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“	I hate myself more than anyone. I always think I have to get my act together, but I end up cowering, running away, sniveling. I want to change. I want to be a competent person.	”
	— Zenitsu Agatsuma, Episode 17

Zenitsu Agatsuma (我 (あが) 妻 (つま) 善 (ぜん) 逸 (いつ) , Agatsuma Zen'itsu^?) is one of the main protagonists of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and a traveling companion of Tanjiro Kamado. He is also a Demon Slayer in the Demon Slayer Corps.

Appearance

Zenitsu is a young man with fair skin and downward-sloped, scared-looking eyes that fade from soft brown to gold. He has short, yellow hair of varying lengths, cutting off squarely at the ends where it fades to a darker orange color, that falls in front of his face in uneven bangs. Before he became a Demon Slayer, Zenitsu's hair was originally black, but it turned the color it is currently when he was struck by lightning during his training.

For some time following the battle at Natagumo Mountain, his limbs temporarily shrunk due to Demonic poison but were able to return to normal afterward thanks to the medicine given to him by Shinobu Kocho.^[3]

He wears a paler brown version of the standard Demon Slayer uniform, which consists of a dark brown gakuran jacket, a white belt around his waist and hakama pants that extend, as well as his signature white-triangle patterned, yellow and orange gradient haori. As well as this, Zenitsu also sports a pair of tabi socks, tied at the front in 3 white bows, with the same pattern as his haori, and white-laced footwear.

Personality

Zenitsu comes off as a coward, as he often claims that he doesn't have long to live due to the dangerous job of being a Demon Slayer. He also has rather low self-esteem despite his strength, even considering himself useless as seen when he couldn't believe he had slain a Demon and tricked himself into instead believing that it was Shoichi, even though the latter was a young child who didn't possess any form of special Demon-slaying ability.^[4] Zenitsu is in a constant state of fear and always cries and tries to run away at the sight of danger, claiming he wants to live a modest, normal life, instead of that of a Demon Slayer.

However, despite these weaknesses, Zenitsu still wants to live up to the expectations others set up for him and will try his hardest when he needs to. He holds great respect and admiration towards his comrades and his deceased teacher, Jigoro Kuwajima, and his inner focus and drive in avenging him help to wash away his cowardice and second thoughts when he is in a pinch.

Zenitsu is also shown to be something of a wannabe womanizer, stemming from a desire to not be single should he be killed. He tends to hit on girls who he thinks are cute and asks them to marry him, much to their annoyance.^[5] This womanizing nature is shown to override his docile personality, in particular when he believes his comrades are "flirting" with cute girls, he soon snaps and goes in long hysterical rants and complaints. During these times, he is also shown to become physically aggressive, lashing out at them in frustration.^[6]

Before the raid on the Infinity Castle, Zenitsu gives off a different, more serious vibe as if he is focused on something important. This development occurred after receiving a letter from Chuntaro, which revealed his master's death and Kaigaku's role behind it.^[7] During his fight against Kaigaku, Zenitsu is stern and becomes enraged, causing him to angrily yell at him for disrespecting their cultivator.^[8] His sudden change surprises his ex-senior, as Zenitsu shows a more mature persona compared to his usual cowardice.

Abilities and Powers

Natural Abilities

• Enhanced Hearing: Zenitsu has a heightened sense of hearing, allowing him to detect danger from even the faintest of sounds. He can also hear people's thoughts and emotions if he uses his sense of hearing to its fullest potential. He can also use this ability to locate Demons by comparing the sounds produced by a Demons' body to those produced by a human. Zenitsu has also displayed the ability to decipher layers upon layers of sound in one of the brothels and even in the Infinity Castle.

