Akaza/Synopsis

## Background

### Human Life

Akaza, born Hakuji, was born and raised in the slums of Edo to a sickly father he deeply loved. In order to pay for medicine, Hakuji pickpocketed from people in town, but was caught three times. The magistrate beat him and marked him with tattoos, threatening to cut his arms off the next time he was caught and calling him a "Demon Child." When Hakuji returned home after his third beating, a villager informed him that his father, having heard of his arrest, hung himself. In the letter he left, he stated he wanted Hakuji to live a full life and didn't want to take medicine if it was earned by dishonest means.

With his criminal tattoos and no home to return to, Hakuji was eventually banished from Edo. Devastated by the loss of his father and enraged at the society he lived in where he couldn't afford his father's medicine, he picked fights with people and beat them up. One day, after nearly killing seven adult men in a village, he was approached by Keizo, the owner of a local Soryu dojo. Annoyed by the man's cheerful demeanor, Hakuji challenged him to a fight, but was defeated with ease. Keizo then took him under his wing so he could nurse Koyuki, Keizo's sickly daughter. Koyuki's mother, her previous caretaker, drowned herself due to stress and Keizo had to work handyman jobs to keep them afloat, so Hakuji was tasked with tending to her. Already accustomed to caring for his father, he had little trouble, though he found it awkward when she burst into tears seemingly at random. One of those times, unbeknownst to him, he had indirectly motivated her by telling her that "there will be a next year" to see a local fireworks show.

One day, he discovered that Koyuki had been forced outside Keizo's dojo by the heir of the nearby kenjutsu dojo that sought Keizo's land for themselves, and prevented him from getting any students before Hakuji. Enraged, Keizo and Hakuji fought the dojo, and after defeating nine people, Hakuji made them promise to never get involved with their dojo or Koyuki again. The heir of the rival dojo became enraged and swung a sword at Hakuji, only for him to use his **Bell Splitter** technique and punch the side of the blade, breaking it. The other members of the dojo were so moved by the beauty of this technique that they accepted their loss and apologized for the rudeness of the heir, leaving the Soryuu dojo in peace.

Two years later, Koyuki's health improved enough that she could stand and do chores. Hakuji continued training as Keizo's pupil of the Soryu Style, and the dojo began to grow. One day, Keizo offered to let Hakuji take over the dojo and take Koyuki as his bride, to Hakuji's surprise and embarrassment. He agreed, silently vowing to protect both of them, even at the cost of his own life. At a festival, Koyuki told him of her past, asking if he was really okay with the proposal, to which he reaffirmed his vows to her, promising to protect her for the rest of his life. The heir of the rival dojo heard about Hakuji's marriage to Koyuki, so he gathered some of his angered disciples and fought Hakuji, but they lost. Tragically, this victory was short-lived. Hakuji went to visit his father's grave to inform him of his marriage, but quickly realized something was amiss upon his return. A student from the dojo informed him that the rival dojo had poisoned the well where Koyuki and Keizo drank water from. The two died shortly after drinking that water while Hakuji had been away. Enraged, Hakuji killed all sixty-seven members of the rivaling dojo with his bare hands, pulverizing them to the point where their corpses were no longer recognizable. This incident caught Muzan Kibutsuji's attention and, though he was disappointed to find it had been a human rather than a demon who'd done such a gruesome act, he decided to make Hakuji one of the Twelve Kizuki. Hakuji, with nothing left to protect and having lost his will to live, accepts Muzan's offer and becomes a demon.

### Becoming A demon

After transforming into a demon, Hakuji, now known as Akaza, lost his memories of his human past, with his only desire being to become stronger despite not knowing the reason why he wanted to become strong. Due to his strength, loyalty and will to become stronger, he became one of Muzan's favorite members of the Twelve Kizuki and dispatched him only for special missions, such as searching for the Blue Spider Lily. As noted by Doma, Akaza refused to ever eat or harm women. He was actually given special permission to do this by Muzan himself likely as a reward for his loyalty, although Muzan did tease him by imploring him to drop his code.

During his time as a demon, Akaza noted that he had met and battled several Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps during his hundreds of years of life. During these meeting, Akaza had invited every single one of them to become a demon due to Akaza liking the natural strength, genius and skill the Hashira had possessed, wishing to continue battling against them forever. However Akaza was turned down by every single one of them due to them wanting to stay as humans, causing him much confusion as he could not understand their desire to stay as humans.

