Episode 12

**Katana vs. Chainsaw** (日 (に) 本 (ほん) 刀 (とう) VS (バーサス) チェンソー, *Nihontō Bāsasu Chensō*?) is the twelfth episode of the Chainsaw Man anime series.

## Synopsis

Akane sends the "Ghost Devil" after Aki, and he's nearly killed before the "Ghost Devil" stops and hands him a cigarette with a message from Himeno. The words inside give Aki the strength to kill the "Ghost Devil" and capture Akane. Meanwhile, Denji heads into his rematch with Samurai Sword. With a pull of the starter on his chest, he transforms into Chainsaw Man. And now, the last battle between Chainsaw Man and Samurai Sword has finally begun...

## Summary

While the Ghost Devil struggles Aki, he recalls a time with while dining with Himeno. She tries making him smoke and Aki finally accepts a cigarette, but notes she is terrible for making a minor smoke. Learning he is a minor, Himeno understands why he can't smoke and takes back her cigarette. She tells him that she will keep it and give it to him when he is grown up and needs something to take the edge off.

Ghost Devil releases Aki. it extends one of its hands and gives him a cigarette. Aki takes the cigarette and sees "easy revenge" written on it. Aki then puts the cigarette in his pocket. He stands up and takes his sword and walks towards the devil. He recalls that Himeno told him that since Ghost Devil doesn't have eyes, it can see only fear. He gets on the devil and prepares to cut its head. He tells Himeno that he will soon join her and then cuts off the Ghost Devil's head. Akane is surprised. She starts calling the Snake Devil but stops as Kobeni puts her knife on her throat, however, Aki tells Kobeni to not kill Akane. Aki then asks Kobeni why she remained in Public Safety and Kobeni explains that they will soon be getting bonus payments.

It the elevator, Denji sees Power eating a zombie's arm and finds it gross. Power states that meat is meat, and that pork, beef and human, are all the same. As Denji disagrees, the two are eager to start a fight. Denji states their job is to capture the Katana Man and it would be good if Power doesn't eat him. The elevator then opens the doors at the seventh floor and they see a group of zombies in front of them. Denji tells Power that the zombies haven't noticed them and they shouldn't make loud noises. Power grins and yells her name, challenging the zombies to a fight. She tells Denji to follow her and cover her back, however, Denji decides to remain in the elevator as the door closes, leaving Power to fight the zombies alone. Power fights the zombies, believing that Denji is behind her and will tell the tale of how powerful she is.

Denji reaches the thirteenth floor and as the doors open, he sees Katana Man with two of his men. Katana Man wants to talk and explains that depending on Denji's attitude, they are willing to surrender. He explains that Denji killed his grandfather and his men's friends and they want him to pay for that. Denji explains he did it because they turned into zombies. Katana Man doesn't believe it, but states that even if it was true, they still were once humans and wonders if Denji feels guilty for killing them, but Denji denies it. Katana Man then explains that Akane had done some changes on him and replaced his heart with the Katana Devil, however he couldn't sleep when he accidentally killed a zombie. He thinks that Denji lost his human heart and if he has any semblance of a human conscience left, he should let them kill him. Denji thinks for a moment but refuses the deal. Annoyed, Katana Man then states he will kill him and the two transforms.

Katana Man attacks Denji and they fly off the building and onto the roof of a nearby building. They proceed to fight from rooftop to rooftop until Denji falls on a train. Katana Man jumps on it too and states that Denji has become faster and wonders what he is fighting for. Denji states it’s to protect the life he has now. They keep on fighting and eventually fall inside the train, which stops due to the commotion they cause. Katana Man takes a stance that Denji recognizes, but sees a woman next to him. He tries stopping the Katana Man, but Katana Man doesn't stop and cuts Denji's arm. He then takes the stance once more and cut Denji's other arm. Katana Man states that Denji can no longer fight and asks him to apologize for killing his grandfather before he dies. Denji stands up, saying he can still fight as he has a chainsaw on his head. He rushes at Katana Man, who again takes his stance and the two exchange blows. Katana Man then asks Denji if his grandfather didn't teach him when to quit. In that moment, Denji's head chainsaw breaks. He asks him once again to apologize for his grandfather. Denji states he aimed as expected for his head, but that was stupid. In that moment, Katana Man splits in two. Denji then asks Katana Man if his grandfather didn't teach him that a beast should never trust a hunter. As Katana Man falls defeated in two, Denji reveals he turned his right leg into a chainsaw.

Katana Man soon awakens, finding himself tied up with a chainsaw chain to the train. Denji adds that Katana Man is the same as him and when he pulled off his katana, he turned back to one piece. Denji says he needs to wait until the police come, but there is something he is upset about. He killed Himeno and because of that there is one less pretty girl in the world. However, he will live his life in prison without regret. Denji doesn't find that fair and Katana Man tells him he can't do anything about it as he is Public Safety's dog. Thinking a bit, Denji states he will be holding a tournament. Aki shows up, wondering what he means by tournament. Aki reports to the rest that Katana Man is under control and explains their location. Denji asks Aki if he wants to participate in his ultimate tournament. Denji explains that Katana Man shot Himeno, so they should give him nut shots. They will be taking turns hitting his balls and whoever gets the loudest scream out of him before the cops show up is the winner. Aki sighs, stating that their job is to capture him and not torture him to feel good, as that won't make Himeno happy. Aki takes out the cigarette he got from Ghost Devil and looks at it for a moment. He puts it back in his pocket and asks Denji what he gets if he wins. Denji states he will naturally get his balls. Katana Man can't believe it and asks them to stop as they approach him. The two then start kicking Katana Man, wondering if Himeno can hear their requiem for her.

Makima reports that the terrorist attack was instigated by a former civilian devil hunter Akane Sawatari. She made a contract with Gun Devil and distributed guns to the yakuza. In return, the yakuza explained that Akane wanted the Chainsaw Devil's heart. Her superior wonders why she wanted his heart. Makima explains that before they could learn, the Snake Devil killed Akane. It was probably an involuntary suicide because of her contract with the Gun Devil. They also seized 1.4kg of Gun Devil flesh from the building and when they combined it with the 5kg they had, the new large piece finally started to move towards the Gun Devil itself. Makima's superior then wonders to where.

Sometime after that, after dinner, Aki goes on his balcony to smoke. He takes out a cigarette which ends up being the one with the "easy revenge!" writing. He looks at it for a moment and then lights it up and smokes it. Denji dreams of being younger and in a back alley. He sees a door and faces it. He notes he had been dreaming about this multiple times, but always forgets the dream after that. He hears Pochita's voice from behind the door and wants to open it so that he can touch him again. Pochita stops him, telling him to never open the door.

A woman wonders if Denji would prefer being a country mouse or a city mouse.

## Characters

* Ghost Devil *(Death)*
* Aki Hayakawa
* Himeno *(Flashback*)
* Akane Sawatari *(Death)*
* Kobeni Higashiyama
* Denji
* Power
* Katana Man
* Kishibe
* Shiina
* Furuno
* Angel Devil
* Makima
* Snake Devil
* Pochita *(voice)*
* Reze *(Debut)*

## Gallery

### Video Preview

『チェンソーマン』第12話「日本刀VSチェンソー」予告 - CHAINSAW MAN Preview