• Enhanced Physical Prowess: As a Demon Slayer that could single-handedly defeat an upper moon, Zenitsu's physical capabilities can easily match the Hashira when combined with the use of the Total Concentration Breathing (全 (ぜん) 集 (しゅう) 中 (ちゅう) の呼 (こ) 吸 (きゅう) , Zen Shūchū no Kokyū^?) and soon the Total Concentration: Constant (全 (ぜん) 集 (しゅう) 中 (ちゅう) ・常 (じょう) 中 (ちゅう) , Zen Shūchū Jōchū^?) after the events of the Rehabilitation Training Arc. The members of the Hashira in general have incredible movement speed, all of them have displayed the capability to use blinding bursts of speed that make it seem like they teleported to even talented swordsman like Tanjiro Kamado. The Hashira also possess incredible physical strength, shown when a severely weakened Kyojuro Rengoku could hold down a an Upper Rank Demon with his bare hands, Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho who can leap great distances effortlessly and Gyomei Himejima who can move gigantic boulders with his bare hands. They also possess superhuman stamina and durability, being able to fight for nearly hours with severe injuries.
  • Enhanced Reflexes: While fighting the Spider Demon (Son), he was able to maneuver mid-air to dodge his poison attack. He is able to contest Daki's extrasensory perception and dodge her sash attacks which basically have no blind spot.
  • Immense Speed: Zenitsu is one of the fastest beings in the series. Even at the start of the series, his speed could easily evade the attacks and senses of several demons such as the Tongue Demon and Spider Demon (Son). As he progresses, his speed was enhanced to the point that his movements couldn't be comprehended and perceived by Upper Rank Demons, like Daki who harbors extrasensory perception, and Kaigaku, a user of the same breath style. Perhaps his biggest feat was when he could outmaneuver a weakened Muzan Kibutsuji and deal extremely significant amount of damage to him.

• Enhanced Mental Prowess: As a seasoned swordsman who underwent incredibly harsh and intense training, Zenitsu possesses above average mental capabilities. He could process information and think clearly at supernatural speeds, proven by fighting Upper Rank Demons, who can think at equally or slightly faster speeds. As another testament to his mental capabilities, he has incredible concentration abilities and wits. With an arsenal of techniques at his disposal, Zenitsu has to be really decisive and sagacious when using them, proven when he could hold his own against Muzan Kibutsuji and several other opponents.
  • Keen Intellect: Even when fighting unconscious, Zenitsu has displayed incredible judgement and intellect. When fighting consciously, this ability is enhanced even further. This able was best exhibited during his battle agaisnt Upper Rank 6, Daki. When Inosuke Hashibira made an erroneous deduction of her weaknesses, Zenitsu correctly explicated that all they need to do is keep both demons' head disconnected to correctly kill them. After his bout with Kaigaku commenced, he was able to clearly think and process his movements and demonic abilities.

• Unconscious Combat: Zenitsu becomes stronger when he sleeps. When his life is in danger, the fear he experiences exceeds his limits and makes him fall unconscious, which is when he reaches his true potential; when Zenitsu is asleep, he can perform his swordsmanship at a high level based purely on instinct alone. This ability allows him to fight even after he falls victim to Enmu's sleep spells. As the story goes on, he continues to improve his skills and courage and depends on this ability less and less, allowing him to fight while conscious.

Swordsmanship

Thunder Breathing (雷 (かみなり) の呼 (こ) 吸 (きゅう) , Kaminari no Kokyū^?): One of the five main Breathing Styles directly derived from the Sun Breathing. The Thunder Breathing combat style mimics swift strikes and movements of lightning and electricity and infuses it with the users swordsmanship. This combat style is very reminiscent of the real life sword style know as Iaijutsu.

It has been remarked by Zenitsu that this combat style focuses on channeling strength into the user's legs, and maximizing the output of every single muscle and blood vessel in them.^[9] There are six forms, but Zenitsu could only learn the first form said to be the basis for the others yet he honed it to where he could fight against several strong demons. He later created a seventh form and defeated his former senior who had become the Upper Rank 6 of the Twelve Kizuki.^[4]

