Yes! As the Demon Slayer manga drew to a close, Nezuko was able to return to her human form! Her incredible willpower allowed her to resist Muzan’s curse, and with the help of Tamayo’s medicine, she was finally able to go back to being a harmless human. Keep reading for more details on how it all unfolded!
Nezuko as a Human
In the 1st episode of Demon Slayer’s 1st season, the series introduces us to Tanjiro’s family, including Nezuko, his older sister, who boasts a warm smile, pale skin, long dark hair, and unique pink doll-like eyes.
Upon Tanjiro’s return from selling charcoal in the village, he witnessed a devastating scene. Nezuko was holding Rokuta in her arms, both of them covered in blood on the snowy white ground. Tanjiro saw this, became deeply disturbed, and rushed over to his motionless siblings’ bodies. Upon closer inspection, he found that Nezuko was the only one who had survived among his five siblings.
On a frigid day with snow falling heavily, Tanjiro carries Nezuko on his back and ponders to himself about what happened and if a bear was responsible for their tragic fate. Despite struggling to breathe and feeling immense pain in his lungs as if he were inhaling freezing air, Tanjiro remains determined to bring Nezuko to the village and save her life.
Without warning, Nezuko awakens and lets out a piercing scream. Tanjiro startles when he sees that her appearance has drastically changed. She now has fangs protruding from her teeth, light pink eyes with cat-like pupils, and veins bulging on her forehead. Nezuko then suddenly attacks her own brother. It’s at this moment that Tanjiro remembers what Saburou had warned him about – Nezuko has transformed into an “Oni.”
Read more: Why Did Nezuko’s Hair Change in Demon Slayer?
Origins of Demons
An Oni (translated as a demon in English) was explained to Tanjiro when he was invited to Saburou’s home on the day he went out to sell charcoal. Saburou warns Tanjiro about an Oni:
Since long ago, human-eating Oni have come out to prowl at day’s end. Because of that, it’s a problem to walk around at night. You’ll be eaten. It’s best if you sleep here and then wake up early tomorrow and return home.
Saburou
As a result of Saburou’s warning about the Oni, Tanjiro decided to spend the night at his house. In hindsight, it was Saburou who saved Tanjiro from a terrible end. If it weren’t for Saburou, there wouldn’t have been Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in the first place, and Tanjiro would have suffered the same fate as his family and been consumed by Muzan.
Nuzuko Turns Into a Demon
Initially, Tanjiro harbored doubts about Nezuko’s sudden transformation into a demon. However, he trusted his keen sense of smell, which never failed him. Tanjiro noticed that Nezuko’s scent was distinctively different. He also observed that her physical strength had increased significantly.
Tanjiro blamed himself for Nezuko’s becoming a demon, but he soon realized that an external force was controlling her. He desperately pleaded with Nezuko to resist and fight back against the influence. Eventually, with words of encouragement, Nezuko began to cry, demonstrating that she still retained some of her humanity. It was at this moment that Giyu unexpectedly appeared on the scene.
While still holding onto Nezuko, Giyu explains to Tanjiro that his duty as a Demon Slayer is to eliminate all demons. Tanjiro pleads with him to spare Nezuko, insisting that she hasn’t killed or eaten anyone. He emphasizes that she is different from other demons. Tanjiro promises Giyu he’ll find a way to restore Nezuko’s humanity and cure her demonic affliction. However, Giyu responds with cold indifference, informing Tanjiro that there is no known cure for demons. Emotional, Tanjiro weeps, pleading with Giyu to release Nezuko, reminding him she’s his last remaining family member. Tanjiro bows his head in desperation, hoping that Giyuu will show mercy.
Giyu becomes infuriated and berates Tanjiro, accusing him of wallowing in despair and holding onto foolish hopes. In a sudden outburst of anger, Tanjiro throws an axe at Giyu that catches him off guard. This action is particularly noteworthy, as Giyu is a highly skilled member of the Hashira, and it is surprising that an untrained boy could execute such a move.
Because Giyu defended himself and knocked out Tanjiro, Nezuko’s panicked state suddenly subsided, and she momentarily fell into shocked silence. She surprised Giyu by kicking him away and freeing herself from his grasp. Giyu feared that Nezuko might attack and consume Tanjiro, but to his surprise, she did the complete opposite.
Nezuko protected Tanjiro. This was a moment unprecedented in demon history, as she defied her innate instinct to consume human flesh. This event left Giyu reflecting on a previous encounter, where someone claimed the same things that Tanjiro has told but ended up being eaten by the demon. He thinks that demons in a state of starvation would resort to consuming even their own family members and that he had witnessed this happen countless times before.
