There are plenty of moments throughout Demon Slayer between Tanjirou and Nezuko that prove their sibling bond is unbreakable. Growing up as the oldest children of a large family, the two were surrounded by love their entire lives. When Kibutsuji Muzan slaughters their mother and siblings and turns Nezuko into a demon, their lives are upended forever, and they must rely on each other more than ever.

On top of losing their entire family, Nezuko can no longer speak, has lost most memories of her human identity, and must tame her demonic hunger or be killed. They can never fully go back to the way they were before. But they still cling to the hope of restoring Nezuko’s humanity, protecting the world from demons, and finding a new kind of happiness together.

10

Tanjirou Refuses To Kill His Demon Sister

“Cruelty” (Season 1, Episode 1)

The first two episodes, some of the best episodes in Demon Slayer, were released in theaters as a movie event titled “Siblings’ Bond.” The surviving Kamado siblings’ bond is the emotional core of the show, and it wastes no time hammering that in. Giyuu believes that the only thing he can do for them, having arrived too late, is to mercy-kill Nezuko in front of her poor brother.

The image of a sobbing, terrified Tanjirou, trying desperately to talk Giyuu out of killing his sister while keeping the newly demonic Nezuko from biting his throat, is heartbreaking. But it’s not what convinces Giyuu to give the kids a fighting chance. Nezuko, despite having lost her memories and her human reason and sense, still finds it in herself to rein in her hunger and back off of her brother on her own.

9

Nezuko Wakes Up

“My Own Steel” (Season 1, Episode 5)

Even after Giyuu agrees to let the siblings begin the path to joining the Demon Slayer Corps, it’s still not a quick fix. Throughout the show, Nezuko is (often literally) right at her brother’s back, ready to support or protect him. But during his nearly two years of training to get strong enough for the Corps’ entrance exam, he’s alone, with only his trainer and occasionally some ghosts for company.

That whole time, Nezuko has been in an induced coma, receiving hypnotic suggestions to protect humans rather than eat them. The moment Tanjirou returns from his final test is the moment that Nezuko finally wakes up, and is just as happy to see him as she always was as a human, proving that they’ll be able to stay together safely. After all the stress and exhaustion of his training, it’s Nezuko’s hug that finally makes Tanjirou break down.

8

Tanjirou And Nezuko’s First Team-Up Against Demons

“Temari Demon and Arrow Demon” and “Together Forever” (Season 1, Episodes 9 and 10)

Once Nezuko has regained a good degree of control over herself, she’s able to join Tanjirou in battle against demons. Her sharp fangs and burgeoning Blood Demon Art are just about as effective against them as Tanjirou’s Nichirin blade, and the first time she gets to really show them off is when Muzan sends two of his demon minions after them. They’d be tough for Tanjirou to handle on his own, but good thing Nezuko is here to turn this into a double battle!

This is the first instance of the siblings fighting side-by-side. With both of them looking out for each other, they each only have to fight one powerful demon, but the fight forces both to grow stronger in a big hurry, Tanjirou getting sharper with Water Breathing and Nezuko regenerating a leg. Like her brother, Nezuko is unfailingly kind, and recognizes demons as worthy of sympathy as well even after such a rough battle.

7

Tanjirou and Nezuko Take On Rui

“Hinokami” (Season 1, Episode 19)

Many of the demons fought over the course of the series parallel their human opponents in some way. On Mount Natagumo, it’s steadily revealed that the many spider demons picking off the Demon Slayers are under the control of one of Muzan’s inner circle, the Twelve Kizuki. While the rest of the Corps handle Rui’s “family,” Tanjirou and Nezuko wind up taking on the boss himself.

Tanjirou flat-out says the theme of this fight: true familial bonds versus false ones. Rui is incensed at the family he’s created being called fake, even threatening to torture and brainwash Nezuko into his new “sister” once he’s killed Tanjirou. However, it’s Tanjirou and Nezuko’s teamwork that overcomes Rui, with Nezuko destroying his weapons so Tanjirou can land his attack: with their father’s Breathing Style, to boot.

6

Tanjirou Defends Nezuko From Sanemi

“Master of the Mansion” (Season 1, Episode 22)

There’s a good reason Tanjirou has to keep Nezuko a secret from everyone but those he knows he can trust: it’s not called the Demon Slayers Corps for nothing. When what they’ve been doing is discovered by their higher-ups, the pair are put on trial. Now, Tanjirou must make the case for his sister’s survival not to just one Hashira, but all eight plus the Corps’ leader.