1. First Form: Thunderclap and Flash (壱 (いち) ノ型 (かた) 霹 (へき) 靂 (れき) 一 (いっ) 閃 (せん) , Ichi no kata: Hekireki Issen^?) - Zenitsu unsheathes his blade, dashes forward and aims to decapitate his opponent. This technique is most reminiscent to Iaijutsu. Zenitsu has honed this ability to the extent of being able to repeat the dash multiple times in quick succession.^[4]
   • Six Fold (六 (ろく) 連 (れん) , Rokuren^?)^[10] - A compilation of the First Form with a series of six dashes.
   • Eight Fold (八 (はち) 連 (れん) , Hachiren^?)^[11] - Zenitsu dashes eight times within one use of this technique.
   • God Speed (神 (しん) 速 (そく) , Shinsoku^?) - Further augments the speed of Thunderclap and Flash. He is only able to use this ability twice a day. After the second time, his legs become useless. During the final battle against Muzan, Zenitsu is able to use God Speed more than two times.

• Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no kami (漆 (しち) ノ型 (かた) 火 (ほの) 雷 (いかづちの) 神 (かみ) , Shichi no kata: Honoikazuchi no kami^?)^[12] - This form is created by Zenitsu himself and is possibly Thunder Breathing's most powerful technique. Zenitsu's blade takes the form of a bright yellow dragon that seemingly emanates sparks of electricity and dashes forward at blinding speeds surpassing his God Speed technique and decapitates his opponent.

Battles

Trivia

• Zenitsu's surname means "my wife" (我妻, agatsuma^?), while his given name means "goodness" (善逸, zen'itsu^?). His first name contains the kanji for "good" (善, zen^?) and "special, unique" (逸, itsu^?)
• Zenitsu's rankings in the popularity polls are as follows:
  • Zenitsu ranked 2nd place in the first popularity poll with 4,299 votes.
  • Zenitsu ranked 1st place in the second popularity poll with 17,451 votes.^[13]
    • Zenitsu also appeared in The Promised Neverland's 2020 popularity poll, ranking 29th place with 44 votes.^[14]
• Thanks to his hearing, Zenitsu is very skilled at playing the shamisen and the koto.
• Zenitsu is a member of "Stylish Scruffy Democracy" band together with Tanjiro (Vocals), Inosuke (Taiko Drums), and Tengen (Harmonica). Zenitsu is the band's song writer and the Shamisen player. "Exploding skin and the melancholy of modern smell" is their debut song that made everyone who heard it feel dizzy and vomit non-stop. Zenitsu also wrote a song entitled "Previous Life's Sins".
• Zenitsu is the only non-Hashira Demon Slayer to have done feats specifically only Hashira have done:
  • Create a new, original form in a Breathing Style with multiple users (done by Giyu Tomioka).
  • Defeat an Upper Rank by himself (done by Muichiro Tokito).
• Zenitsu has an overbite.
• The pattern on Zenitsu's Haori may be inspired by Uroko, a traditional Japanese pattern that symbolizes scales. Samurai would wear clothing with this pattern to protect themselves from harm.
• After the events of the story, Zenitsu wrote a memoir entitled "The Legend of Zenitsu".
• Zenitsu is superstitious as he was shown to be delighted seeing two tea stalks in his tea in the extra chapters. In Japan, seeing Chabashira or a tea stalk floating vertically in your teacup when you have Japanese green tea is a sign of good luck.

Quotes

• (To Tanjiro Kamado) "So you were carrying such a cute girl with you... You were carrying such a cute girl with you every single day... and going about your journey with such joy... Give me back the blood I bled for you!!!"^[15]
• (To Jigoro Kuwajima) "But I love you, Gramps!"^[16]
• (To Nezuko Kamado) "I will protect you, Nezuko."^[17]
• (To Kaigaku) "Grandfather wasn't senile. If I'm scum, then you're trash. I feel sorry for grandpa for having such pathetic successors. I can only do the First Form and you can do everything except that!"^[18]
• (To Kaigaku) "This is my form. I created it, so it's all mine. With this technique... I wanted to fight you as an equal!"^[19]
• (To Tanjiro Kamado) "Tanjiro! Focus on staying alive! Can you hear me? Don't die! You can't die! Nezuko's gonna to be human again! And you're gonna get her out of here! And go back to the house where you grew up! Your family is waiting for you two to return!"^[20]

References