Although not exactly specified, it has been stated by Akaza that each of the Hashira that he battled did not use the Flame Breathing, showing that his battle with Kyojuro Rengoku was the first time he had come across a Flame Hashira.

Fifty years prior to his battle and death against Tanjiro and Giyu in the Infinity Castle, Akaza had come across and battled a powerful Water Hashira of noteworthy skill and power in the usage of the Breathing Style and successfully killed him and for the next half century did not come across anyone else of the same skill level until his duel against Giyu.

## Mugen Train Arc

Akaza appears shortly after Tanjiro Kamado, Kyojuro Rengoku, Inosuke Hashibira, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Nezuko Kamado have defeated Lower Rank One Enmu and rescued the passengers. Noticing a downed Tanjiro, he immediately rushes forward to kill him, when Kyojuro stops the attack and slices his arm in half. Quickly healing the wound and complimenting his blade, Akaza is then asked why he would attack an already injured person, to which he states he simply wanted to rid him quickly before talking to Kyojuro. Deeming him as at the peak of his fighting spirit as a Hashira, he attempts to persuade him to become a demon. He states that as a human, he would eventually become old and die, whereas as a demon, he could continue to become more powerful. When Kyojuro repeatedly refuses the offer and refutes his statements, an annoyed Akaza declares he would instead kill him, and activates **Destructive Death: Compass Needle.**

Akaza and Kyojuro battle fiercely, with Tanjiro and Inosuke looking from a distance, both quickly realizing that the two are on a completely different level of power. Akaza is repeatedly cut by the Hashira but instantly regenerates his wounds, all while taunting Kyojuro by saying all the Hashiras he had killed had never once taken his offer to change. The demon launches in the air and hits Kyojuro with **Air Type**, knocking him back temporarily, though the attack is quickly fended away. Knowing a battle at a distance will be difficult, the Flame Hashira rushes forward and tries to attack up close, though all his swings are deflected and dodged. Akaza again taunts him for his weakening human stamina compared to his demonic physiology and tries again to persuade Kyojuro to change, which fails as Kyojuro repeats he will not become like him.

They trade attacks again, with even Inosuke noting that if he tried to help Kyojuro, he would be too slow and killed instantly. Akaza starts to make contact with his attacks, severely injuring the Hashira . All of Kyojuro's sword blows are futile with the demon's rapid healing abilities and he starts to become desperate with multiple Flame Breathing attacks. Akaza suddenly backs away, allowing Kyojuro to catch his breath, only for Tanjiro and Inosuke to see him bleeding profusely, in contrast to a completely fine and healed Akaza.

Akaza, once again, taunts Kyojuro for his numerous injuries, whereas his' have already healed instantly because of being a demon and for fighting a losing battle as a human. Kyojuro's body suddenly becomes engulfed in fire, declaring he will fulfil his duty as a Hashira, to the demon's confusion and wonder. Kyojuro decide he would try to injure him as much as possible, even if it means dying, and strengthens himself one more time with **Flame Breathing: Esoteric Art**. Akaza is amazed at his opponent's fighting spirit, and decide he must become a demon so they can battle forever. Declaring he is the Flame Hashira, he uses **Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku**, and rushes forward.

Akaza responds with **Destructive Death: Annihilation Type.** They hit each other; with Kyojuro slicing Akaza's arm, torso, and almost through his neck, and Akaza driving his arm through Kyojuro's solar plexus. Akaza desperately begs him to become a demon, knowing the wound he inflicted is fatal and amazed at his opponent's will to fight, declares him one of the few chosen strong ones. Kyojuro refuses once more, remembering his mother's promise to him to protect the weak, and drives his sword deeper through his neck, even catching his fist when Akaza tries to punch him with his free hand, shocking the demon. The sun begins to rise and Akaza attempts to flee but is held in place by Kyojuro refusing to surrender. Tanjiro and Inosuke attempt to aid the Hashira, Inosuke using **Fang One: Pierce** to attack the demon from above.

Akaza suddenly rips off his own arms from Kyojuro's body and stomps the ground, creating shockwaves to knock Inosuke away and stall Tanjiro's advance, giving him the chance to flee. Tanjiro frantically gives chase and hurls his Nichirin Blade at the Upper Rank Demon, piercing his chest. Akaza hears Tanjiro's cries, calling him a coward for retreating, and becomes enraged as he mutters to himself that he was fleeing from the sun, not him. Deciding the battle over and Kyojuro will soon die, Akaza flees to safety in the forest, leaving Inosuke and Tanjiro with a dying Kyojuro.