Giyu carefully observes Nezuko, he realizes that she is severely starving as a demon. Giyu worries that at any moment, Nezuko might succumb to her demonic instincts and crave human flesh and blood. This thought weighs heavily on his mind.
Maybe something is different about this one..
Giyu Tomioka
In an attempt to defeat Nezuko, Giyu struck her neck with his hand, causing her to fall unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, Giyu advised Tanjiro to find elder Urokodaki Sakonji at the misty mountain base. He also warned Tanjiro to keep Nezuko out of the sunlight. With that, Giyu disappeared without a trace.
Prior to heading out to find Urokodaki, Tanjiro returned to his family’s home and gave them a proper burial. Nezuko stood by his side, with a bamboo muzzle over her mouth to prevent her from consuming any humans.
In episode 2, Tanjiro and Nezuko come across a demon feasting on humans in the mountains. The demon takes notice of the siblings, sensing that there is something unusual about their pairing as a demon and a human.
Tanjiro engaged in battle with the demon, while Nezuko dealt a lethal blow by kicking its head like a soccer ball. This action stunned Tanjiro since he knew that the human version of Nezuko would never be capable of such brutality. Together, they continued to battle the demon until a mysterious man with a red mask suddenly appeared.
In episode 3, the man with the red mask is revealed to be Urokodaki Sakonji, who is also Giyu’s former master. Giyu had sent a message to Urokodaki beforehand, informing him of the situation with Tanjiro and Nezuko. As a result, Urokodaki agreed to take on Giyu’s request and train Tanjiro to become a Demon Slayer.
Nezuko Sleeps for 2 Years Under Urokodaki’s Care
During Tanjiro’s training to become a Demon Slayer, Nezuko remained asleep at Urokodaki’s home. Urokodaki, despite Nezuko being a demon, cared for her like a child and tended to her needs, tucking her into bed each day without any ill intentions toward her.
After several months, Tanjiro reveals that Nezuko has been unconscious for nearly half a year. Despite Urokodaki’s efforts to bring in a doctor for a diagnosis, there were no signs of any irregularities. While Tanjiro remained deeply concerned for his sister, he remained steadfast in his determination to capture the demon responsible for killing his family and to do so for Nezuko’s sake.
In episode 5, upon returning home from the entrance exam for the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjiro is greeted by the sight of Nezuko kicking the door and walking toward him. Overcome with joy, Tanjiro bursts into tears, realizing that after months of being unconscious, Nezuko has finally awakened. Nezuko is equally thrilled to see her brother and embraces him tightly. Tanjiro is filled with a sense of relief and happiness, as all the pain and suffering he endured to this point feels worth it at that moment.
Read more: Do Nezuko and Zenitsu End up Together In Demon Slayer?
Tamayo Creates Medicine for Nezuko to Return to Human
In episode 8, Tanjiro and Nezuko are introduced to Tamayo and Yushiro. Tamayo explains to Tanjiro that she possesses the ability to manipulate her own body. This allows her to remove the curse inflicted by Muzan, which in turn enables her to survive without consuming human flesh. Instead, Tamayo only needs to drink a small amount of human blood to sustain herself.
Tamayo goes on to clarify that she was the one who turned Yushiro into a demon, which she did after having gone through the process herself 200 years ago. She explains that Muzan is the only known demon with the ability to create more demons, and she had no intention of doing so herself. However, she made an exception in Yushiro’s case because he had been saved by Tamayo from an incurable disease.
When Tanjiro discovers that Tamayo is a doctor who has been studying demons, he inquires about the possibility of Nezuko becoming human again. Tamayo responds by saying that there is a way, which catches Tanjiro’s attention and prompts him to ask how. Tamayo explains that there are always treatments and medicines available for any illness, but unfortunately, she cannot currently turn a demon back into a human. Despite this setback, she reassures Tanjiro that she is committed to researching and developing a treatment method for Nezuko.
In addition, she clarifies that in order to create the necessary medicine, a substantial amount of demon blood needs to be researched. She then proceeds to ask Tanjiro two requests:
- Allow her to Investigate Nezuko’s blood
- Tanjiro must gather as much blood from demons with Muzan’s blood cursing through their veins
Tamayo elaborates that Nezuko’s current state is extremely rare. She reveals that Nezuko’s change likely occurred during the two years she spent sleeping. Tamayo goes on to explain that typically if a demon goes without consuming flesh and blood of a human for an extended period of time, they would go berserk. However, what’s even more astonishing is that Nezuko is not exhibiting any of these symptoms at present. Tamayo suggests that this miracle may hold the key to unraveling the mystery in the future.
