Warning: Contains spoilers for Chapter 167 of Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man has been no stranger to controversies in the past, which is why it’s all the more surprising that it still found a new way to shock fans with the release of Chapter 167. One of Denji’s primary goals throughout the series has been to fulfill a base desire for intimacy with a woman. Though that may have finally happened in the series’ latest chapter, it’s in a way that might ultimately be traumatizing for everyone involved.

Chainsaw Man’s most recent arc sees Asa and Katana Man attempting to revitalize Denji so that they can fight him at full strength as Chainsaw Man. After an attempt to find a prostitute for Denji ends up fizzling, Denji’s frustrations with his sex drive reach a boiling point, prompting Yoru to offer a penectomy.

Now, in chapter #167 of Chainsaw Man, readers see Yoru and Denji in an alleyway. After Yoru grabs Denji to try and force a reaction out of him, her previously erased memories of kissing Denji return. This leads Yoru to attempt to make out with Denji. Though Denji does appear to kiss her back, his shocked expression throughout much of the encounter makes the situation’s consent unclear. Regardless, the fallout of Asa resurfacing at the end of the chapter to see the mess that Yoru created will have massive implications for the series going forward.

Chainsaw Man Chapter 167 is a Huge Turning Point for the Series

Whether the Events Were Traumatizing or not for Denji Will Prove Pivotal

Though the controversy surrounding Chainsaw Man chapter #167 is deserved, it’s unclear how series creator Tatsuki Fujimoto wants fans to interpret the events. The encounter between Yoru and Denji starts out hostile, with the latter unhappy about Yoru grabbing him. There is a strong possibility that this crosses a line for Denji and will force him to reckon with all the trauma he’s endured. Additionally, while Chainsaw Man has presented Asa as Denji’s true love, it’s more than likely Asa will be horrified by Yoru’s actions, hurting her and Denji’s relationship.

Complicating things even further is that Denji doesn’t know about Yoru. He has commented on Asa appearing to have two sides to her, but it’s clear that Denji sees this more as mood swings rather than two distinct entities. Given this, if Fujimoto does choose to follow up on the more traumatic angle of the events, then it could be setting up Asa to reveal the War Devil’s existence to Denji.

Chainsaw Man Chapter #167 May Not Be as Traumatizing as it Appears

Similar Encounters in the Past Haven’t Left Much of a Mark on Denji

Though the potential for drama is difficult to deny, there are also reasons to think that Fujimoto won’t necessarily portray the encounter as a bad thing, at least for Denji. Mid to late 20s Himeno offering to sleep with high-school-aged Denji was controversial in many ways, but is never really treated as such by the story. Given this, it’s possible that Denji will be more okay with the situation than initial appearances might suggest. On the flip side, contrasting the two situations by having Denji react negatively may be a great way for Fujimoto to show Denji’s growth.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say one way or the other at the moment. Asa and Denji would both be more than justified in feeling violated, but that’s no guarantee they will. Still, Asa’s uneasiness with intimacy and Denji’s past trauma hint that Yoru’s controversial actions in Chainsaw Man chapter #167 have crossed a line that will ripple throughout the rest of the series.