In the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba series, Upper Rank 4 was killed twice due to the position being filled by two different demons. The original Upper Rank 4, Hantengu, was killed by Tanjiro Kamado with vital assistance from Nezuko Kamado, Genya Shinazugawa, and Mitsuri Kanroji. The second Upper Rank 4, Nakime, was killed by Muzan Kibutsuji after she was compromised by Yushiro.
The downfall of Upper Rank 4 represents one of the most complex tactical achievements in the series. Unlike other Upper Moons who rely on brute strength or singular abilities, both Hantengu and Nakime utilized environmental manipulation and psychological projection, making their defeat a multi-person effort. As of 2026, these battles remain the gold standard for coordinated combat sequences in shonen narrative structures.
Understanding the Upper Rank 4 Position
The Upper Rank 4 position within the Twelve Kizuki was unique because it transitioned from a demon of cowardice and multiplication (Hantengu) to a demon of spatial manipulation and surveillance (Nakime). Understanding who "killed" Upper Rank 4 requires a distinction between these two entities and the specific teams involved in their respective downfalls.
The Original: Hantengu
Hantengu held the position for over a century. His power was rooted in his extreme cowardice, which allowed him to manifest his emotions as powerful, younger clones. To kill Hantengu, one had to locate his "true" tiny body while fending off high-level combatants representing Anger, Pleasure, Sorrow, Joy, and Hatred.
The Successor: Nakime
Following Hantengu’s death during the Swordsmith Village incident, Nakime was promoted to Upper Rank 4. She was the master of the Infinity Castle, a shifting extra-dimensional space. Her role was strategic rather than purely offensive, acting as the defensive backbone of Muzan’s headquarters.
The Four Slayers Who Defeated Hantengu
The battle against Hantengu in the Swordsmith Village is the primary focus for those asking "who killed Upper Rank 4." While Tanjiro Kamado delivered the final blow, the victory was impossible without the synchronized efforts of four specific individuals.
1. Tanjiro Kamado: The Executioner
Tanjiro Kamado is officially the one who killed Hantengu. Throughout the battle, Tanjiro demonstrated his evolving mastery of Hinokami Kagura (Sun Breathing). His role was multifaceted: he used his keen sense of smell to track the real Hantengu and his sheer willpower to execute the final "Waltz" technique.
In the final moments, Tanjiro faced a moral crisis as the sun began to rise. He had to choose between killing Hantengu and protecting his sister, Nezuko, from the sunlight. Encouraged by Nezuko herself, Tanjiro used a combination of Thunder Breathing movements (learned by observing Zenitsu) and Sun Breathing to decapitate the core body of Hantengu.
2. Mitsuri Kanroji: The Tactical Shield
Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, was essential for the team's survival. She engaged Zohakuten, the most powerful manifestation of Hantengu’s hatred. Zohakuten combined the powers of all previous clones, utilizing wood manipulation and sonic screams.
Without Mitsuri’s incredible physical density and her Love Breathing techniques, the rest of the group would have been annihilated by Zohakuten's overwhelming area-of-effect attacks. Mitsuri was the only one capable of stalling a manifestation of that caliber long enough for Tanjiro to find the real body. Her presence marked the first time a Hashira utilized their Demon Slayer Mark in conjunction with Tanjiro's team during this specific arc.
3. Genya Shinazugawa: The Hybrid Support
Genya Shinazugawa provided a unique tactical advantage. Lacking the ability to use Breathing Styles, Genya utilized a double-barreled shotgun loaded with Nichirin bullets and a unique demonic physiology. By consuming the flesh of Hantengu's clones, Genya temporarily gained demonic powers, including enhanced strength and durability.
Genya’s role was to locate and pin down the smaller "main" body of Hantengu. He acted as a tank, absorbing massive damage that would have killed a normal human. His contribution allowed Tanjiro to focus entirely on the offensive without being blindsided by the clones’ regenerative abilities.
4. Nezuko Kamado: The Catalyst
Nezuko Kamado’s Blood Demon Art, Exploding Blood, was the secret weapon of the fight. Her flames specifically target demons and can "redden" Nichirin blades, increasing their effectiveness against high-level regeneration. Nezuko’s flames assisted Tanjiro in cutting through the exceptionally hard neck of Hantengu’s manifestations.
More importantly, Nezuko’s sacrifice at the end of the battle provided the emotional and physical opening Tanjiro needed. By pushing Tanjiro away to focus on the demon instead of her own safety in the sun, she ensured the threat was neutralized.
The Technical Breakdown of Hantengu’s Clones
To understand how the four slayers succeeded, one must look at the complexity of the "target" they were fighting. Hantengu was not one enemy, but many.
| Entity | Emotion | Primary Ability | Slayer Who Engaged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sekido | Anger | Electricity manipulation via Khakkhara | Tanjiro & Genya |
| Karaku | Pleasure | Wind manipulation via Uchiwa fan | Nezuko & Tanjiro |
| Aizetsu | Sorrow | Spear-based long-range attacks | Genya |
| Urogi | Joy | Sonic screams and flight | Tanjiro |
| Zohakuten | Hatred | Wood dragons and combined elements | Mitsuri Kanroji |
| Hantengu | Fear | Tiny size and extreme durability | Tanjiro (Final Blow) |
The battle required the slayers to manage these entities simultaneously. If any one of the four slayers had failed their role, the "main" body (Hantengu) would have escaped into the forest, eventually regenerating and continuing the slaughter of the Swordsmiths.