## Entertainment District Arc

Akaza appears before Muzan in his fake human family's home and reports to him that he could not find the Blue Spider Lily, and instead, he took down one of the Hashira. Muzan retorts it was only one Hashira and declaring his desire is for all to be dead. Angered at his failure, Muzan takes control of Akaza's cells and causes him to bleed heavily. As Akaza fights the pain, the Demon King mocks him for acting proud when three other Demon Slayers were still alive and he could have killed them as well, ending his rant by claiming "*even Upper Moon Three was brought to the ground*".

    When dismissed by Muzan for his failure, he takes notice of Tanjiro's nearby blade from when he threw it at him. Remembering how he called him a coward, he furiously smashes it to pieces and declares he would spill his brains the next time they meet, now able to recognize his face.

Following the deaths of Upper Rank Six demons Daki and Gyutaro, Akaza suddenly finds himself within the Infinity Castle and deduces that his presence in the dimension means that an Upper Rank has been killed by the Demon Slayers.

### Swordsmith Village Arc

Leaping from the open hallway, Akaza descends the Infinity Castle, passing by hundreds of levels and a large water garden castle before landing at the bottom. He then catches himself on a moving platform and is taken high above the shifting rooms near the castle's upper levels before suddenly being taken by Nakime to a platform before her. He is greeted by Upper Rank Five Gyokko, who mockingly expressed fear that he may have been killed, causing Akaza to scowl. They are then joined by the skittish Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, who informs them that 113 years have past since the last gathering of the Upper Ranks. Akaza then asks Nakime on Muzan's whereabouts; when she answers he has not arrived, he inquires on Upper Rank One's status.

The demons are then joined by Doma, Upper Rank Two, who suddenly appears behind Akaza and pats his shoulder, asking Upper Three if he was not as worried as he was for his fellow demons. Irritated at the pale haired demon touching, Akaza demands he move his arm and violently shatters his superior's lower jaw when he does not immediately comply. However, Doma is unfazed and slyly wonders if he had gotten stronger from the last time he hit him, annoying the demon further. Nakime then informs Akaza that Upper Rank One Kokushibo had been present all along, who then informs them of Muzan's appearance.

Above all of the demons, Muzan voices his disappointment in Gyutaro for helping Daki and getting killed by the Demon Slayers. He admonishes the demons as worthless and states that they now fall under the ranks of lasting humanity, citing their failures as their inability to kill the Ubuyashikis and locate the Blue Spider Lily. He angrily remarks that he is now unsure why they exist, leaving Akaza to remain silent knowing his recent failure. When Gyokko provides him with new information, Muzan sends the potted demon and Hantengu to a joint mission before demanding the Upper Ranks fight harder than ever. Doma approaches Gyokko and attempts to pry in for his information, leading Akaza to destroy Upper Two's head for attempting to join a mission without Muzan's orders, and then ordering him to leave.

Suddenly, his hand falls off, shocking him silent. Kokushibo instantly appears before him and deems his actions have crossed a line. A regenerated Doma tries to calm down Upper Moon One but he coldly tells Akaza if he wanted to take Doma's place and beat him, he should do so in a proper battle. A silent Akaza overhears Doma's statement that such a battle would be fruitless, since even the more recently turned Doma is far more powerful than he is, earning his ire. Doma continues to try defending Akaza but Kokushibo directly asks him if he understood what he declared. Akaza complies but quietly threatens to kill him as well. As Kokushibo disappears, Akaza rushes out of the Infinity Castle, ignoring Doma's attempts at another conversation.

## Infinity Castle Arc

During the Infinity Castle Arc, Akaza appears causing a powerful tremor throughout the area in which Tanjiro and Giyu are near. He breaks through the cover that the two are under and slams into the ground in front of them. “It sure has been a while. I’m surprised your still alive being the weakling you are.” Akaza immediately charges toward Tanjiro unleashing an attack toward him. The attack is however avoided which leads into a short clash between Akaza and Tanjiro which ends in Tanjiro successfully landing a few slashes on Akaza without major injury. Akaza surprised by Tanjiro’s growth admits that Kyojuro was right, and Tanjiro wasn’t weak. Showing his respects toward Tanjiro, Akaza uses his Technique Development commencing the battle.

