Ways The Insect Hashira Has Improved Since Demon Slayer’s First Season

The Insect Hashira is one of the most captivating characters in Demon Slayer. Shinobu Kocho seems like a woman who can keep her cool, using her knowledge of poisons to destroy demons without expending too much physical energy.

In a mysterious introduction, fans see Shinobu utilizing a unique way to execute demons that doesn’t involve beheading them. Over the course of the series, they slowly get to learn more about Shinobu’s interesting character, including her quirky personality and her motivations for fighting against demons. She plays a major role in the Infinity Castle arc and becomes more interesting to watch over time, having grown a lot since her first appearance.

A Sympathetic Backstory

Loved Her Sister And Lamented Her Demise At The Hands Of Doma

Shinobi and Kanae were sisters who struggled to survive together, eventually being taken under Gyomei’s wing and learning to be adept demon slayers. They eventually became the Hashira of their respective Breathing Styles, but Shinobu’s beautiful relationship with her sister didn’t last.

During her adventures, Kanae comes across the Upper Rank Two Demon Moon, Doma. Despite putting up a valiant fight and making the demon fight until sunrise, Kanae received too many fatal injuries and passed away, leaving Shinobu alone. It’s a major moment in Shinobu’s past that strengthens her character and lends more weight to her scenes after this tragedy is revealed.

A Beautiful Bond With Kanao

Helped This Young, Abandoned Girl Feel Loved Again

During their adventures, the Kocho sisters came across an abandoned and traumatized girl named Kanao. Unable to fathom the horrid conditions she was dealing with because of her parents, the duo decided to take Kanao under their wing. She eventually bonded with the two sisters, learning Flower Breathing by watching what Kanae was doing and trying to replicate it. This makes her a powerful demon slayer in her own right. Her bond with Shinobu is fascinating to witness, and adds another layer of depth to the Insect Hashira.

Her Increasing Mastery Over Poisons

Spent A Year Absorbing Vast Quantities Of Wisteria Poison

Shinobu is one of the smartest characters in the series. To make up for her physical shortcomings, she uses poison against her opponents to great effect. Her knowledge of these poisons was shown at the end of the Mount Nagatumo arc. It’s clear that she has become more adept at using these poisons against demons, which is abundantly clear in her fight against Doma.

Despite being defeated, Shinobu had an ace up her sleeve that Doma wasn’t aware of. After she is killed and absorbed by the Upper Rank Two Demon Moon, Doma realizes that something is wrong with Shinobu’s body. It turns out that Shinobu had absorbed vast quantities of wisteria poison over the course of a year, leading to thirty-seven kilograms of this potent toxin coursing through her veins. This causes Doma to lose all his regenerative powers and leaves him in major pain, making him more vulnerable and prone to a final death.

Creating The Anti-Kibutsuji Drug

Helped Tamayo Devise The Drug To Make Muzan Vulnerable

Tamayo is a demon fighting for the side of humanity. She is trying to devise a cure that reverts demons to their human state, while also figuring out a way to deal with Muzan’s incredible might. She gets some help from Shinobu in this pursuit, who uses her knowledge of poisons and other materials to help Tamayo create the Anti-Kibutsuji drug. Without this alchemical decoction, it would have been impossible to take out the Demon King in the final battle.

Her Ever-Increasing Agility

Even Doma Had A Tough Time Keeping Up

It has been established time and again that Shinobu doesn’t boast the raw strength of other demon slayers. However, she makes up for it not only with her poisons, but also with her immense agility, allowing her to zip around the battlefield in a flash.

Her speed is so overbearing that even an Upper Rank Demon Moon like Doma had a tough time following her movements in battle. It’s yet another way that Shinobu shows her resourcefulness, making it clear why she deserved her position as the Insect Hashira.

Incredible Endurance And Will

Didn’t Stop Fighting Even After Suffering Grievous Injuries

Shinobu’s battle against Doma was a long time in the making. She wanted to take revenge for her sister’s death and prepared herself to deal with the immense might of this Upper Rank Demon Moon. It was clear that Doma’s strength was in a class of its own, with his attacks injuring Shinobu greatly. However, the Insect Hashira refused to give in to the pain. She fought Doma and pushed him to the very limit, even after she had suffered from numerous devastating attacks.

Revealing The Full Extent Of Insect Breathing’s Moves

Had To Pull Out All The Stops Against Doma

Insect Breathing is one of the most unique breathing styles in Demon Slayer, making up for Shinobu’s lack of physical power with agile moves and the use of poison. This allows her to decimate most demons with ease and bring the fight to Doma in a hellish battle.

Some of the more powerful Insect Breathing techniques she unveils against Doma are the Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon, and the Dance of the Centipede: Hundred-Legged Zigzag. The latter uses Shinobu’s momentum and is such a powerful move that it can apparently cleave a wooden bridge in half.