What if Muzan had never killed the Kamado family?

Key recommendations

• Tamayo's blood art weakens Muzan, influencing the climax of the series.
• Without the Kamado family massacre, Tanjiro's life would be peaceful and Muzan's focus would change.
• Multiple survivors can lead to new family dynamics, discovery of power, 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 fight stories to heartbreaking moments of sacrifice, anime alone can uniquely blend fantasy with human emotions. The entry into one of the most beloved series of recent years is Demon Slayertelling 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 hadn't targeted the Kamado family at all? In this case, this would imply that the entire action a Demon Slayer would have gone in a completely different direction.

No tragedy, no demon slayer

Muzan would never face the reincarnation of Yoriichi

If Muzan Kibutsuji had never killed the Kamado family, Tanjiro's life would have remained peaceful in the mountains. Then, Tanjiro wouldn't have gone on a journey of revenge and killing demons. Tanjiro will live his life by continuing to sell coal to help his family survive in that remote place.

Nezuko would never have been turned into a demon, nor would the tragic chain of events that followed, including Tanjiro's training under Sakonji Urokodaki. Without the massacre, Tanjiro's reason for joining the Demon Slayer Corps is gone, and the Kamado family is still complete, living an unpretentious but happy life. This serene yet emotional scenario would have freed the entire world from the growing threat that was Muzan, and had no determined hero to stop him in his tracks.

Gaining Immortality

Muzan's focus shifts to the blue spider lilies

Had it not been for his fateful encounter with the Kamado family and Muzan had managed to find the Blue Spider Lily, then his purpose would have been different. This would make him quite important in Muzan's quest for immortality. This would also insinuate that with the Blue Spider Lily, Muzan would have been able to refine his demonic powers even more, making him much harder to kill. This would greatly increase the threat to humanity, as Muzan's insatiable hunger to control everything will always be in check.

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

Another plausible scenario

More than one survivor of the Kamado family

What if more than one of the Kamado family survived Muzan's attack? The complete opposite story would have played out if it was possible for Tanjiro, Nezuko, or one of the brothers to survive the killing. A situation that includes many survivors could give Tanjiro more emotional support on his journey into Demon Slayer world. Having another family member by his side would most likely work with Tanjiro's determination and motivation, perhaps giving a whole new perspective on why he fights. For example, Nezuko may not have been the only demon in the family; that would mean others shared his fate. A plot like this would be full of singular complications, such as how Tanjiro could protect several members of the demon family from the various attacks of Muzan's forces.

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

A different path to Tanjiro's powers

The Breath of the Sun has been passed down through the generations, albeit ritually

Tanjiro's powers could have developed completely differently; it's possible that he was still destined to be Yoriichi's Reincarnation, so somehow he still could have awakened his demon slayer mark and gained the same powers even if it wasn't for the tragedy that befell on his family. Given the rich history behind the Kamado family, in a world where they would not have been harmed, there is a possibility that Tanjiro could still use his solar breathing techniques under different circumstances. Instead of despair and loss, Tanjiro could have learned them through family tradition and passed down the ancient knowledge from generation to generation. In that different trajectory, perhaps Tanjiro comes into his powers in a much less traumatic and more considered way, modeling a different kind of hero, motivated not by revenge but by duty.

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

Infinite possibilities in the infinite castle

The impact on the ending

The end of it Demon Slayer it may also be very different if Muzan didn't kill the Kamado family or if there were more survivors of that family. Much of Tanjiro's desire 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 has occurred, Tanjiro's motives might change – perhaps to protect his remaining family members or to continue a family legacy. The final battle against Muzan could have taken a different form, with the Kamado family playing a more prominent role in the battle. It might still be Tanjiro who could have dealt the final blow, but he would have been under completely different influences – family ties rather than revenge.

In addition, the survival of the Kamado family or the acquisition of new powers could have brought new dimensions to the end of the series. Perhaps the combined power of the Kamado family held the secret to defeating Muzan and thus would have come up with 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 even Kanao shouldn't have suffered so much to protect Tanjiro; there is a chance that Lady Tamayo was saved as well.

The slaughter of the Kamado family was one of the major moments that really set up the premise of Tanjiro's journey Demon Slayer. If it had never been the case that Muzan killed them, or if more members had survived, then the series would have gone down a very different path than it is. The growth that Tanjiro would experience, his family's involvement with him, and the final battle against Muzan would all change because of these counter events. While tragedy turned him into the hero he became, it's something that could be argued to be interesting – how things might have been different if Kamado's family had been in a place where they could be one and to face whatever came from the demon world.