The Death of the Second Upper Rank 4: Nakime
The death of the successor Upper Rank 4 followed a completely different trajectory. While the slayers engaged her, the actual "kill" came from within the demonic ranks.
During the Infinity Castle Arc, Mitsuri Kanroji and Obanai Iguro (the Serpent Hashira) attempted to engage Nakime. However, Nakime’s ability to shift the rooms of the castle made it nearly impossible for them to land a decisive blow. They were effectively trapped in a loop of spatial manipulation.
The Intervention of Yushiro
The stalemate was broken by Yushiro, the demon assistant of Tamayo. Yushiro used his Blood Demon Art to infiltrate Nakime’s mind and vision. By placing a paper talisman on her, he gained control over her sensory input and, eventually, her control over the Infinity Castle itself.
Yushiro’s goal was not to kill her, but to use her to force the entire castle to the surface, exposing Muzan and the other demons to the sun.
Muzan’s Execution
When Muzan Kibutsuji realized that Yushiro had taken control of Nakime, he deemed her a liability. In a display of ruthless pragmatism, Muzan used his telepathic link to the Twelve Kizuki to destroy Nakime’s brain from the inside.
While Yushiro "defeated" her tactically, and the Hashira provided the distraction, Muzan Kibutsuji is the one who killed the second Upper Rank 4. He crushed her head to prevent the slayers from using the castle's architecture against him.
Narrative Significance of These Deaths
The elimination of Upper Rank 4 (in both iterations) served critical roles in the progression of the Demon Slayer story.
- The Sun Resistance: Hantengu’s death was the backdrop for the most significant revelation in the series: Nezuko’s ability to survive the sun. This event shifted Muzan’s entire focus from finding the Blue Spider Lily to capturing Nezuko.
- The Marking of the Hashira: The fight against Hantengu was the first time multiple slayers manifested the "Demon Slayer Mark" simultaneously, signaling the beginning of the end for the Kizuki.
- The Fall of the Infinity Castle: Nakime’s death led to the physical collapse of the Infinity Castle, forcing the final confrontation into the streets of Tokyo and beginning the "Sunrise Countdown" arc.
Strategic Comparison: Hantengu vs. Nakime
The two battles represent the two different types of challenges found in high-level demon hunting: attrition and infiltration.
- Hantengu (Attrition): The slayers had to exhaust their stamina fighting endless manifestations until the core body was found. This required physical strength and the "Breath of the Sun."
- Nakime (Infiltration): Physical strength was useless against her. The battle was won through supernatural "hacking" (Yushiro) and psychological pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Tanjiro kill Upper Rank 4 alone?
No. While Tanjiro decapitated the final body of Hantengu, he would have been killed multiple times over without Mitsuri Kanroji holding off Zohakuten and Genya Shinazugawa acting as a shield. Nezuko also provided the necessary Blood Demon Art to enhance Tanjiro's blade.
Why didn't Nakime have a traditional fight?
Nakime was not a frontline combatant. Her strength lay in her utility and her connection to Muzan’s headquarters. Because she could manipulate space, a traditional sword fight was ineffective. Her defeat required Yushiro’s unique Blood Demon Art to bypass her defenses.
Is Genya considered a killer of Upper Rank 4?
Genya is credited as a major contributor to the defeat of Hantengu. While he did not deliver the final blow, his ability to consume demonic flesh allowed the team to survive the initial onslaught of the clones. In the official lore, he is recognized alongside Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Mitsuri for this victory.
Why did Muzan kill his own Upper Rank 4?
Muzan killed Nakime because she had become a "vessel" for Yushiro’s control. If Yushiro continued to control Nakime, he could have moved the Hashira directly to Muzan’s location or trapped Muzan in a disadvantageous position. Muzan preferred to lose a high-ranking subordinate rather than lose control of the battlefield.
What breathing style was used to kill Hantengu?
Tanjiro Kamado used a combination of Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura) and elements of Thunder Breathing (to increase his speed) to deliver the final strike to Hantengu’s neck.
Final Summary of the Conflict
The destruction of the Upper Rank 4 position was a turning point that led directly to the series' conclusion. The first death (Hantengu) cost the Demon Slayer Corps significant resources but yielded the secret to conquering the sun. The second death (Nakime) was a desperate move by the antagonist that ultimately signaled his lack of reliable allies. For fans and scholars of the series in 2026, these battles remain the definitive example of how diverse skill sets—from Mitsuri’s raw power to Yushiro’s tactical genius—are required to overcome the highest tiers of demonic power.
