In Demon Slayer Season 4 Episode 5, the next Hashira for Tanjiro to train under is Mitsuri, the Love Hashira. She takes him inside, mentioning she’ll brew black tea and make pancakes. She insists he puts butter on them, but Tanjiro, confused, barely recognizes black tea and has no idea what butter and pancakes are. Seated at the table, he’s presented with a stack of butter-covered pancakes topped with a honeycomb. Surprised, he doesn’t know how to eat it. Mitsuri slices into the stack and feeds him a piece. He exclaims that the taste is to die for. She agrees and adds that once he’s done, he must put on a pink uniform.
As Mitsuri’s Kasugai crow cranks a gramophone, the Demon Slayers dance to the rhythm, twirling ribbons and following the Hashira’s lead. While the trainees struggle to keep their balance, Tanjiro manages to keep up with Mitsuri in each exercise. Afterwards, she stresses the importance of a flexible body for sharper movements. Pairing up the trainees, she has them press their legs against each other and begins their stretching regimen. When Tanjiro and another trainee struggle with the stretch, Mitsuri steps in, asking Tanjiro to step aside so she can demonstrate the proper technique.
The Serpent Hashira
Tanjiro quick moves on to the Serpent Hashira, Obanai. Tanjiro is meet with hostility from Obanai who is clearly in love with Mitsuri and is jealous of her calling Tanjiro “adorable.” Obanai tells the Demon Slayer he’s not soft like the Love Hashira, making Tanjiro realize he’s hated him from the start. Opening the doors, Obanai reveals the training he’s designed.
Tanjiro is horrified to see trainees gagged and tied to posts throughout the training hall. Obanai explains the objective is to swing his sword while dodging these “obstacles” to refine his swordsmanship. But Tanjiro only asks if this place is an execution ground. When he questions if the tied-up people have committed any crimes, Obanai coldly replies they’re guilty of “weakness, failing to learn, wasting his time, and annoying him.” Tanjiro is left wondering how he’ll get through this. Given a wooden sword, Tanjiro watches Obanai demonstrate, marveling at his speed and precision as he strikes between the trainees to hit spring-loaded chimes. Then it’s Tanjiro’s turn.
Obanai’s harsh training
Taking his stance, Tanjiro’s mind is bombarded with the thoughts of the tied trainees, all begging not to be hit. His swings become sloppy as he hesitates, trying to avoid hitting anyone. Unimpressed, Obanai scoffs at Tanjiro’s attempt at “training” and challenges him to a sparring match. As Tanjiro tries to swing, a trainee silently begs not to be hit, causing him to hesitate. Obanai takes the opportunity to strike him in the ribs. Tanjiro tries again, running to the right to lead Obanai, but the Hashira attacks first, striking him in the chest and mocking him for being slow. As Obanai orders him to get up and attack again, Tanjiro realizes that “the most terrifying training ever just started.”
Sanemi harsh training
Sanemi is the next Hashira, like Obanai he’s rude to Tanjiro, who hasn’t forgotten that he stabbed Nezuko. Unsurprisingly, Sanemi training is brutal. He won’t give them breaks, or waits until they pass out until they are allowed to end the session. He batters Tanjiro so badly that he ends up with swollen checks, eye lids, and knuckles. After training Tanjiro encounters a meeting between Genya and Sanemia. He tells Genya to quick being a Demon Slayer because he has “no skills.” When Genya reveals that he ate demons so he could fight Sanemi attacks him.
Tanjiro steps in to protect Genya. They crash outside where Tanjiro begs Sanemi to stop. Sanemi claims that because killing Genya is against the rules he’s intends to harm his brother unless Genya quits. Tanjiro tells him that he won’t allow Sanemi to interfere with Genya’s life. Sanemi decides that he’ll just “hurt Tanjiro first.” Sanemi goes to punch Tanjiro in the stomach, but Tanjiro blocks it and counters with a kick to Sanemi’s neck. The two fight until dusk while Genya escapes. Tanjiro doesn’t finish his training with Sanemi as he’s banned from being in contact with him. Zenitsu and Tanjiro head to the next Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.
