The Control Devil Reborn: Analyzing Nayuta’s Evolving Powers in Chainsaw Man Part 2

As a longtime reader of Chainsaw Man, one of the most fascinating things in Part 2 for me has been watching Nayuta grow into her role as the reincarnation of the Control Devil. When she first appeared, I honestly expected a smaller, quieter version of Makima, with the same powers and the same chilling dominance, just in a different body. But that’s not what we got at all, and that’s exactly why she’s so interesting.

Control Is Still the Core — But the Mind Behind It Changed

The basic rule of the Control Devil’s power hasn’t changed: control works on anyone the user truly believes is beneath them. What has changed is the psychology behind it. Makima’s strength came from absolute conviction. She looked at humanity like pets, and the world bent around that belief. Nayuta, on the other hand, feels more impulsive and emotional. Her sense of being “the boss” seems situational, almost childlike, but still terrifying when it clicks into place.

From a fan perspective, this actually makes her scarier in a different way. Makima was calculated; Nayuta is unpredictable. And unpredictability in Chainsaw Man usually means chaos.

The Chains Are the Same — The Output Isn’t

One of the most iconic visuals of the Control Devil is the chain ability. Nayuta clearly inherited it, but there’s a visible gap in scale. Makima could manage large networks of controlled individuals simultaneously, while Nayuta, so far, seems limited to only a few chains at once.

That tells me something important as a reader:

• Her potential is enormous
• Her current stamina and experience are limited
• Her fights rely more on quick domination than sustained battles

This gives her a glass cannon vibe, devastating in the right moment but not invincible.

Instinct Over Strategy: Senses, Smell, and Animals

Another trait that carried over is sensory perception. Nayuta recognizes people by scent, which allows her to detect devils or unusual presences almost immediately. But there’s a tonal difference here too. Makima used animals like tools, while Nayuta treats them like family. That small emotional shift changes everything and shows how environment shapes devils just as much as fear does, a theme that runs deeply through the story.

Why Nayuta Can’t Replicate Makima’s Power Yet

A question many fans debate is why Nayuta doesn’t simply control everyone the way Makima did. There are several believable in-story reasons that explain this difference.

• Makima had government contracts that made her nearly impossible to kill
• Nayuta doesn’t have those safety nets
• Strong-willed or powerful beings can resist control longer
• Other Horsemen and hybrids operate on a completely different level

This makes conflicts feel more grounded. Makima felt like an unstoppable system, while Nayuta feels like a powerful but still growing individual.

The Shadow of “Nayuta of the Prophecy”

Some longtime readers remember the one-shot story often associated with similar themes, which raises an unsettling idea: what if Nayuta’s current personality is only temporary? Part 2 keeps hinting that the world is heading toward something catastrophic. If she ever loses the one thing anchoring her emotionally, the Control Devil might return in a far more destructive form than Makima ever was. And that possibility hangs over every chapter she appears in.

Denji Is the Real Limiter

The biggest difference between Makima and Nayuta isn’t power, it’s Denji. He didn’t raise her to rule the world; he raised her to be loved. That changes the entire equation. Empathy and attachment weaken the cold superiority required for absolute control. Ironically, becoming more human might be the one thing keeping the Control Devil from becoming unstoppable again.

As a fan, I find that incredibly compelling. The strongest weapon in the story right now isn’t a devil contract, it’s emotional connection.

Read also: Is There a Main Villain in “An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29”?

Final Thoughts

Nayuta isn’t Makima 2.0, and that’s exactly why she works as a character. She’s messy, impulsive, affectionate, and occasionally terrifying in ways Makima never was. Right now, she feels like a storm that hasn’t decided where to strike yet, and in a series like Chainsaw Man, that kind of uncertainty is usually a sign that something huge is coming.

Personally, I don’t think the real question is whether Nayuta will become as powerful as Makima. I think the real question is whether she will still be the same person when she does.