Chained Soldier, known in Japan as lead=yes, is a Japanese Webcomic manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by . It has been serialized on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ online platform since January 2019.
The series is set in a near-future Japan where portals to a dangerous dimension, called Mato, have appeared across the country. In response, the government establishes the Mato Defense Force (MDF), a special military unit composed of superpowered women, to protect humankind and fight the dimension's inhabitants. The story follows Yuuki Wakura, a young man who accidentally wanders into Mato and is rescued by Kyouka Uzen, a top-ranking MDF officer.
An anime television series adaptation, animated by Seven Arcs, aired from January to March 2024. A second season, animated by Passione and Hayabusa Film, premiered in January 2026.
By June 2025, the manga had over 5.5 million copies in circulation.
Plot
Several decades ago, mysterious gates opened across Japan, leading to an alternate dimension known as . Two notable things were discovered within: malicious creatures known as Shūki, who are hostile towards humans, and Peaches, which grant superhuman powers to those who eat them. Since only women can gain powers by eating peaches, gender inequality was eradicated and the world became matriarchal. To combat the Shuuki and establish a presence in Mato, the Japanese government took control of the portals and established the Mato Defense Force, a special paramilitary unit under the Japan Self-Defence Forces, tasked with protecting humanity and operating within the dimension.
In 2020, high school senior Yuuki Wakura is set to graduate and enter the workforce when he accidentally wanders through an open portal into Mato and is attacked by a horde of Shuuki. Kyouka Uzen, commander of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad, rescues him, but they are both cornered by increasing numbers of Shuuki. Kyouka offers to place Yuuki under her power, so he can fight on her behalf as a combat slave so they can survive. After the battle, Kyouka is forced to reward Yuuki for his efforts fighting the Shuuki, which, in his case, involve kissing and intimate physical contact.
Recognizing Yuuki's potential, Kyouka offers him a job with their unit after he graduates. Eager to become a hero and avenge his missing older sister, Yuuki accepts. The story follows Yuuki's service in the Mato Defense Force as Kyouka's combat slave and base caretaker, while he explores Mato and discovers its mysteries.
Characters
Mato Defense Force
The service branch that operates within and handles all affairs related to Mato, under the jurisdiction of Japan's Ministry of Defense. It is divided into nine operational squadrons, numbered one to 10 (omitting the number four), and an away unit tasked with exploring Mato and harvesting peaches for consumption. Each squadron is based in an area of Mato based on the eight main compass points, with the exception of the 10th Squad, which is located in central Mato and serves as the force's headquarters.
- Wakura Yūki
- A high school graduate, Yuuki serves as a base caretaker and frontline combatant for the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad. He was hired after wandering into Mato and being rescued by squad commander Kyouka Uzen. Yuuki seeks to become a hero and avenge his sister Aoba, who was lost in a Mato accident five years earlier. While he lacks superhuman powers, Yuuki can transform into a canine-esque Slave Form when under Kyouka's or Himari Azuma's power, granting enhanced physical capabilities; this form's appearance and abilities vary with his master. Outside of combat, he is highly skilled in domestic duties such as cooking and cleaning, and also has some basic self-defense skills.
- Uzen Kyōka
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad, Kyouka is the sole survivor of a Mato incident that destroyed her hometown. Dedicated to eradicating the Shuuki threat, she rescued Yuuki after he wandered into Mato and employs his abilities. Despite her serious personality, Kyouka is a caring individual who prioritizes the welfare of her squad. Kyouka's goal was to become the Supreme Commander of the MDF, and has achieved this goal as the current Supreme Commander-elect. Kyouka's ability, "Slave", allows her to enslave any living creature, enhancing its physical attributes for combat. She must also reward enslaved individuals for their service. Kyouka can also lend her slave to others, with the borrower having to reward the slave in her stead. She is also a master swordswoman, and primarily uses a .
