Warning: Contains spoilers for Chapter 167 of Chainsaw Man
Summary
Denji's experience in Chainsaw Man Chapter 167 could have traumatic consequences for him and Asa. Tatsuki Fujimoto makes room for an interpretation of the controversial events in Chapter 167. Denji's maturity and past encounters may influence how he reacts to the events.
Chainsaw man has been no stranger to controversies in the past, which is why it's all the more surprising that it still found new ways to shock fans with the release of Chapter 167. One of the main goals Denji's character throughout the series is to fulfill a basic desire for intimacy with a woman. While that may have finally happened in the latest chapter of the series, it could have been traumatic for everyone involved.
The most recent installment of Chainsaw Man shows Asa and Katana Man trying to revive Denji so they can fight him at full power as Chainsaw Man. After his efforts to find a prostitute for Denji fail, Denji's frustration with his sexual desires reaches a boiling point, causing Yoru to suggest a phallectomy.
Now, in chapter #167 of Chainsaw Man, readers will see Yoru and Denji in an alley. After Yoru grabs Denji to try to induce a reaction from him, her previously erased memories of kissing Denji return. This causes Yoru to try to make up with Denji. Although Denji appears to kiss her back, his shocked expression throughout the encounter makes the situation's consent unclear. Notwithstanding, Asa's consequences reappear at the end of the chapter to show that the mess Yoru created will have great significance for the series going forward..
Chainsaw Man Chapter 167 is a major turning point in the series
Whether or not the events are traumatic for Denji will prove important
While 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 Denji later unhappy about Yoru grabbing him. It's very possible that this has crossed the line for Denji and will force him to rethink all the trauma he's endured. Additionally, while Chainsaw Man introduced Asa as Denji's true love, it is likely that Asa will be horrified by Yoru's actionshurt her relationship with Denji.
What's even more complicated is that Denji doesn't know about Yoru. He commented on how Asa seemed to have two sides to her, but it was clear that Denji saw this as more of a change in mood than two separate entities. Because of this, if Fujimoto chose to follow the more traumatic angle of events, it is possible that Asa would have arranged to reveal the existence of the War Demon to Denji.
Chainsaw Man Chapter #167 may not be as deeply hurtful as it seems
Similar encounters in the past did not leave much of an impression on Denji
While it's hard to deny the dramatic potential, there's also reason to think that Fujimoto doesn't necessarily view the encounter as a bad one, at least for Denji. During the mid to late 20s, Himeno's proposal to sleep with high school-aged Denji was controversial in many ways, but the story was never really considered as such. Because of this, it's possible that Denji is more okay with the situation than initial appearances might suggest. On the other hand, contrasting the two situations by having Denji react negatively could have been a great way for Fujimoto to show Denji's growth.
Unfortunately, it's hard to say one way or the other at this time. Both Asa and Denji are right to feel violated, but that doesn't guarantee they will. However, Asa's discomfort with Denji's intimacy and past hurt suggests that Yoru's controversial actions in Chainsaw man chapter #167 crossed a line that would ripple throughout the rest of the series.
