Murata

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**Murata** (村田, *Murata*?) is a supporting character of the two Kimetsu no Yaiba Makuai stories; *Kimetsu no Yaiba Reishoki: Meiji Stories* and *Kimetsu no Yaiba Reishoki*, and a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.

## Etymology

* Murata's name contains the kanji for "village" (村, *mura*?) and "rice field" (田, *ta*?).

## Appearance

Murata is a young man of average height and athletic build. He has straight jet-black hair parted down the middle, fair skin tone, and black eyes.

Murata wears the standard predominantly black Meiji-Taisho era Demon Slayer uniform, consisting of a gakuran jacket and tattsuke-hakama pants.

## Personality

Not much is known about Murata, however, he does not like it when a hunter of lower rank chastises him. He is somewhat timid, however he does seem braver than most, continuing to fight atop Mount Natagumo even after his entire group was wiped out.

## History

Murata's family was killed by demons. Because he had no living relatives left, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps.

Murata was in the same Final Selection as Giyu Tomioka and Sabito, being one of the many applicants who was able to survive due to Sabito managing to kill nearly all of the demons in the mountain, though he would end up dying to a particular large and vengeful demon.

## Synopsis

### Mount Natagumo Arc

Having been given orders by a Kasugai Crow to head to Mt. Natagumo, Murata and nine other Demon Slayers head to the mountain to investigate. As they enter the forest, the Demon Slayers begin to suddenly kill each other without warning, with Murata forced to flee the massacre. He is soon joined by fellow Demon Slayers Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira, with the former introducing himself as a Mizunoto Demon Slayer. Murata is not comforted and believes that a Hashira should have been sent instead, only to be punched by Inosuke for his cowardice.

After explaining the situation at hand, they suddenly hear a rattling noise, which Murata notes happened before the massacre occurred. They then see the dead Demon Slayers walking towards them but see that they are being controlled by something. Inosuke and Tanjiro realize they are being strung on threads by tiny spiders. The three then watch as a demon above them threatens to have them killed by his "mother". Knowing they need to kill the demon responsible, Murata volunteers to hold off the Demon Slayers as Tanjiro and Inosuke locate the demon. Though Tanjiro is surprised by this, Murata declares that despite his earlier fright, he is still a Demon Slayer and will do his duty as one.

After Tanjiro and Inosuke kill the demon, Murata wanders about the forests and eventually encounters a pale child-like demon. He attempts to kill her but is ensnared in a silk cocoon that oozes acid. Unable to break free and cut the silk, Murata is seemingly left to his fate but is saved by the timely arrival of the Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho. After she kills the demon, she frees him from the cocoon. He asks if she intends to finish the demon but is told she is dead from her wisteria poison. Shinobu then notes that whilst his clothes have melted away, his body is intact, causing an embarrassed Murata to cover himself and slink away.

### Rehabilitation Training Arc

Following his battle in Mt. Natagumo, Murata, being one of the few survivors, was ordered to inform the Hashira about the incident. As he explained himself, the Hashira became disappointed and angered by the needless deaths of the Demon Slayers, while Murata sat there afraid of their wrath.

    He reunites with Tanjiro in the Butterfly Mansion's hospital ward and is introduced to his companion Zenitsu Agatsuma. As Zenitsu complained of the medicine he is taking, Murata, with a despondent and gloomy expression, jokingly noted that he seems to be better off than he is, recalling when he met the Hashira and how he was frightened to hear them complain about the numerous deaths on Mt. Natagumo. As he spoke about how they scare him, he is joined by the Insect Hashira herself. Murata quickly bows to Shinobu and leaves the room.

### Hashira Training Arc

Murata meets Tanjiro and Inosuke during his training with Gyomei Himejima. He points out how harsh training is, and is impressed by how strong the Hashira are.

### Infinity Castle Arc

Murata rescues Zenitsu and Yushiro during the battles in the Infinity Castle. Later on, after the fortress collapses, Giyu Tomioka asks him to bring a fallen Tanjiro to safety and treat his wounds.

## Abilities

### Overall Abilities

Although not on par with the likes of Tanjiro or Inosuke, Murata's prowess is superior to that of his squad, as evidenced by being its only survivor (albeit with the aid of multiple characters). His assistance in dealing with his manipulated comrades was vital in buying time for Tanjiro and Inosuke to defeat the Mother Spider Demon. Since the puppets had their powers augmented because of the demon's Blood Demon Art, his ability to hold them back was a testament of his above average performance. He was also able to reach the last stage in the Hashira training curriculum, which hardly any members could do.

## Fighting Style

### Breathing Style

**Water Breathing** (水の呼吸, *Mizu no Kokyū*?): Murata is a user of the Water Breathing, however, for Murata, the water is too faint to be able to be seen.

## Trivia

* After his run-in with the Daughter Spider Demon and his subsequent rescue by Shinobu Kocho, Murata acts highly awkward around her, most likely because of his lingering embarrassment from the event.[*citation needed*]
	+ Until the Kakushi arrived, Murata stood by a brushwood shivering and naked.
* Murata is one of the few background characters to repeatedly appear again in other arcs besides the one he was introduced in.
* Murata considers himself fairly "normal" compared to Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu, serving as an example of an average Demon Slayer.[*citation needed*]
* Murata was in the same Final Selection as Giyu and Sabito.
* After his first love complimented his hair, Murata has devoted himself to grooming and regularly applying camellia oil to it, resulting in its silky look.
* When Tanjiro and Inosuke first met him on Mount Natagumo, his rank was Kanoe.

## Quotes

* (About Giyu Tomioka) "*Tomioka remembered my name... We were together since the Final Selection too...!! I know there's a huge difference between us but we were in the same batch, man...!!*"