One of the Twelve Kizuki, a direct subordinate of Muzan Kibutsuji, is here somewhere. When Tanjiro slays the Mother Spider Demon of Mt. Natagumo, he learns that a demon who might hold the key to turning Nezuko back into a human is somewhere in this very forest. With the battered Inosuke in tow, he heads deeper into the forest. Meanwhile, Zenitsu trudges forlornly through the woods only to encounter a spider with a human face.

Tanjiro and Inosuke face off against the Father Spider Demon of Mt. Natagumo. Tanjiro unleashes an attack, only to get hurled away by the demon's overwhelming power. Landing near a river, he comes upon the young demon Rui torturing the Sister Spider Demon. When Rui calls their bond of terror and hatred "a family’s bond," Tanjiro is enraged. So begins the battle between Rui and Tanjiro.

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.

Seeing Tanjiro try to protect Nezuko even as he collapses triggers memories of Rui’s own past. Once a sickly boy, he became a demon after meeting Muzan Kibutsuji who gave him a share of his blood. But after he turns into a demon, his own parents try to kill him. Ever since then, he has been searching for a family. Seeking a bond that he can never hope to acquire...

After the battle is over, Tanjiro and Nezuko are taken to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. This is where the Hashira Meeting between the Corps leader, Ubuyashiki, and the Hashiras, the most powerful swordsmen in the Corps, is to be held. The Hashiras censure Tanjiro for violating the Demon Slayer Corps by protecting a demon. And then, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, raises his sword against Nezuko...

Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, finally appears before Tanjiro. He tells him that he will allow Tanjiro and Nezuko to join the Corps. But the Hashiras are unable to accept this decision right away. The Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, slashes his own arm and taunts Nezuko with his blood, trying to get her to show her true colors as a demon.

The injured Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke are sent to the home of the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, for treatment. Two weeks later, Tanjiro and Inosuke start rehabilitation training. But the drills are brutal, and they find themselves broken in spirit. Unaware of the grueling regimen, Zenitsu joins them late and is visibly enthusiastic in front of girls, but...

Tanjiro, who's undergoing rehabilitation training at the Butterfly Mansion, works hard to keep up his Total Concentration Breathing techniques all day long. Though at first, he's helpless against Kanao, a swordswoman in his class who's training him, he slowly but surely begins to make some headway. Seeing Tanjiro devote himself to training every single day, Zenitsu and Inosuke resume training as well, but...

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's group, fresh from completing their training at the Butterfly Mansion, head to their next mission, the Mugen Train. There they rendezvous with Rengoku, who arrived ahead of them. Tanjiro is overwhelmed by the always-energetic Rengoku, Zenitsu is frightened by the prospect of facing demons as usual, and Inosuke is immensely excited by the sight of the huge machine. But on this train loaded with passengers, a new battle is about to begin.

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...

Nezuko, Zenitsu and Rengoku fight against Enmu to protect the passengers. Meanwhile, Tanjiro and Inosuke discover the location of Enmu's neck. They work in tandem to thwart Enmu's Blood Demon Art and sever Enmu's neck. The Mugen Train writhes in pain and derails. What will be the fate of the 200 or so passengers as well as Tanjiro and his friends?

The demon that appeared before Tanjiro and Rengoku after they defeated Enmu was the Upper Three, Akaza. While injured and on the ground, Tanjiro is almost attacked by Akaza and narrowly escapes death when Rengoku quickly strikes back. During the intense battle between Rengoku and Akaza, Akaza suggests to Rengoku that he should also become a demon. Rengoku vehemently refuses Akaza's offer, but his injured body is exhausted and being pushed past its physical limits...

After the Mugen Train incident, Akaza visits Muzan Kibutsuji. Guided by a crow, Tanjiro Kamado heads off to the Rengoku residence to convey Kyojuro Rengoku's last messages to his father and little brother. Tanjiro's group return to the Butterfly Mansion.

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 arriving at the Entertainment District, Tanjiro and his comrades infiltrate each House where Uzui's wives, Suma, Makio and Hinatsuru, work. While working as apprentices and searching for their whereabouts, Inosuke hears that Makio has been shutting herself away from everyone in her room.