Chainsaw Man Wasted One Of Its Best Relationships, And The Author’s Early Work Proves It

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It’s been over three years since Chainsaw Man part 2 began, and it’s safe to say it’s sparked a lot of debate. Some fans think it’s just as good as the first part, while others feel it doesn’t measure up. Common criticisms include writing decisions some found questionable, characters that didn’t seem to grow much, and occasional inconsistencies in the art and action sequences.

One of the most common criticisms of Chainsaw Man part 2 focuses on the way Denji’s relationship with Nayuta is written. While people have different opinions on the matter, recent chapters (specifically 17-26 by Tatsuki Fujimoto) suggest that this relationship doesn’t add much to the overall story and feels unnecessary.

How Chainsaw Man Part 2 Completely Wasted Its Best Relationship

Following Denji’s defeat of Makima, she was reborn as a child named Nayuta, and Denji became her caretaker. Pochita explained that Nayuta wouldn’t follow in Makima’s footsteps if Denji could show her genuine love, setting up their relationship as a central focus of the next part of the story.

Interestingly, the second part of Chainsaw Man didn’t really explore the character of Nayuta much. She didn’t show up until the Falling Devil arc, and the story had already covered Denji teaching her about love before she was even introduced. This left her with little to do beyond simply being Denji’s younger sister.

Surprisingly, Denji and Nayuta didn’t spend much time together. Their interactions were cut short by the Church arc, which separated them. Even more shockingly, Nayuta was killed off-screen during the Aging Devil arc. This event was used to push Denji into a situation where he had to allow Pochita to take control, transforming him into the Hero of Hell.

Whenever Chainsaw Man showed the connection between Denji and Nayuta, it was obvious they had a strong relationship that helped them both improve. However, these moments were rare. Because Nayuta wasn’t featured much, it felt like her main purpose was to help Denji develop, rather than being a fully realized character herself.

Why Chainsaw Man’s Worst Relationship Worked Better In Its Original Story

It’s difficult to view the connection between Denji and Nayuta as meaningful, particularly when considering Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work from 2025. This collection includes his one-shot stories predating Chainsaw Man, notably Nayuta of the Prophecy. That story centers on Kenji, a boy who cares for his sister, Nayuta, who is believed by many to be a harbinger of destruction.

Although relatively brief, Nayuta of the Prophecy effectively portrays the evolving bond between Kenji and Nayuta. The story highlights Kenji’s challenges in understanding Nayuta’s wild behavior, but also his dedication to loving and guiding her, ultimately demonstrating that love is what allows Nayuta to thrive and behave normally.

I was really excited when Denji met Nayuta, because Nayuta of the Prophecy did such a great job showing how someone could teach a little demon about love. Honestly, I thought we’d get something similar with Denji and Nayuta’s bond. But it turned out their relationship felt surprisingly shallow – the original story it was inspired by actually had way more emotional weight and depth than what we saw between them.

Chainsaw Man’s Worst Relationship Highlights The Biggest Problem With Part 2

What’s most frustrating about Denji and Nayuta’s dynamic is that it really shows a key weakness in the second part of Chainsaw Man. The first part did a good job of giving almost every character a purpose and making us care about them, but the second part often forgets about both old and new characters, making everyone except Denji, Asa, and Yoru feel underdeveloped and unimportant.

Most of the characters introduced in the second part of the story don’t feel particularly important or engaging, and unfortunately, Nayuta suffers from this. Her connection with Denji was meant to be a central emotional element, but it’s difficult to care about their relationship because so much of it happened without being shown, including her sudden death.

The connection between Denji and Nayuta feels surprisingly weak in the second part of Chainsaw Man, especially considering the strong foundation their relationship had in Nayuta of the Prophecy. It’s reached a point where the series can’t really improve things, and new developments unfortunately seem to be making the problem even more noticeable.

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2025-11-13 22:21