- Azuma Himari
- Second-in-command of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad. Himari comes from the prestigious Azuma family, which has long-standing ties to the MDF and other organizations involved in Mato. Prudish and initially hostile towards Yuuki, her demeanor softens after he assists her in confronting and defeating her arrogant older sister. Her ability is called "Learning", and it allows her to learn and use the abilities of others who have consumed Mato Peaches by observing them, albeit with lesser power. Himari manages these copied abilities by toggling between them on a smartphone. She later powers up this skill, allowing her to rapidly cycle through abilities without having to manually switch between them.
- Suruga Shushu
- A member of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad. Having grown up primarily surrounded by women, Shushu developed a keen interest in Yuuki, whom she frequently teases. She developed genuine feelings for him after he supported her during a difficult battle, and she now strives to be seen by him as a romantic partner. Her ability, "Paradigm Shift", allows her to alter her physical size. She can grow larger, gaining proportional strength and endurance, or shrink for stealth. This power can be applied across her entire body or specific body parts, and also affects her clothing and personal belongings.
- Ōkawamura Nei
- A member of the Mato Defense Force's 7th Squad. Nei is eleven years old, and attends elementary school. She was separated from her parents in a Mato disaster, and was taken in by her grandaunt. Nei has enlisted in the Mato Defense Force to find her missing family. She forms a close, sibling-like bond with her squad's caretaker Yuuki. Her ability is called "Promise", which grants her clairvoyance. Nei can detect and observe targets and events in a large radius (in excess of 20 km), and acts as a dedicated scout for her unit. She can also allow others to see what she sees, by having them touch her while her power is active, and she can also show the point-of-view of any target whom she has previously touched.
- Izumo Tenka
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 6th Squad. Tenka is first introduced when a general order is passed down for all of the MDF's squads to work more closely together, and she discusses with Kyouka for their units to hold a joint training exercise. After meeting Yuuki, Tenka develops a huge crush on him, which progresses to head-over-heels love. She takes any opportunity to profess her love for Yuuki, even participating in some rewards despite not borrowing him as a Slave. Tenka also fantasizes about marrying Yuuki in the future. Her ability is called "Ame-no-Mitori", which grants her the power of spatial manipulation. Within a 50 km radius, she can create portals to travel between locations and obliterate her enemies, and enter restricted areas for espionage purposes.
- Azuma Yachiho
- Second-in-command of the Mato Defense Force's 6th Squad, and Himari's older sister. She frequently belittles Himari, urging her to return home, but this behavior masks a deep, obsessive affection. Her ability, "Golden Hour", allows her to manipulate time by striking a pose, enabling her to stop or rewind events for a limited duration. This power is used to gain tactical advantages, rescue comrades, or reposition during combat. Through training, she has extended the duration of this effect, though prolonged use is physically taxing.
- Wakasa Sahara
- A member of the Mato Defense Force's 6th Squad, Sahara is known for being constantly sleepy. Her ability, "Crazy Sheep", grants her enhanced physical strength for a predetermined duration between one and sixty minutes, with shorter durations resulting in greater power. Once the time expires, the ability enters a three-minute cooldown period. If she falls unconscious before the duration expires, she can continue to fight with increased power, though she becomes unable to distinguish between allies and foes.
- Bizen Ginna
- A member of the Mato Defense Force's 10th Squad. Ginna has an outgoing, sociable "party girl" personality and is a huge fan of the MDF, especially the squad commanders. She usually performs administrative duties within the corps, such as refereeing inter-squad matches and overseeing large-scale training exercises. She also collects autographs of her favorite personnel as a hobby. Her ability, “Ginna Club”, generates protective barriers that she must draw on the ground. Only approved individuals who have signed a roster provided by Ginna may pass through the barrier freely, and any injuries sustained within the barrier heal over time.
