Demon Slayer Chapter 2

Demon Slayer chapter 2 "Return Alive" marks the beginning of Tanjiro and Nezuko's dangerous journey and represents their first direct confrontation with demonic threats in the Demon Slayer manga. Under Giyu Tomioka's guidance, Tanjiro learns how to protect Nezuko from sunlight during daylight hours. He purchases a worn bamboo basket from a local farmer, and despite the farmer's willingness to give it for free, Tanjiro insists on paying, demonstrating his upright character. Surprisingly, Nezuko can shrink her body to fit inside the basket, one of the special abilities she gained upon becoming a demon.

As the siblings journey toward Mount Sagiri to find Sakonji Urokodaki, travelers warn them that people disappear in the mountains at night. When nightfall arrives, they discover a small temple in the forest where Tanjiro smells blood, worried that a traveler might be injured. However, when he rushes inside the temple, he finds a demon devouring three corpses. This marks Tanjiro's first true witness to demonic brutality in the Demon Slayer series, the massive shock leaving him momentarily paralyzed.

This battle showcases the difficulty ordinary humans face when confronting demons in Demon Slayer manga. Tanjiro strikes the demon's neck with his hatchet, but the wound immediately heals, making him realize the ineffectiveness of conventional weapons against demons' regenerative abilities. Even more terrifying, the demon's body continues to move even after being decapitated. Nezuko appears at the crucial moment, using a powerful kick to send the demon's head flying, but the headless body continues attacking Tanjiro. Through sibling cooperation, they eventually push the demon's body off a cliff, temporarily escaping danger.

When they return to where the demon's head lies, Tanjiro faces a moral dilemma. Although he knows he must kill the demon to protect other innocent people, his inner kindness makes him hesitate about inflicting pain. At this moment, Sakonji Urokodaki appears wearing a tengu mask, telling Tanjiro that ordinary blades cannot kill demons. This Demon Slayer chapter encounter not only makes Tanjiro recognize the true threat of demons but also helps him understand the necessity and urgency of becoming a Demon Slayer. Urokodaki's appearance marks Tanjiro's official entry onto the path of becoming a Demon Slayer Corps member.