With a smile on his face, Tanjiro agrees to Tamayo’s requests and assures her that he will do everything he can to help, not just for Nezuko’s sake but for the lives of many others.
Following the defeat of two demons that Tanjiro, Tamayo, Yushiro, and Nezuko fought, Tanjiro was preparing to bid farewell to Tamayo and Yushiro. As Nezuko hugged Tanjiro, she quickly embraced Tamayo as well. Tanjiro explained that Nezuko had been in that state since their ordeal had ended and that she probably believed that Tamayo and Yushiro were the people she knew from her home.
Tanjiro goes on to explain that Nezuko had chosen to treat Tamayo and Yushiro as humans and was willing to protect them. He also mentions that it seems that Nezuko still has her own will, and he expresses gratitude for that.
Nezuko Proves to the Hashira That She Has No Interest in Human Blood
In episode 22 of season 1 of Demon Slayer, Nezuko and Tanjiro encounter the elite Demon Slayer Pillars known as the Twelve Kizuki. Most of the members were strongly opposed to the idea of protecting a demon like Nezuko, as it goes against their code of conduct.
Sanemi suddenly appears on the screen and deliberately pierces through Nezuko’s box, which angers Tanjiro. The two begin to exchange insults until the appearance of Oyakata, who is highly respected by all. Upon his arrival, everyone bows before him in reverence. Oyakata then declares that he has already given his approval to both Tanjiro and Nezuko and expects everyone to accept them. However, given their history with demons and the reasons why they became Demon Slayers in the first place (due to demons who had hurt them), everyone is understandably hesitant.
Oyakata informs all the Hashira about the letter that was sent to him by Urokodaki:
Please forgive Tanjiro for being with a demon, Nezuko has a tenacious spirit, and she retains some human reasoning even when she’s starving; she doesn’t eat humans, and she has stayed that way for more than two years. You may find this difficult to believe, but this is the unmistakable truth. If by any chance Nezuko ever attacks someone, Tanjiro, Urokodaki, and Giyu will cut their own stomachs as an apology.
Sakonji Urokodaki
After hearing about the determination of the former pillar and Giyu, everyone stopped for a moment to reflect. They recognized that the two had put their lives on the line for this cause, yet they still remained hesitant. Oyakata explains that it is highly unexpected for Muzan to come after Tanjiro and Nezuko and that something must have happened to him for him to act in such a way.
Sanemi remained the most resistant of all, as he slashed his own arm with his sword in an attempt to provoke Nezuko into feeding on him. Despite this, Nezuko stood her ground and fought off her demonic instincts. Her memories began to return, and she recalled the teachings that Urokodaki had instilled within her.
Protect and serve humans. Don’t hurt them. Never hurt them.
Sakonji Urokodaki
Nezuko spoke once again, repeating the words of Urokodaki, “Humans are to be protected and saved. Never hurt them. I will never hurt them.” Despite her anger towards Sanemi, she simply closed her eyes and looked away. Oyakata acknowledged that this was proof that Nezuko could be trusted not to attack humans. He then turned to Tanjiro and challenged him to prove that Nezuko could be a valuable asset in the fight against demons. Oyakata instructed Tanjiro to defeat the Twelve Demon Moons, and if he succeeded, then everyone would acknowledge Nezuko.
Determined to fulfill his promise, Tanjiro begins his training to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan. Alongside him, Nezuko works diligently to improve her own skills. As they train together, both as a demon and a human, they grow stronger with each passing day.
Nezuko Is Immune to the Sun
Chapter 126 of the manga, known as the Swordsmith Village Arc, follows Nezuko and Tanjiro as they travel to obtain a new sword for Tanjiro, as his old one was once again broken in battle. However, while there, Upper Moon Demon 4, Hantengu, attacks and kills several members of the Demon Slayer Corps who were not meant to be in combat, such as the lower-ranked slayers and civilians.
Hantengu has the ability to split his body into multiple parts, making it difficult for the Demon Slayers to catch him. Nezuko becomes involved in protecting those who are unable to fight and aids in the pursuit of the demon. Similar to Rengoku’s strategy when he fought Akaza, Tanjiro, along with Nezuko and Muichiro, attempts to prevent Hantengu from hiding and escaping into the shadows. Ultimately, Tanjiro successfully decapitates Hantengu as the night comes to an end.
Tanjiro rushes towards Nezuko, warning her not to approach him as the sunlight would harm her. However, as they are in an open field, Nezuko runs towards him anyway. It turns out that Nezuko was trying to warn Tanjiro. Hantengu’s body was still moving even though his head had been cut off. Tanjiro soon realizes that he had cut off the wrong Hantengu body, as the real demon’s head was supposed to have the word “fear” on its tongue, while the one he had severed had the word “resentment” instead.