Sanemi, who’s particularly vicious about their “destroy all demons” mission, is all for executing both on the spot, and stabs Nezuko. Tied up, outmatched, and severely outnumbered, Tanjirou still leaps up and attacks Sanemi to defend his sister, fueled by pure outrage. Nezuko disdaining Sanemi’s blood in front of everyone, proving her brother right about her, is just icing on the cake.

5

Nezuko Wakes Tanjirou From His Dream

“Should Have Been” (Season 2, Episode 3)

The theatrically released Mugen Train movie was a record-breaking hit for its thrilling action and emotional moments. Enmu, the demon attacking the train, has a particularly insidious method of subduing his prey: trapping them in dreams that fulfill their greatest desires. Tanjirou’s greatest desire, of course, is to be back in his peaceful mountain home, his whole family alive and well.

Nezuko, being a demon, is the only one left awake and able to realize what’s going on, doing her best to wake Tanjirou up. Though she isn’t able to free him from his dream, she gives him the resolve to free himself by reminding him of what is real and still alive: his bond with her and his mission to restore her humanity. Even outside the dream, they work seamlessly together, with Nezuko defending the sleeping passengers while Tanjirou hunts down Enmu.

4

Nezuko Evolves To Protect Her Brother

“Layered Memories” (Season 2, Episode 13)

Demons are an interesting species: some are able to grow stronger and develop new Blood Demon Art with experience and age. As it happens, Nezuko has quite a lot of potential, strengthening herself enough to count as one of the most powerful demons in Demon Slayer. Part of her Blood Demon Art is the ability to regenerate instantly, faster and stronger than other demons.

She unlocks this ability out of sheer rage at Daki about to kill an unconscious Tanjirou, rushing in to protect her brother and completely wreck Daki. Up until this point, Daki has been fearless and fully confident in her ability to beat a team of Demon Slayers on her own. Nezuko’s drive to protect her only remaining family insta-evolves her to the level of an Upper Kizuki and visibly frightens Daki.

3

The Kamado Siblings Defeat Daki and Gyutaro

“No Matter How Many Lives” (Season 2, Episode 18)

Their fight with Yahaba and Susamaru was an introduction to how well the Kamado siblings work together in battle, and fighting Rui made clear the power of their familial bond. The fight with Daki and Gyutaro is not only one of the best fights in Demon Slayer, but the most blatant parallel to Nezuko and Tanjirou in the show. Siblings who share their spot in the Upper Kizuki, Daki is usually the face of he pair; big brother Gyutaro only emerges from her body when she’s in danger.

Though they’re quick to blame the other when things go bad, deep down Daki and Gyutaro are protective of each other: their entire lives, they’ve been all they have. Watching them die, Tanjirou is brought to tears reminding them how much he can tell they mean to each other. In the afterlife, Gyutaro is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Daki’s, and Daki refuses to leave Gyutaro to suffer alone: no different than Tanjirou and Nezuko would do for one another.

2

Nezuko Powers Up Tanjirou’s Sword

“Bright Red Sword” (Season 3, Episode 5)

Siblings working together can empower each other in more ways than one. Nezuko has used her powerful and highly flammable demon blood to help her brother in battle before, but the stronger she gets, the better she can utilize her demonic powers. They very much come in handy in the lengthy battle against Hantengu, who can split himself into multiple powerful demons.

To best three of these demons, Nezuko cuts her hands on Tanjirou’s sword to coat it in her blood, and then uses her Blood Demon Art to fire it up, causing the Nichirin blade to change color to burning red. Not only does she give Tanjirou the power to unlock his mark and pull off a fiery triple beheading, she does this while being crushed under a pile of debris. Though for obvious reasons she’s quieter about it, Nezuko is just as determined as her brother.

1

Nezuko Conquers The Sun

“A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” (Season 3, Episode 11)

In the latest theatrical Kimetsu no Yaiba event, cinemas everywhere went bonkers at the most stunning fight between Demon Slayers and demons yet animated. Both Tanjirou and Nezuko try to stop Hantengu from eating a group of swordsmiths in the last seconds before the sun rises. Tanjirou is at his limits, and not only can’t reach the swordsmiths, but can’t stop Nezuko from flinging him aside to protect him and risk her own life in the sunlight.

When it appears that Nezuko has burned to death in the sun, Tanjirou is more upset than he’s been since the first episode. His grief is surpassed only by his relief when Nezuko pops back up not just fine, but smiling and speaking: the first demon in the history of demons to conquer the sunlight. Tanjirou is so overcome by this out-of-nowhere ray of hope that all he can do is hug his sister and keep sobbing out, “Thank goodness!”