Hantengu

Hantengu was one of the Twelve Kizuki, holding the position of Upper Rank Four. He served directly under Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons. Despite his frail appearance, Hantengu possessed one of the most fearsome and complex Blood Demon Arts, allowing him to split into multiple powerful emotional manifestations, each with distinct personalities and abilities. He serves as one of the main antagonists (alongside Gyokko) during the Swordsmith Village Arc.

Appearance

Primary Form:

Hantengu’s base form is that of a small, hunched, emaciated man with a terrified and sorrowful expression. He has bulging eyes, long claws, and two large horns on his forehead. His body is covered in bulging veins and his mouth is often agape, weeping and mumbling about how innocent he is. His overall appearance evokes fear and pity, which contrasts dramatically with the terrifying power he possesses.

Clones (Emotional Forms):

Zohakuten

Hantengu’s Blood Demon Art allows him to create separate powerful demons, each representing a specific emotion he feels. These include:

1. Sekido (Anger): A tall demon with a fierce scowl and wild red hair. Wields a khakkhara staff that emits lightning.
2. Karaku (Pleasure): Appears laid-back, with long black hair and a carefree smile. Controls wind and uses a uchiwa fan.
3. Aizetsu (Sorrow): Somber and melancholy, with blue hair and a gloomy demeanor. Wields a spear and attacks with precision.
4. Urogi (Joy): A manic, bird-like demon with wings, talons, and a high-pitched laugh. Attacks by flying and using sonic screams.
5. Zohakuten (Hatred): A child-like yet immensely powerful form created by merging the previous four. Controls wood-based attacks using a large drum and manifests dragon-headed wooden serpents.
6. Urami (Resentment): Hantengu's true essence and final hidden form—a tiny, shrunken demon that hides inside the heart of Zohakuten, representing cowardice and self-victimization.

Personality

Hantengu is defined by his overwhelming cowardice and self-delusion. In his base form, he perpetually sees himself as a victim, screaming about his innocence even while committing horrific acts. He refuses to take accountability for his actions, believing that punishment is unjust regardless of his crimes.

Each of his clones embodies a more refined emotion and expresses traits Hantengu represses:

• Sekido is domineering and enraged, constantly accusing others.
• Karaku is relaxed, finding enjoyment even in battle.
• Aizetsu wallows in misery and gloom.
• Urogi is giddy, loving the chaos of combat.
• Zohakuten is wrathful and arrogant, seeing humans as inferior and justice as punishment.

Despite being an Upper Moon, Hantengu’s deep fear of death and punishment defines his choices. He is manipulative, deceitful, and ultimately cowardly to the very end.

Story

Backstory:

As a human, Hantengu was a deranged criminal who committed numerous atrocities, including murder and theft. However, he never saw himself as guilty and would always cry out for mercy, claiming to be innocent. His delusional mindset was so extreme that, even after being executed, he was transformed into a demon by Muzan.

The trauma of death and punishment left a permanent imprint on Hantengu’s psyche, manifesting in his fear-based Blood Demon Art that allowed him to divide and avoid death by hiding his true self.

During Demon Slayer:

Hantengu is sent alongside Gyokko to attack the hidden Swordsmith Village, aiming to halt the production of Nichirin swords used by the Demon Slayers. While Gyokko attacks the swordsmiths directly, Hantengu confronts the Demon Slayers Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Genya Shinazugawa, and Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira.

Upon being attacked, Hantengu splits into his emotional clones, making the battle increasingly complex. Each clone is powerful enough to fight a Hashira-level opponent, and even when destroyed, they regenerate or combine into the far more dangerous Zohakuten.

The fight pushes the Demon Slayers to their limits. Genya reveals his own partial demonization, Nezuko resists the sunlight for the first time, and Tanjiro awakens powerful new sword techniques. Despite their combined strength, the key to defeating Hantengu lies in discovering and destroying his true form—Urami, a tiny, hidden demon desperately running from the fight.

Tanjiro ultimately catches up with Urami and slays him just as the sun rises. Hantengu dies still crying about his “innocence,” even as his twisted past is revealed.

Powers and Abilities

As an Upper Rank demon, Hantengu possesses immense strength, regeneration, and durability. His unique ability to divide into multiple powerful entities makes him one of the most difficult demons to kill.

1. Blood Demon Art – Emotion-Based Cloning

Hantengu’s main ability is to manifest powerful clones of himself based on distinct emotions. When his main body is damaged, he splits into separate demons, each one as strong as a lower-ranked demon or Hashira.

Each clone has a unique weapon and elemental technique:

• Sekido (Anger): Controls lightning via a staff.
• Karaku (Pleasure): Uses a fan to generate devastating wind blasts.
• Aizetsu (Sorrow): Uses a spear with flexible, piercing attacks.
• Urogi (Joy): Aerial mobility, sonic screams, and talon attacks.
• Zohakuten (Hatred): Controls wooden dragons using drums, delivering large-scale destruction and defense.

These clones can recombine, further evolving into stronger forms or multiplying as needed.

2. Zohakuten – Hatred Embodiment

Zohakuten is the ultimate offensive manifestation of Hantengu’s emotions, born from the fusion of the other four clones. He resembles a young boy seated behind a large drum, with multiple dragon-headed wood tendrils that attack in synchronized barrages. These wood dragons can rotate, stretch, and slam down on enemies with overwhelming force.

Zohakuten is capable of sensing emotions and uses this to manipulate or taunt his enemies. He is the most dangerous and aggressive of Hantengu’s clones.

3. Urami – True Body

Hantengu’s real body is tiny, weak, and cowardly, making it extremely difficult to find during combat. He hides inside the heart of Zohakuten or within other clones, using his emotional creations to fight for him. This form is his greatest defense—if it's not destroyed, he can keep regenerating endlessly.

4. Regeneration and Durability

All of Hantengu’s clones and his main body have Upper Rank regeneration, rapidly healing from attacks and even partial dismemberment. However, once his real body is exposed, it becomes more vulnerable to a fatal strike.