, vertically slicing Akaza's right arm.

Tanjiro and Yaka notices that Akaza has matched Giyu's speed and wonders how Akaza's attacks are so accurate. Tanjiro suddenly remembers words from Akaza and Inosuke Hashibira, the latter explaining how he is able to sense killing intent and how he cannot detect people behind him if they have no killing intent.

Meanwhile, Giyu and Akaza fight on equal ground, with Akaza having fully adapted to Giyu’s speed. Tanjiro and Yaka attempts to use the **Hinokami Kagura: Dance**, but was stopped by Akaza who tries to use a back-fist strike which is dodged by Tanjiro and Yaka. Using this opportunity, Giyu attacks the Upper Rank. Tanjiro gets a grasp about the truth behind Akaza's techniques.

### Getting Separated

As Yaka unleashed the powerful Sun Breathing technique, Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky. With their sword in hand from above, Yaka executed the intricate and precise movements of the dance, channeling the scorching power of the sun. The air crackled with intense heat as Yaka's strikes became a whirlwind of searing energy, matching Akaza blow for blow.

However, in the midst of their intense clash, a cunning move from Akaza managed to separate Yaka from their comrades, Tanjiro and Giyu. Seizing the opportunity, Akaza launched a swift and forceful attack, creating a momentary distraction that sent Yaka hurtling into a deep hole caused by Nakime's sinister abilities.

As Yaka plummeted into the darkness, his heart raced with a mix of apprehension and determination. The fall seemed endless, and the echoes of battle above faded away, while falling Yaka wonders where his going to end up.

**Giyu and Tanjiro's fight with Akaza goes the same where Yaka get separated.**