Why does Asa have the War Devil in Chainsaw Man? Her and Yoru's union explained

Modified Nov 01, 2024 23:30 GMT

Yoru the War Devil (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

In Chainsaw Man, War Devil Yoru’s introduction into the life of high schooler Asa Mitaka' was a significant twist in the story. It depicted a mix of horror and psychological tension. Asa, a reserved and unsociable girl, witnessed her fate change drastically after a life-altering incident.

Following her death, Asa became the host of the War Devil Yoru through a contract, i.e., her life in exchange for giving Yoru control of her body. Their coming together is an alliance of necessity, sparked by Yoru’s aim to bring back the powerful Four Horsemen by eliminating Chainsaw Man.

As seen in the series, this partnership is far from ordinary, driven majorly by mutual goals, conflict, and a unique transformation that throws Asa into the chaotic world of Chainsaw Man.

Asa's death and resurrection in Chainsaw Man

As mentioned previously, when Asa breathed her last, Yoru appeared as a "saving grace." To elaborate, Asa was reserved and distant from her Fourth East High School classmates. Her class was further alienated when she accidentally killed Bucky the Chicken Devil, a beloved class pet. Attempting to cheer Asa up, the teacher and class president invited Asa to Bucky's grave to redress.

But it soon came to light that the class president was having an affair with the teacher. In a fit of rage, the class president used her powers obtained from the Justice Devil to try and kill Asa. She managed to get a serious hit, leaving Asa mortally wounded. Just then, Yoru the War Devil greeted the girl and offered her a contract: she would save Asa's life and, in exchange, take control of her body.

Asa accepted and was resurrected as the War Fiend. Yoru immediately took over and swiftly killed the teacher and the class president. Sometime later, Asa regained consciousness and was once more greeted by Yoru. The latter discloses that Chainsaw Man was attending the same school as Asa, and her goal was to defeat the Hero of Hell. Also, Yoru knew little of human society and thus chose to keep half of Asa's brain intact to keep her alive and act as a guide.

Asa and Yoru's relationship explored

Expand Tweet

Chainsaw Man depicts Asa Mitaka and Yoru’s relationship as quite complex. It lies in a grey area, blending the elements of a Hybrid and a Fiend. This has left fans of the series wondering what the true nature of their union is. As per the series lore, a Hybrid retains their human consciousness and can transform into their Devil counterpart, while a Fiend is just a Devil possessing a corpse.

However, the Asa-Yoru pairing does not fit either of these descriptions. Asa looks to have retained herself completely, i.e., her personality and memories. However, alongside her, Yoru has a distinct consciousness and can take over at will. When she does, Asa is yet conscious but is placed "behind" Yoru and witnesses everything that happens. This stands true for their physical relationship.

On the inside, Asa and Yoru share a complicated, symbiotic relationship based on clashing ideals and personalities. Asa is quiet and keeps to herself, while Yoru is forceful and battle-hungry, set on beating Chainsaw Man. As seen in the story, Asa holds on to her humanity and battles Yoru’s violent urges, leading to an ever-present internal conflict.

This shaky alliance showcases Asa’s struggle for control over her own self and her fate, with Yoru pushing her into morally testing and dangerous situations. It underscores a tug-of-war for control and identity between the pair, personifying a dual existence.