If you’ve been following Tanjiro’s journey from the start, you probably thought you knew what to expect by the time you picked up Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5. Kid loses family. Kid trains hard. Kid fights a scary monster of the week. But honestly? This is the volume where Koyoharu Gotouge stops playing around. This is Mount Natagumo.
It’s dark.
Most shonen manga take a while to find their "real" stakes, but Vol 5 is a total gear shift. We move away from the relatively straightforward encounters with the Swamp Demon or Kyogai and get thrown into a literal deathtrap. It’s messy. It’s scary. It’s exactly what the series needed to prove it wasn't just another generic adventure.
The Mount Natagumo Nightmare
The atmosphere in Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5 is suffocating. Think about it. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke—who are basically still rookies at this point—are sent into a forest where senior slayers are being controlled like puppets. The imagery of the spider threads snapping necks and forcing comrades to kill each other is haunting. Gotouge's art style, which sometimes feels a bit scratchy or unpolished in the early chapters, actually works in its favor here. It adds a raw, jagged energy to the horror elements.
Rui is the standout. He’s the first Lower Five member of the Twelve Kizuki we actually see in a prolonged fight. He isn't just "evil." He’s obsessed with a twisted version of family, which serves as a perfect, dark mirror to Tanjiro’s devotion to Nezuko.
While Zenitsu spends a good chunk of the volume crying, his solo fight against the Brother Spider Demon is a masterclass in pacing. We finally see his backstory. We see the "Sixfold" version of his only move. It’s one of those rare moments where a character is simultaneously pathetic and incredibly cool.
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Breaking the Shonen Power Ceiling
A lot of readers talk about the action, but the real value of Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5 is how it handles power scaling.
Usually, in these types of stories, the protagonist wins through sheer willpower or a sudden power-up. While we do get the hint of the Hinokami Kagura toward the end of this arc, Vol 5 makes it very clear: Tanjiro is outclassed. He is almost killed. Multiple times. Inosuke, who thinks he’s the strongest guy in the world, is utterly humbled by the Father Spider Demon.
Then come the Hashira.
Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho show up, and the vibe changes instantly. It’s not a fair fight anymore. It’s a cleanup operation. Seeing Giyu effortlessly use the Eleventh Form of Water Breathing—a move Tanjiro didn't even know existed—flips the script. It tells the reader that as much as Tanjiro has grown, he is still just a small fish in a very dangerous pond. This volume establishes the hierarchy of the Demon Slayer Corps in a way that feels earned rather than explained through a boring data table.
Why Rui Matters More Than You Think
Rui’s "family" is a pathetic facade. He forces other demons to play roles—mother, father, brother—under the threat of literal shredding by his threads. In Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5, this isn't just a plot point. It’s a thematic heavy lifter.
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Tanjiro’s anger in this volume isn't just about survival. It’s about the insult Rui pays to the concept of a bond. When Rui tries to "claim" Nezuko, the emotional stakes skyrocket. This is where the series stops being about a boy trying to cure his sister and starts being about the fundamental clash of ideologies between those who cherish life and those who consume it.
Technical Details and Collectibility
If you’re a collector, Vol 5 is a cornerstone. Published by Viz Media in English, it covers chapters 35 through 43.
The cover art features Inosuke Hashibira, which is fitting since this is the volume where his "tough guy" exterior starts to crack, revealing the more complex (and slightly traumatized) kid underneath. For those following the "tankobon" format, the paper quality is standard Viz Shonen Jump—lightweight but durable enough for multiple re-reads.
There’s a specific nuance in the translation here too. The way the "Spider Clan" members speak highlights their desperation. They aren't loyal followers of Rui; they are victims. Paying attention to the dialogue in the scenes where the "Mother" spider demon accepts her death—calling it "a death as painless as the rain"—shows the poetic side of Gotouge's writing that often gets overshadowed by the big flashy sword moves.
Common Misconceptions About This Arc
Some people think the Mount Natagumo arc is too long. They're wrong.
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If you rush through Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5, you miss the subtle world-building. This is the first time we see the "Kakushi"—the cleanup crew of the Demon Slayer Corps. It’s the first time we realize that the Corps is a massive, organized bureaucracy, not just a few guys in the woods.
Another misconception is that Zenitsu is "useless" here. In reality, his fight in the forest is the first time we see him survive without someone else protecting him. He’s poisoned, he’s terrified, and he still executes. It’s the turning point for his character growth that carries through all the way to the Infinity Castle arc.
Actionable Insights for Readers and Collectors
If you're diving into this volume or looking to complete your set, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Pay attention to the background art: The forest of Mount Natagumo is drawn to feel claustrophobic. Look at how the trees and webbing frame the panels to make Tanjiro look smaller and more vulnerable.
- Contrast the breathing styles: This volume is the best place to compare Tanjiro’s "Water Breathing" with Giyu’s. You can see the difference in fluid motion and "stillness" that separates a student from a master.
- Track the injuries: Unlike many manga where characters heal instantly, the damage taken in Vol 5 has consequences. The recovery period that follows this arc is a major part of the next volume's plot.
- Check your edition: If you’re buying used, look for the first printings if you care about ink saturation. Some later digital-to-print runs can feel a bit "grey" compared to the crisp blacks of the earlier prints.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Vol 5 isn't just a bridge between the beginning and the end. It's the moment the series finds its soul. It balances the horrific reality of being a demon hunter with the genuine, heart-wrenching empathy Tanjiro feels even for his enemies. By the time you finish the last page, the stakes have been permanently raised. You realize that no one—not even the protagonists—is truly safe.
To get the full context of the power shift, compare the fight choreography in this volume to the Kyogai fight in Vol 3. You'll notice the movement becomes much more vertical and chaotic, reflecting Tanjiro's desperation. Once you finish Vol 5, move immediately into Vol 6 to see the fallout of the Hashira's intervention, as that's where the political landscape of the Demon Slayer Corps finally opens up.