Giyu and Akaza start to engage combat, Akaza stating that it had been 50 years that he ran into someone as good as Giyu, the current Water Hashira. Akaza also notes Giyu’s unqiue Dead Calm technique, a form Akaza had not seen from the last Water Hashira he fought. Tanjiro joins the battle and attacking along with Giyu. Akaza keeps up with the both of them evading while striking back, managing to overpower their techniques at times. Akaza enjoys the battle and compliments Giyu’s techniques asking for his name. However, Giyu refuses and tells Akaza to not talk to him. Akaza then releases a flurry of powerful kicks which results in Giyu being launched through multiple walls of the Infinity Castle. Tanjiro yells out Giyu’s name, which Akaza notes. Akaza and Tanjiro clash for a while before Tanjiro is momentarily overpowered and pushed back.

Akaza commends Tanjiro’s movement, praising him for his growth and training. Claiming that his growth makes Akaza glee with happiness. Akaza continues explaining that he was glad Kyojuro died that night as he wouldn’t have grown stronger and his worldview was dumb. Tanjiro angered by Akaza’s words tells him to stop talking, and that he’s just badmouthing Kyojuro despite Akaza seeing it as praise. Akaza explains that he only hates weaklings, and that the law of nature depicts that they should be eliminated. Tanjiro explains otherwise, and that the strong should protect the weak. Finding the way Akaza thinks unforgivable.

Akaza hearing Tanjiro’s words feels irritated and and unpleasant. Akaza becomes puzzled as to why he still is unhappy with Tanjiro. Originally believing it was because he was weak, however he doesn’t feel any pleasure or happiness despite the slayer becoming stronger. He deduces it down to it being Tanjiro’s mere presence and everything about him being unpleasant and irritating. Akaza suddenly hears and feels the touch of his former teacher, his teacher saying similar words to Tanjiro. Akaza instinctively releases a backhand toward the figure he thinks is there. He faces Tanjiro once more stating how truly unpleasant he is before releasing powerful oppressing techniques against Tanjiro. Akaza’s techniques prove pierce through Tanjiro’s defense with ease and precision. Tanjiro utilizing **Hinokami Kagura: Solar Heat Haze** manages to cut Akaza’s neck a bit. The two continue to fight before Akaza gains a grasp of Tanjiro’s sword between his hands. Tanjiro uses all the physical means he can to try and force Akaza to let go, all proving fruitless before Akaza’s hands are slashed off by Giyu.

Giyu reappears on the battlefield standing off against Akaza before charging towards him, dodging Akaza’s attack and attempting to strike toward his neck. Akaza dodges the attack notices that the Hashira has unlocked their Demon Slayer Mark, their combat speed increased as a result. Giyu lands a few strikes on Akaza, out speeding the demon for a short while before Akaza immediately matches his speed. Akaza and Giyu continue to clash as Tanjiro attempts jumps in but is immediately noticed and countered by Akaza. Tanjiro barely avoids incoming Akaza’s attack and gets out the way as Giyu and Akaza continue to fight. Akaza manages to land a fatal attack on Giyu as he starts to anticipate Giyu’s moves. Akaza decides its time to end the battle, as Giyu has run out of forms to use. Giyu’s Nichirin Blade is broken before Akaza attempts to kill them by impaling his fist through their chest.

However before the attack can land, his hand is slashed off by Tanjiro. Akaza’s senses suddenly urge him and tell him to kill Tanjiro immediately, something about him has changed. Akaza uses his Technique Development and releases his most powerful technique **Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow**. Akaza’s technique lands a number of blows on Giyu, but the Hashira survives the technique. Akaza unsurprised that the Hashira was able to survive the technique goes on to say “Don’t die like Kyojuro and like Tanjiro”. Unable to sense Tanjiro, who well still alive. Tanjiro yells out at Akaza while dashing towards him, Akaza caught off guard strikes toward him, Tanjiro avoiding the attack. Surprised that Tanjiro, he uses his Compass Needle technique to try detect Tanjiro’s attacks. However to his surprise once again, he is unable to sense anything, Tanjiro’s Battle Spirit completely erased. Predicting an incoming attack, Akaza attempts to calm down. But despite his attempts, Tanjiro completely evades Akaza’s attack using Transparent World and Selfless State and counters by decapitating the Uppermoon.

