Trained by the former Thunder Hashira – Jigoro Kuwajima, Zenitsu was destined for greatness and his growth as a Demon Slayer is pretty evident in the series. Despite being the most quirky one out of Tanjiro’s friendship group, Zenitsu initially hidea a hidden talent, and it becomes clearer as the series progresses, how powerful he becomes.

In the series, he is introduced as a cowardly and weak character who is always in constant fear of being killed, even though he is a Demon Slayer. However, later on in the series, Zentisu’s power awakes when he is asleep, and he gradually learns to understand how to fully grasp his abilities, even while awake.

Related

Demon Slayer: All Thunder Breathing Techniques, Explained

Of all the breathing techniques in Demon Slayer, Thunder Breathing is one of the most powerful. Here’s every type of attack within this technique.

Zenitsu Vs, Kaigaku – A New Dawn Of Thunder Breathing

The Only Two Students Of Jigoro Were Destined For Greatness?

Jigoro Kuwajima was the retired Thunder Hashira, and took both Zenitsu and Kaigaku under his wing to train them to become the next potential Thunder Hashira. Even though he was over sixty years old at the time, he was dedicated to the cause and hoped to pass on his Thunder Breathing Techniques to the next generation of Demon Slayers. Even though Jigoro was strict in his teachings, he believed in both of his student’s students’ potential to succeed. While Kaigaku was clearly the higher performer, Zenitsu was more anxious and had very low-self esteem. Jigoro still believed that Zenitsu had the potential to become something more. Kaigaku was a natural at Thundering Breathing, and he was able to master all six forms of Thunder Breathing apart from the first form. Zenitsu, however, honed his skill with the first form and created several variations of this form.

Many years later, Jigoro finds out that Kaigaku chose to become a demon and this broke Jigoro’s heart, thinking that he had failed as a teacher. Unable to live with himself, Jigoro commits seppuku, which is a Japanese ritual suicide. Kaigaku chose to become a demon because he was obsessed with becoming stronger. He chose to become a demon over death and betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps. While Kaigaku rose through the ranks as a demon, Zenitsu rose through the ranks to become a powerful Demon Slayer.

Zenitsu – From Coward To Powerful Demon Slayer

It Took Some Time But Zenitsu Finally Lets His Abilities Awaken

Apart from his Thunder Breathing, Zenitus also had immense instinct and muscle memory. Because of his cultivation of the Thunder Breathing – first form, he was able to move at insane levels of speed and precision with perfect attacks. Zenitsu was also one of the characters in the series that never awakened their Demon Slayer mark, but he still proved that he was capable of much more than the average Demon Slayer, making him one of the strongest Demon Slayers of his generation. A prodigy in the making, Zenitsu proves himself to be not just a side character but a crucial character in the development of the series.

Zenitsu’s potential to become a Hashira was immense. Even after honing the first form of Thunder Breathing, he was able to create an entirely new form from Thunder Breathing, which only Hashira level characters such as Giyu and Muichiro could do. Thanks to his ability to create this form, he was successfully able to decapitate Kaigaku in an instant during their final battle, which was no ordinary feat. This means that Zenitsu was the only one who was truly able to carry on Jigoro’s legacy. Towards the end of the series, Zenitsu was seen to exhibit levels of abilities that were on par with a Hashira. While Zenitsu does not officially become the Thunder Breathing Hashira, he stayed true to Jigoro’s teachings and overcame his fears. In essence, Zenitsu did technically become the true heir to Thunder Breathing in spirit and in his lifetime, making him one of the most powerful and underrated characters in the Demon Slayer series.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Release Date

April 6, 2019

• 

•