Tanjiro goes to see the Stone Hashira, Himejima, who intends to prepare him for the battles to come. The training to become a Hashira — a high-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps — is intense and demanding.
Tropes found in Hashira Training Arc:
- Breather Episode: This arc is sandwiched between the gruelling Swordsmith Village Arc and the emotionally draining Infinity Castle Arc.
- Cliffhanger: Muzan has found the Ubuyashiki Estate, and has met Kagaya.
- Dark and Troubled Past:
- Giyu's sister Tsutako sacrificed herself to prevent Demons from eating him, and because Demons aren't well-known to the public, Giyu was sent to a mental hospital being deemed crazy to his peers. He would eventually join the Demon Slayer Corps, but losing his Best Friend Sabito to the Hand Demon after the latter saved him in Final Selection led him to develop a low self-esteem for him, believing he wasn't suited to become the Water Hashira.
- Gyomei, like many other characters in the series, was also an orphan, but he at least had a purpose in his life being a priest who took care of other orphans. That all changed when one of them made a pact with a demon to slaughter all the orphans in the temple in exchange for his own life, and when Gyomei managed to save one of them, the surviving orphan's inability to articulate what had happened led to Gyomei being wrongfully accused and nearly executed for his crimes until Kagaya saved him from death row and recruited him to the Demon Slayer corps.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Sanemi physically beats up Tanjiro all because he stood up, defended, and protected Genya from him.
- Gentle Touch vs. Firm Hand: Tanjiro was the gentle touch to Sanemi's firm hand.
- Hollywood Restraining Order: Sanemi gives one to Tanjiro after the latter gets into a chaotic altercation with him in defense of the former's younger brother, Genya.
- Survivor Guilt: After learning that Sabito killed all the Demons in the mountain (excluding the Hand Demon that ended up killing him), Giyu didn't want to become the Water Hashira after thinking Sabito was the one suited to it.
- Training from Hell: Being a Hashira is no simple job, and it reflects accurately with the training Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke have to undergo.
- Would Hurt a Child: Sanemi tries to hurt Genya by attempting to poke his eyes with his fingers, but then Tanjiro quickly runs towards Genya and tackle him to the ground, safely protecting him from having his eyes gouged out by Sanemi. The two boys crash through the sliding doors into the outside garden, Tanjiro questions Sanemi for trying to kill his brother but the latter corrected him stating that he will only beat Genya until he no longer has the ability to regenerate resulting in his retirement from the Demon Slayers. In disbelief, Tanjiro defended Genya stating that he was instrumental in defeating the Upper Rank during their last encounter and declared that he will protect him from his brother who disowned him. Sanemi then turned to attack Tanjiro but Tanjiro was able to block his punch and counterattack. Once the brawl between Tanjiro and Sanemi started, Tanjiro requested Zenitsu to take Genya away with the latter chastising the former for involving him in the scuffle.
