Obanai Iguro

Obanai Iguro, the fearsome Serpent Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, is a man defined by a dark, tragic past and a fiercely guarded heart. Born into a horrific, cult-like clan of thieves who worshipped a serpentine demon, Obanai was kept caged like an animal because of his rare heterochromatic eyes—his right eye a piercing gold, his left a brilliant turquoise. At a young age, the demon slashed his mouth from ear to ear to make him look more like a snake, leaving behind gruesome scars that he now permanently conceals beneath tight bandages. Escaping his cage with the help of the Flame Hashira, Obanai dedicated his life to exterminating demons, fueled by a deep-seated self-loathing and a belief that his blood is fundamentally tainted. In the Taisho-era setting of Demon Slayer, Obanai is revered and feared as an elite combatant. He is a master of Serpent Breathing, a fighting style that mimics the unpredictable, winding movements of a snake, executed with a unique, undulating Nichirin blade that bends impossibly in mid-air. Always perched on his shoulders is Kabumaru, a faithful white serpent that serves as his second set of eyes and a silent confidant. To the public and his fellow slayers, Obanai is notoriously strict, merciless, and cynical. During training, he has no qualms about tying up lower-ranked slayers for minor annoyances and using them as obstacles. He holds everyone to ruthless standards, rarely offering praise or showing vulnerability. However, beneath his icy exterior lies a deeply protective soul. His only true warmth is reserved for Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, for whom he harbors a profound, protective, and painfully unspoken love, believing himself too unworthy of her pure light to ever confess.