While Tanjiro was contemplating his mistake, the sun began to rise, and half of Nezuko’s face began to burn off. Tanjiro acted quickly, covering Nezuko with his arms and urging her to shrink down. Nezuko kicks Tanjiro, indicating that he should focus on attacking the demon instead of protecting her. Tanjiro understands and realizes that Hantengu’s true body is not far away. He follows the demon’s scent and discovers that Hantengu is inside the heart that he had previously sliced off. Tanjiro quickly runs towards the body and slices it, defeating Hantengu once and for all.
Read more: What Are Nezuko’s Demon Powers So Far?
Nezuko Speaks Once Again
As Tanjiro collapsed onto the grass, he believed he had won but at the cost of Nezuko’s life. Overcome with emotion, he weeps, convinced that Nezuko has disintegrated in the sunlight. However, the people around him point out something miraculous – Nezuko is standing in the sunlight unharmed. In the final panel, Nezuko smiles at Tanjiro and says her first words once again, “M-m-morning.”
Moving to chapter 127, we see Tamayo writing a letter that is addressed to Tanjiro.
Tanjiro, thank you very much for supplying both Nezuko’s blood and the blood from those twelve demon moons. The man who was turned into a demon by Muzan got his consciousness back, and it’s thanks to Nezuko’s blood. Now he can live free from Muzan’s influence on just a small amount of blood. I was surprised by the changes in Nezuko’s blood. Its components transformed countlessly in a very short time span. This whole time, I’ve been thinking about the reason why Nezuko hasn’t regained consciousness yet and is still acting like a child. I think inside her; there’s something more important she’s prioritizing than regaining her consciousness. Tanjiro, this is just my speculation. But I think Nezuko can conquer the sun in the near future.
Tamayo
The story then returns to Tanjiro and Nezuko, where Tanjiro is in tears, asking his sister if she is okay. Nezuko simply repeats what Tanjiro says, causing him to realize that she still has not fully regained her humanity as her eyes and fangs remain unchanged. Despite this, the two embrace each other warmly.
The news of Nezuko’s resistance to the sun reaches Muzan, who is thrilled with ecstasy at the discovery. He declares that there is no longer any need to search for the blue spider lily and instead shifts his focus to absorbing Nezuko, believing that this will finally allow him to defeat the sun.
Seven days later, the Hashira gathered for a meeting and were informed of Muzan’s new goal to capture Nezuko. Meanwhile, Nezuko’s speech has returned, and she spends her days conversing with everyone and relearning words and sentences.
Nezuko Returns as a Human
As the Demon Slayer series drew to a close, Chapter 147 depicted Urokodaki, Tengen, and Shinjuro protecting Nezuko as she slept. Inside the room with Nezuko, Urokodaki observed that she appeared to be in pain. Nezuko had finally taken the medicine that Tamayo had created in order to become human once again.
The prospect of Nezuko returning to being human will threaten to derail Muzan’s plans, as his long-sought-after goal of conquering the sun will go back to square one. This gave Urokodaki a glimmer of hope that the long and grueling fight against the demons might finally come to an end. With that, he told Nezuko and Tanjiro to not lose with a firm voice.
Skipping to chapter 185, Urokodaki awakens Nezuko from her slumber as Tanjiro is in perilous danger fighting Muzan. Nezuko immediately rises and runs towards her brother as though she can sense the grave danger he is facing.
In Chapter 196, Nezuko continued running towards Tanjiro, and memories of her family flooded back to her once again. As she ran, one of her eyes gradually returned to its human form, and at that moment, she recalled the tragic day when Muzan had invaded their home and slaughtered her entire family. Fueled by anger, she then remembers a vision of Tanjiro from the past running towards her in tears, having thought she and their family are dead. Nezuko’s memories then turned to her encounters with Giyu, Urokodaki, Tamayo, Yushiro, Zenitsu holding flowers for her, and Inosuke giving her acorns.
Memories flooded back to Nezuko like a crashing wave as she recalled each and every person she had encountered and befriended. In her final flashback, she saw Tanjiro holding out his hand to her, but her demon instincts continued to fight against her, causing her immense pain. Despite this, she remembered Tanjiro’s words:
Nii-chan will protect you no matter what happens. Only you.
Tanjiro Kamado
With those words in mind, Nezuko’s transformation back into her human form was complete, and she says:
I am Kamado, Nezuko! My family was killed by a demon.
Nezuko Kamado
Read more: Do Nezuko and Zenitsu End up Together In Demon Slayer?
