Demon Slayer Chapter 150

Demon Slayer Chapter 150, aptly titled "Noticing," marks a pivotal moment in the battle against Akaza as Giyu Tomioka awakens his Demon Slayer Mark, and Tanjiro Kamado experiences an epiphany that could unravel the Upper Rank Three's formidable Compass Needle. As Giyu and Akaza clash, Giyu reflects on his purpose, realizing that despite his usual reluctance to draw his sword for amusement, the intense pressure of facing an overwhelming opponent has sharpened his dormant senses. He finally grasps the profound struggle to hone one's skills, a realization that manifests as a splash-like Demon Slayer Mark on his cheek, witnessed by a watchful Tanjiro. This awakening signifies a significant power boost for the Water Hashira, making the fight even more unpredictable and showcasing the immense potential within the Demon Slayer Corps in the thrilling narrative of the Demon Slayer manga.

Giyu, now marked, launches a powerful swing at Akaza, narrowly missing. The demon retaliates with a direct punch to Giyu's head, but Giyu deftly ducks and slashes Akaza's neck, forcing him to retreat. Tanjiro observes that Giyu's speed has dramatically increased with the activation of his Mark. The Hashira then utilizes Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide, engaging Upper Three head-on. He manages to split Akaza's arm but sustains a gash to his own head. From a distance, Tanjiro notes that despite the incredible speed of both combatants, Akaza is rapidly adapting to Giyu's enhanced abilities. Realizing that a prolonged battle against a demon with endless regeneration is futile and that their ultimate goal is Muzan's defeat, Tanjiro desperately seeks a strategy to overcome Akaza. He grapples with understanding how Akaza attacks with such precision and reacts to unseen assaults. This leads him to recall Akaza's past compliment to Kyojuro Rengoku about his highly developed fighting spirit, prompting Tanjiro to try and define this enigmatic concept and remember a conversation he had with Inosuke Hashibira.

In a flashback to the Butterfly Mansion, Inosuke had informed Tanjiro about a tingling sensation he feels when an opponent aims at him, which Tanjiro deduced was why Inosuke survived Gyutaro's surprise attack. Inosuke further claimed he could sense where someone was looking, even from behind, demonstrating this by correctly identifying that Tanjiro was looking at his right shoulder. Inosuke added that he could immediately tell when someone looked at him with hostile intent. Tanjiro now realizes Inosuke's ability stemmed from his incredibly honed sense of touch. Inosuke had also pointed out that if someone harbored no hostility, he couldn't sense them, citing the old woman at the Wisteria House. He believed that approaching an opponent without emitting hostility would make him undetectable. However, Tanjiro had countered that while an elderly lady posed no threat, killing a demon without hostility was impossible. Despite deeming it a silly conversation at the time, Tanjiro now understands its crucial lesson. Akaza's "fighting spirit" is what guides his Compass Needle, and Tanjiro believes he can disrupt it. As the battle rages, Akaza parries Giyu's blade, unbalancing him and attempting a punch. Tanjiro lunges for Akaza's exposed neck with Hinokami Kagura: Dance, but Akaza, catching his sword from behind, mocks Tanjiro for leaving himself open and delivers a punch with his other hand. Tanjiro barely dodges, sustaining a cut to his stomach. Giyu re-engages Akaza as Tanjiro retreats, determined to decipher what Akaza senses, culminating in a sudden epiphany that promises a turning point in their desperate struggle against the Upper Rank Three in the climactic Infinity Castle Arc of the Demon Slayer manga.