Demon Slayer is set in a treacherous world where both demons and the Demon Slayers fighting them can suffer a tragic ending at any point. Due to this, fans are constantly nervous that their favorite characters could be victims during this battle between good and evil.
Consequently, many may be wondering whether the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, dies. Yes, Shinobu does die in Demon Slayer, but this was part of her plan to defeat Doma. Her ending came as a heartbreaking yet satisfying moment where she achieved what she had set out to do.
To understand Shinobu’s fate better, it is crucial to know the events leading up to it. As an elite Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinobu always had a bright face and hardly ever seemed to be agitated. However, this was a facade she put up to hide her intense hatred towards demons. These feelings stemmed from her losing many loved ones, including her elder sister Kanae, at the hands of the antagonists.

Soon after entering the Infinity Castle, Shinobu was taken to Doma, Muzan’s Upper Rank Two Demon. Since he was the demon responsible for Kanae’s death, she launched an emotionally charged attack against him. Despite Shinobu’s wishes to kill him, however, her Insect Breathing was not strong enough to overpower him. Additionally, while she specialized in poisons, they were proving to be ineffective against the demon.
Following a barrage of attacks that left little damage, the Insect Hashira was exhausted and suffered grievous injuries at the hands of her physically superior opponent. She finally fell to Doma as he absorbed her with a playful smile on his face. This ending seemed pointless and served to anger many fans.
However, the real genius of Shinobu’s plan was revealed once Kanao and Inosuke began fighting Doma after her death. While the two Demon Slayers were also having trouble against their opponent, they were soon presented with a huge opportunity to defeat him.

This happened because Doma’s body began breaking down in the middle of their confrontation. In a pleasant twist, the series then revealed how Shinobu had always planned on being absorbed by Doma. In preparation for it, she had consumed 37 kgs of wisteria poison, which was 700 times the lethal dosage for a regular demon.
Due to this, Doma was finally prone to injury, and Kanao and Inosuke could kill him with a combination of their Flower Breathing and Beast Breathing techniques. Hence, through her death, Shinobu set the foundations for Doma’s defeat and could avenge her sister.
Shinobu’s Final Fate in Demon Slayer
Even after Shinobu’s death, her contributions did not end. In the final battle between the Demon Slayers and Muzan, the Demon King was inflicted with a drug that made him rapidly age. Created by Shinobu and Tamayo, it weakened Muzan’s body and made it possible to damage him. This significantly helped in his eventual defeat and death.
In the final chapter of the manga, set several years in the future, Shinobu and her sister are reincarnated as high school girls who attend Sekirei Women’s Academy together.
Shinobu Kocho does die in Demon Slayer, but it was a calculated decision to kill the Upper Rank Two Demon Doma. After her death, she greatly contributed to Muzan’s defeat and was reincarnated along with her sister in the future.