Demon Slayer: How Strong Is Upper Rank 4, Hantengu?

Key Takeaways

Hantengu, the Upper Rank 4 demon, creates clones of himself representing different emotions with unique Blood Demon Arts.
Zohakuten, the fusion of Hantengu’s clones, can use all their abilities and manipulate wood, making him a formidable opponent.
Urami, summoned as a last resort, is a giant clone embodying resentment, sparking a final battle of wit and strength.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, let me tell you about the intricate and complex character that is Hantengu from Demon Slayer. This old-timer has more twists and turns than a Tokyo freeway during rush hour!

heads up: What follows may reveal plot points from the Demon Slayer manga. You can currently watch Demon Slayer on Crunchyroll.

In the third season of “Demon Slayer,” specifically the “Swordsmith Village Arc,” one of the demons that wreaked havoc in the Swordsmith Village was Hantengu, a demon belonging to the Upper Rank 4. Given his title, Hantengu is the fifth strongest demon overall (considering Muzan), making him incredibly tough to eliminate, even for the highest-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps. It wasn’t until Tanjiro, Nezuko, Genya, and the Love Hashira, Kanroji, joined forces that they were able to finally vanquish him.

Originally, Hantengu was a slimy criminal with a penchant for theft and murder, showing no regret or remorse for his actions. When people began to suspect him, he would feign innocence and try to elicit sympathy. At times, he’d come up with outlandish explanations such as blaming his hands for the crimes rather than himself, even going so far as to claim he was blind and thus incapable of committing them. However, these pitiful pleas ultimately failed him, leading to his capture and imprisonment.

From the moment I entered this world, truth has always been my guide, never once have I uttered a falsehood. Yet, I’m a gentle soul with little strength, and though I yearn for compassion, no one seems to share my plight. – Hantengu, in self-deception, overlooking his transgressions.

Hantengu’s First Line of Defense Are His Clones

Each Clone Represents One of His Emotions

In the opening of the Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc, there appears a seemingly weak and aged demon named Hantengu. However, this initial impression proves deceptive, as when a Demon Slayer beheads him, they’ll be startled to witness not his demise but rather the emergence of two younger versions from his decapitated body and head. If these clones are also beheaded, another pair will appear, resulting in four younger and stronger incarnations of Hantengu. The Upper Rank 4 demon, Hantengu, wields a Blood Demon Art known as Emotion Manifestation. This ability enables him to produce clones that embody his various emotions: Sekido (anger), Karaku (pleasure), Aizetsu (sorrow), and Urogi (joy). The primary Hantengu embodies fear itself.

Sekido (Anger), as you could probably guess, is the hothead of the group, being constantly mad or annoyed. His special ability is to generate electricity by stabbing his Khakkhara (a type of staff) into the ground. Using this technique, he can also summon lightning to strike his opponents.
Karaku (Pleasure) is the chillest member of the group. He didn’t seem to take the fights during the Swordsmith Village Arc seriously and acted like he was just playing with his opponents. His Blood Demon Art allows him to summon powerful gusts of wind using his giant Uchiwa (Japanese hand-held fan). The wind blasts are enough to level buildings and create massive craters in the ground.

Aizetsu (Sorrow) is constantly depressed, yet at the same time, the most level-headed of the group. Out of all of them, Aizetsu is the one who tries to analyze his opponents and spot weaknesses and patterns in their fighting styles. His Blood Demon Art gives him the power to shoot out beam-like projections from his Yari (Traditional Japanese spear) to strike opponents from afar.
Urogi (Joy) is the most giddy and insane demon clone in a group of insane demon clones. For some reason, Urogi has a body that’s half-man and half-bird of prey, with wings on his back and talons for hands. His wings are strong enough to allow for flight while using his talons to strike at his prey. Urogi’s Blood Demon Art turns his screams into powerful sonic waves that can deafen and stun opponents.

As a devoted fan, I can tell you that slaying these four clones won’t lead to more of them being born, but they won’t die either. The only way to truly defeat them is by locating Hantengu, the primary source, and striking it down one final time. Unfortunately, the main body has a peculiar ability to diminish in size, making it incredibly challenging to find. To add to the difficulty, focusing on the clones while searching for the elusive Hantengu will require every ounce of a Demon Slayer’s concentration.

When Backed Into a Corner, Two More Clones Emerge

Zohakuten, Hantengu’s Hatred

If the four clones aren’t sufficient to overpower his adversaries, Sekido – the embodiment of anger among the clones – has the ability to assimilate the other three clones, transforming into Zohakuten, a form personifying Hantengu’s malice. If you found the clones menacing before, know that Zohakuten can harness their Blood Demon Arts at his disposal and gain an additional one, enabling him to produce and manipulate wood from his body. In the Swordsmith Village Arc, Zohakuten predominantly employs this power to construct colossal wooden dragons to assault his foes. These wooden dragons he creates can also utilize the Blood Demon Arts of preceding clones, such as discharging lightning and emitting sonic shockwaves.

While these events unfold, don’t forget to search for the elusive Hantengu, since you can’t vanquish Zohakuten in the traditional sense. In fact, cutting off his head with a Nichirin Sword won’t have the desired effect, because at its core, Zohakuten is not its primary form.

Urami, Hantengu’s Resentment

Unlike other clones, Urami doesn’t originate from Hantengu through decapitation or absorption. Instead, Hantengu seems able to call him forth at will, using Urami as a final defense mechanism. Compared to the main body, Urami appears larger and more muscular. Furthermore, while Hantengu is cowardly, Urami embodies resentment and despises humans who seek to harm him, viewing himself as innocent. It’s suggested that like Zohakuten, Urami might possess the abilities of the initial four clones, but he has only been shown utilizing Urogi’s screech ability.

You can now stream “Demon Slayer” on Crunchyroll and Netflix. At this point, the release date for the upcoming “Infinity Castle Arc” of Demon Slayer has not been disclosed.

2024-12-01 05:35