Chainsaw Man Episode 10: Bruised & Battered

The episode opens in a hospital, the news grimly reporting on the recent massacre. Hayakawa Aki lies in his bed, a silent picture of despair, while Denji and Power are more interested in his fruit basket than his emotional state. Their loud squabble over an apple seems incongruous with the heavy atmosphere. As Denji lists the few survivors, Aki's expression remains hollow, absorbing the full weight of their losses.

Denji leaves an apple for Aki, a small gesture of care, before departing with Power. Alone, Aki summons the Curse Devil, seeking the truth about his remaining life. The skeletal devil confirms his fears, stating he has only two years left. His hands tremble, unable to light a cigarette, as the sight of a blue lighter triggers a memory of Himeno, prompting him to finally break down in silent, heaving sobs.

Denji returns for his manga, only to hear Aki's sobs from the hallway. He pauses, hand hovering, then steps back, acknowledging his own unsettling lack of feeling. He recalls Pochita's death, realizing he hasn't cried for Himeno, and questions if his human heart was lost in their merger. He imagines Makima's death, concluding, 'If Makima died, I'd probably be depressed for a while, but three days later I'd be having a great time again,' before dismissing such serious thoughts entirely.

Aki, composed once more, meets Tendo Michiko and Kurose Yuutaro, devil hunters from Kyoto, sent by Makima to train survivors. Meanwhile, Makima leads Denji and Power through a desolate cemetery, explaining the need for stronger hunters. She introduces Kishibe, a scarred, flask-wielding man who asks their loyalty. Their flippant answers about caring only for those who feed them earn them a 'perfect score,' a chilling validation of their 'insanity' in his eyes.

Without warning, Kishibe moves with terrifying speed, snapping both Denji and Power's necks. Makima watches, unbothered, as he revives them with blood, explaining their 'training' will be daily hunts. He proclaims himself the strongest hunter and his goal is to make them equally unstoppable. His challenge to 'attack him with everything you have' is less an invitation than a command, delivered with a stoic, detached menace.

A montage shows Kishibe systematically dismantling Denji and Power in relentless combat. He dodges their attacks, stabs Denji through the head, and slashes them repeatedly. Each time they fall, he revives them, continuing the gruesome cycle. Night falls, leaving them broken and exhausted, their bodies covered in blood and dirt. They limp home, complaining bitterly about the 'alcoholic old man' and his 'not fun' methods.

Back at the hospital, Aki attempts to summon the Fox Devil, but it refuses to appear. Tendo and Kurose explain the devil is now 'picky' due to his reckless usage, leaving him without his primary weapon. They offer him a choice: quit Public Safety or contract a new, much stronger devil. Aki's resolve, hardened by Himeno's death and his family's slaughter, remains unshaken. He agrees, ready to meet whatever entity they have in mind.

Inspired by Power's declaration that they can outsmart the 'damaged' alcoholic Kishibe, Denji agrees to fight with strategy. The next morning, both appear in glasses, believing this will confer 'intellectual' prowess for their 'Operation Super Intel.' Denji carries an axe, looking nervous, while Power exudes overconfidence. They wait in ambush by their apartment door, convinced their cunning will finally prevail.

Kishibe approaches, looking as disheveled as ever. Power initiates her ambush, thrusting blood spears through the walls, but Kishibe dodges effortlessly. Denji leaps from the balcony with his axe, only for Kishibe to casually kick him through a window. Kishibe lectures them on their failed strategy, pointing out his superior speed, and implants a knife in Denji's forehead. Power collapses from blood loss, their 'intellectual' plan crumbling within seconds.

Kishibe declares the training over, leaving Denji with the knife in his head, a painful reminder of his failure. Later, Aki reads letters Himeno wrote to her sister, her voice narrating worries for his safety. She recounts shared moments, her secret wish for their survival, and her deep care for him. Overwhelmed, Aki clutches a letter. He is then led by Tendo and Kurose to the Future Devil's cell, a dark, industrial facility where he must bargain for a new power, the heavy door slamming shut behind him.