YAIBA: How Yaiba Accidentally Created the Show’s Villain

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Summary

  • Yaiba’s relentless pursuit of a duel pushed Onimaru to become a demon and villain.
  • Yaiba’s stubbornness led to the release of the Fuujin Sword, endangering the world.
  • The show is essentially about Yaiba’s journey to undo the chaos he caused.

In the third installment of “YAIBA: Samurai Legend,” Onimaru’s transformation and destructive intentions escalated the conflict significantly. Yet, his reckless demolition of Sayaka Mine’s school echoes Yaiba’s less critical rampage from the previous episode, albeit on a smaller scale.

In a surprising twist, Yaiba’s determined and persistent character in the latest episode ironically triggers the sequence of events that ultimately leads to the emergence of the show’s main antagonist in “YAIBA: Samurai Legend“. One might even joke that Yaiba himself is entirely responsible for creating the very problems he must now solve.

Yaiba Taking Things Too Far

How He Pushed Onimaru to the Edge

It’s probably because he was raised in the jungle that Yaiba doesn’t understand personal space and pushes things too far sometimes. The initial episodes hint at this behavior, as Yaiba persistently demands something until he gets it. When Yaiba initially encounters Onimaru, the latter flatly declines to engage in a duel with him, finding him insignificant due to his perceived weakness.

I observe that Yaiba resorts to underhanded methods in an attempt to sway his stance, yet it appears these tactics yield no initial success. Over time, however, his persistence escalates to the point of stealing Onimaru’s training equipment, setting a deadly crossbow trap for him, and even attempting to entomb him in a pit in the ground.

Yet, Onimaru persistently declined the duel that Yaiba sought. But once Yaiba stormed into his home, causing chaos, Onimaru agreed to the fight challenge. The ensuing conflict between them brought devastation to the city, culminating in Onimaru receiving a blow to the head with a training sword, which led Yaiba to claim victory.

Following Yaiba’s underhanded strategies that shattered his assumptions, Onimaru is tormented by derisive apparitions of himself. These spectral images provoke him to act in rage, leading him unintentionally to unearth a demonic blade hidden beneath his ancestral lands. It was only the seething animosity towards Yaiba that drove Onimaru to grasp the sword, metamorphosing him into a demon and setting the stage for the main characters’ turmoil in the series.

Notably, Onimaru, contrary to his name, comes across as an ordinary, compassionate individual. He faithfully tends to his birds and manages his family’s property. Just like most of us, he responds to Yaiba’s jokes and mischief, striving to keep his cool while curbing the chaos. This modern portrayal suggests that if not for Yaiba’s antics, Onimaru might have never felt compelled to wield the demon sword or become possessed.

Becoming Chosen

Yaiba’s Journey to Undo What He Caused

It’s plausible that Yaiba’s impact on Onimaru was a catalyst for his transformation into a demon, but it might have been inevitable anyway. This theory is supported in episode 3, as Yaiba is the only individual in centuries to be chosen by the Raijin Sword as its master. Previously, Musashi Miyamoto had worked diligently to safeguard the sword, yet Yaiba managed to take it swiftly.

Not even a Deity of Thunder can outdo me… Reveal yourself, mighty Thunder Deity! Let’s engage in combat!” -Yaiba, brandishing the Raijin Sword.

Yet, Yaiba resists the sword’s power, avoiding being turned into a demon similar to Onimaru, only when Musashi halts his lightning attack does this happen. It was Yaiba’s headstrong nature that led him into this predicament, but it can’t withstand the might of the Lightning Oni by itself.

It appears that Yaiba’s mission to vanquish Onimaru and reverse the activation of the Fuujin Sword might lead him to alter his arrogant and inflexible behavior throughout his journey. This physical quest to perfect his new sword could symbolize a mental journey as well. If he had been more thoughtful towards others, perhaps the Fuujin sword and the demon-possessed Onimaru wouldn’t have threatened the world of YAIBA: Samurai Legend initially.

Yaiba: Samurai Legend can be streamed on Hulu.

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2025-04-26 16:44