    Akaza stunned at the events that had just taken place reflected on what had happened. Tanjiro was able to make his Battle Spirit completely disappear, such a feat that no one he had ever encountered in his centuries long life. However Akaza doesn’t accept that factor was the cause for his defeat, believing that he should have been able to deal with any sort of unexpected situations in battle. Yet Tanjiro was able to do that and even surpass Akaza’s speed after understanding the counter against his Compass Needle.

What he saw in Tanjiro’s eyes was no hatred, anger, or intent to kill. Akaza deducing the down that Tanjiro had most likely achieved the “Supreme Territory” that he had been chasing after for centuries. He had a feeling it existed but also he should have reached it at his point already. In an attempt to grow even stronger, knowing that this isn’t his limit, Akaza grabs his decapitated head attempting to reconnect it to his neck, however Giyu throws his blade with enough force for it to slip out of his grasp and fall. Akaza however refuses, saying that he’ll continue to grow stronger and stronger. Before his head ashes away.

However his body does not and soon slams its foot into the ground, activating Compass Needle. Akaza’s head appears to start regenerating to gain another new head. Akaza releases a strike nearly crushing Tanjiro’s neck however the latter avoids the attack. A kick right after is sent into Tanjiro’s side, causing him to fly into the wall. Unable to stay conscious Tanjiro blacks out, while Akaza continues to regenerate and fight. As Akaza attempts to kill Tanjiro, Giyu dashes forward utilizing **Fourth Form: Striking Tide** to cut through Akaza’s body. However Akaza regenerates, retaliating causing Giyu to quickly fall. Giyu stands once more declaring he won’t let Akaza kill Tanjiro.

Akaza faces off against Giyu, before Akaza suddenly recollects his human memories. Koyuki in the conscious of Akaza’s memories holds onto his arm telling “Hakuji” to stop. Akaza responds saying to let go, asking the women who they were. Koyuki responds saying “Let’s go to the other side.”. Akaza declines, as has to kill these people and get stronger. He needs to get stronger so he can back the medicine for his father. Get stronger so can run away with the money he’s stolen, to beat those who come back for revenge. So he doesn’t get beat by the magistrate. Akaza’s human memories are suddenly triggered, questioning the people his mind.

Akaza after remembering all his human memories knows he can’t go to the same place as the people he loved the most. At this point, Akaza’s head has almost completely regenerated as Tanjiro wakes up. Akaza about to engage Giyu, Tanjiro yells out telling him to stop from behind. Surprised that Tanjiro can move at all, he turns around to find Tanjiro attempting to behead him again. However, Tanjiro’s blade slips out his grip. Despite so Tanjiro continues to fight outright punching Akaza. Akaza envisions his master once more, his hate for the weak flashing in his eyes. Never fighting fairly and lack patience. Akaza realizing what he has done, tainting his teacher’s fighting style and disrespecting his father’s wishes.

Akaza shifts turning toward Tanjiro and Giyu, before Tanjiro tackles and attempts to protect Giyu from Akaza’s attack. As he does, Akaza for a second lets out a smile accepting his defeat which Tanjiro notices, before using his own technique on himself. Akaza’s body becomes mangled and destroyed, and starts to regenerate however Akaza stops it. Recognizing he has been defeated fair and square, Akaza decided he wanted to die and go to hell like a man. Akaza’s physical body appeared to wander aimlessly as his conscious interacted with his father and master. Both deciding to stay with Hakuji, although they couldn’t go to heaven.

Muzan’s will however appears, grasping a hold of Akaza. Reminding him of his goal and what he worked up too, asking if he was really just going to end here. Akaza’s body starts to regenerate once more as he recognizes his promise and goal once more. Claiming that it doesn’t matter if he gets decapitated, he’ll get stronger and keep his promise. However Koyuki appears once more relieving Hakuji that he has done enough and thanking him, it is okay now. Muzan attempts to control Akaza, however it fails. Akaza in that moment “turns back into a human” or his Hakuji self. He cries while embracing Koyuki apologizing for not being there for her. Koyuki just responds being glad that he is back and remembers them. Akaza’s body attempts to regenerate however finally gives in ashing away completely. The battle and Akaza’s demon life concluding.

## References

1. ↑ *Kimetsu no Yaiba* Manga: Volume 18, Extra Pages.