What if Muzan had never killed the Kamado family?

Important takeaways

• Tamayo's blood art weakens Muzan, affecting the series' climax.
• Without the Kamado family massacre, Tanjiro's life would be peaceful and Muzan's focus would shift.
• Multiple survivors can lead to a new family dynamic, power discovery, and a different end result of the battle.

Anime has become a dominant force in global entertainment, offering a diverse set of stories that spark the imagination of millions. From epic battle stories down to heartbreaking moments of sacrifice, anime can only blend imagination with human emotion. Entering one of the most beloved series in recent years is Demon Slayerwhich tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado and his fight against demons.

A turning point in the story is the tragic massacre of the Kamado family that sets the story in motion. What if this event never happened? What if Muzan never targeted the Kamado family at all? In that case, this would presuppose that the entire act of Demon Slayer would have gone in a completely different direction.

No tragedy, no demon slayer

Muzan would never face Yoriichi reincarnation

If Muzan Kibutsuji had never killed the Kamado family, Tanjiro's life would have remained peaceful in the mountains. Then Tanjiro would not have embarked on a journey of revenge and demon slaying. Tanjiro would live his life by continuing to sell charcoal to help his family survive in that remote place.

Nezuko would never have turned into a demon, nor the tragic chain of events that followed, including Tanjiro's training under Sakonji Urokodaki. Without the massacre, the very reason Tanjiro joined the Demon Slayer Corps is gone, and the Kamado family is still complete, living an unpretentious but happy life. This calm scenario, as touching, would have released the world at large to the growing threat that was Muzan and had no determined hero to stop him in his tracks.

To gain immortality

Muzan's focus shifts to the blue spider lilies

If it wasn't for his fateful encounter with the Kamado family, and Muzan had managed to find the blue spider lily, his goal would have been different. This would make it quite instrumental in Muzan's quest for immortality. This would also insinuate that Muzan, with the Blue Spider Lily, may have further honed his demonic powers, making him much harder to kill. This would increase the threat to humanity in the long run, as Muzan's insatiable hunger to control everything would always reign supreme.

However, without Tanjiro being a direct opponent, there could have been other members of the Demon Slayer Corps who needed to take on this new challenge. Perhaps in this version it was Giyu Tomioka or another Hashira who would be at the center of the fight against Muzan's terror.

Another plausible scenario

More than one survivor from the Kamado family

What if more than one of the Kamado family survived the attack by Muzan? Completely opposite story would have developed if it was possible for Tanjiro, Nezuko or one of the siblings to survive the murder. A multi-survivor situation could finally give Tanjiro more emotional support on his journey into Demon Slayer world. Probably having another family member with him would work with Tanjiro's determination and motivation, probably giving a whole new perspective on why he fights. For example, Nezuko may not have been the only demon in the family; it would mean that others shared her fate. Such a plot would be filled with outstanding complications, such as how Tanjiro could possibly protect several demon family members from the various attacks of Muzan's forces.

In contrast, the other survivors would have created new alliances and demon blood art abilities in the process. The Kamado family could have found hidden strengths and various skills passed down through blood relations. The development would expand the family's connection to the story; perhaps those who survived would find that a latent power connected to their bloodline was the one that could have defeated Muzan.

Another path to Tanjiro's powers

Sunbathing was passed down for generations as a fixed ritual

Tanjiro's powers could have developed completely differently; it's possible he was still meant to be Yoriichi Reincarnations, so somehow he might still have awakened his demon slayer mark and gained the same powers even if it wasn't for the tragedy that befell his family. With the rich history behind the Kamado family, in a world where they wouldn't have been harmed, there is the possibility that Tanjiro could still utilize his solar breath techniques under different circumstances. Instead of desperation and loss, Tanjiro may have learned them through family traditions, passing down the ancient knowledge from generation to generation. In the different trajectory, Tanjiro might come to his powers in a much less traumatic and more considered way, creating a different kind of hero, motivated not by revenge but by duty.

They could have lived with the Kamado family still alive and learned to use breathing techniques related to solar breathing, among other powers unique to their bloodlines. They could have all been figures in the war against demons and brought different things to the table. Together, standing against Muzan, they would have been a massive force, and it would have changed the balance of this war between humans and demons.

Endless possibilities in Infinite Castle

Impact on the end

The end of Demon Slayer may also have been very different in the event that Muzan had not killed the Kamado family or if there were several survivors from that family. Much of the drive for Tanjiro to want to defeat Muzan is based on his desire for revenge, sparked by his love for Nezuko. In this parallel universe, where no such personal tragedy occurred, Tanjiro's motives may change – perhaps to protect the remaining members of his family or continue some family legacy. The final battle against Muzan may have taken a different form, with the Kamado family playing a more prominent role in the fight. Perhaps it was still Tanjiro who could have delivered the final blow, but it would have been under completely different influences-family ties rather than vengeance.

Additionally, the Kamado family's survival or their acquisition of new powers could have added new dimensions to the series' ending. Perhaps the combined strength of the Kamado family held the secret of how to beat Muzan and thus would have arrived at another final battle, with an even stronger resolution to the story, and perhaps some of the Hashira who sacrificed their lives would have been saved, and to and with Kanao maybe wouldn't have had to suffer so much to protect Tanjiro; there is a chance that Lady Tamayo was also saved.

The slaughter of the Kamado family was one of the most defining moments that really established the premise of Tanjiro's journey throughout Demon Slayer. Had Muzan never killed them, or if several members would survive, then the series would have gone down an extremely different path than it is. The growth that Tanjiro would have experienced, the commitment his family would have with him, and the final battle against Muzan would all change because of these opposing events. While the tragedy shaped him into the hero he became, one could argue that was interesting – how things might have been different if Kamado's family were in a place where they could stand as one and face whatever came from the demon world.