"Infinity Castle, The Fall of Upper Moon Three" Because he needed to work to support himself and the dojo, and lacked the time to care for h
"Infinity Castle, The Fall of Upper Moon Three"
Because he needed to work to support himself and the dojo, and lacked the time to care for his ailing daughter, he asked Hakuji to look after his daughter, Koyuki.
Hakuji, however, considered himself a criminal and felt unworthy of the task.
When he questioned his master's trust in leaving his daughter alone with him, a criminal, his master reassured him, "I've already dealt with the criminal you are; it's fine!" Afterward, Hakuji met Koyuki.
Seeing Koyuki's illness mirrored his father's suffering, Hakuji resolved to prevent a similar tragedy from befalling her. He decided to stay at the dojo and care for her.
During this time, Hakuji's gentle nature, revealed while caring for Koyuki, gradually won her affection.
However, still believing himself a criminal and never expecting anyone to like him, he remained unaware of Koyuki's feelings.
At 18, a nearby kenjutsu dojo frequently harassed the Soryu martial arts dojo, preventing them from attracting any students besides Hakuji.
However, through his daily life with Koyuki and his master, Hakuji gradually rediscovered his original self—a person who strived to protect others.
One day, his master summoned Hakuji to his room and asked if he would inherit the dojo. Initially confused, Hakuji was then asked if he would marry Koyuki, who had long harbored feelings for him.
Taken aback, Hakuji recalled his father's dying wish for him to start anew. He considered whether a criminal like himself could lead a normal life. He ultimately accepted his master's proposal, vowing to protect Koyuki and his master, even at the cost of his own life.
Shortly after they became a couple, Hakuji and Koyuki watched fireworks—something Koyuki, frail since childhood, had never been able to do before. Under the dazzling display, Koyuki confessed her feelings: before meeting Hakuji, she never thought she'd live to see fireworks; Hakuji, she said, had always encouraged her to live on, as if he could see into her future.
Koyuki then asked Hakuji to marry her. Without hesitation, Hakuji confessed his love, vowing to become stronger than anyone to protect her for life.
Days later, Hakuji returned to Edo to visit his father's grave before his wedding.
However, a sense of foreboding washed over him on his return journey.
His fears were confirmed; upon returning to the dojo, Hakuji learned from a neighbor that his master and fiancée had died.
Grief-stricken and confused, Hakuji investigated and discovered the truth: a nearby kenjutsu dojo, envious of the Soryu martial arts dojo's large land holdings despite having only one student, had poisoned the Soryu martial arts dojo's well because they couldn't defeat the master and Hakuji.
Unable to protect those he cared for once again, Hakuji's will finally shattered.
He attacked the kenjutsu dojo, killing 67 people with his bare hands.
Having nothing left to protect, Hakuji lost his way.
While wandering, he encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, who was investigating rumors of a demon's presence in an area without a designated demon territory. Muzan, initially bored at finding only a human responsible, was intrigued by Hakuji's exceptional strength.
Muzan easily defeated Hakuji and forcibly transformed him into a demon.
Hakuji, as a demon, gradually lost his memories, retaining only the obsession with becoming stronger. He became Akaza.
Recalling his past as a human, Akaza didn't notice his disintegrated head slowly regenerating.
Tanjiro then charged, punching Akaza's still-reforming face.
"You should try being human again, young man." Struck by Tanjiro's punch, Akaza recalled his master's words upon their first meeting, a smile on his face as he delivered a similar blow.
"I loathe the weak. The weak don't fight fairly, they poison wells. They lack self-control, give up on setbacks, and use the 'protective fist' to slaughter others. I've defiled Master's true Soryu with blood, betraying Father's last wish. I finally understand… the one I truly wanted to kill was…"
Akaza slowly raised his fist.
Tanjiro and Kyōjurō Rengoku's faces paled; the stance was the same as the one that had gravely injured Aoki on the Mugen Train.
Tanjiro rushed to stop Akaza, but the moment Akaza swung his fist, Tanjiro saw Akaza smile.
"Destructive Death: Bell Splitter!"
A deafening explosion followed, a thick, acrid fog engulfing Akaza. When the fog cleared, his body was shattered, resembling a skeleton, lifeless and covered in blood.
He had attacked himself.
Tanjiro was astonished and confused.
"He attacked himself? Why? Why did he attack himself? At that moment, Akaza released an aura of gratitude. What did that smile mean?"
Akaza's shattered body began to regenerate, the flesh writhing in a gruesome display.
But Akaza stopped the regeneration. "Enough. Stop. The battle is over. I lost. I lost completely. He used a masterful technique, defeating me fairly, perfectly predicting my movements, and swiftly countering my attack. He decapitated me before I could land my fatal blow."
"It's over. Let me go to hell."
"Father, Master, Koyuki… I'm coming."
Then, ceasing regeneration, Akaza's body turned to dust, vanishing completely.
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