- Yamashiro Ren
- Supreme Commander of the Mato Defense Force and commander of its 10th Squad. Ren is described by her fellow commanders as extremely powerful, and an absolute patriot in Japan's defense. However, her extreme self-confidence borders on hubris. She takes an interest in Yuuki, aiming to make him submit to her, though her attempts often result in her own submission to him, embarrassing her. Her ability, "All-Encompassing Lord of the Cosmos", grants her eight distinct powers associated with different Buddhas, the full details of which are known only to her. Ren was defeated in the election for the next Supreme Commander of the MDF, and will hand over the position to Kyouka Uzen after defeating the Gods of Thunder.
- Tatara Konomi
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 1st Squad, Konomi is a high school student with a lively personality. She respects Kyouka Uzen as her senior disciple under the same martial arts instructor, and develops a friendly rapport with Yuuki. Her ability, "Beast Power", allows her to adopt and use the unique abilities of animals by drawing on her inner ki, which she can project as an aura surrounding her body. Konomi integrates her power with her mastery of Xing Yi Quan to defeat enemies in combat, and her power extends beyond living animals to extinct and prehistoric animals, mythical creatures, and even creatures with animalistic characteristics.
- Kamiunten Mira
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 2nd Squad, Mira is a former delinquent and gang leader from Okinawa. She is bold and aggressive, with ambitions to become the MDF's Supreme Commander, and views Kyouka Uzen as her primary rival. Despite her belligerent demeanor, she demonstrates a strong sense of camaraderie and kindness toward her comrades. Inexperienced with men, she becomes deeply flustered during intimate interactions, initially when observing Kyouka with Yuuki and later when in a similar situation herself. Her ability, "All-Killing", allows her to create clones of herself, which are just as physically powerful as her, but can only take a limited amount of damage before being destroyed.
- Tsukiyono Beru
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 3rd Squad, Bell is shy and reserved, and tends to shrink away from conflict. Previously bullied and having a poor relationship with her parents, she obtained a powerful ability after consuming a Peach, and was recruited into the MDF shortly after. Upon joining, she felt her power was insignificant compared to other commanders, severely impacting her self-esteem. However, she possesses a tenacious desire, and wishes to become braver and a better leader. She is particularly close with Supreme Commander Ren Yamashiro. Her ability, "Canopus", has a dual function: it can destroy any target by isolating and removing its life force, and it also grants her a healing factor which keeps her alive, regardless of her injuries.
- Ezo Yakumo
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 5th Squad, Yakumo comes from Hokkaido, and enlisted in the MDF to earn money to support her family. Cheerful and free, Yakumo is especially touchy with her fellow servicewomen, and has dreams of forming a harem consisting entirely of female MDF personnel. She gains an interest in Yuuki after borrowing his power, and decides to make an exception, allowing him to join her future harem. Her ability, "Night Storm", allows her to manipulate air. She can generate strong gusts and tornadoes to attack her foes, and control wind currents to transport herself and others fast distances.
- Waruwara Piripenko
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 8th Squad. Varvara is of Russian descent, and was born into a powerful Mafia family. Prior to graduation, her parents were arrested, and she was later recruited into the MDF. After meeting and training with Kyouka Uzen, Varvara developed a deep respect for her to the point of idolizing her. Her ability "Pantheon" first appeared as a void which would give her an edge over enemies. Later, it evolved into an alternate dimension resembling a cathedral dedicated to Kyouka. Pantheon's effects also changed, buffing Varvara and anyone who respects Kyouka, and debuffing anyone who dislikes or bears ill-will towards Kyouka.
- Azuma Fubuki
- Commander of the Mato Defense Force's 9th Squad. Fubuki is Himari, Yachiho, and Maia's mother, and is the current head of the Azuma family. A perfectionist, Fubuki is strict with her daughters, and wishes to see them produce results worthy of the MDF and the Azuma Family. However, Fubuki also cares deeply for her family, and wishes to nurture its younger members to be more caring and on better terms with each other. Her power is "Sunset", which allows her to summon a spear. The weapon increases her physical attributes while being wielded, with Fubuki being able to adjust its power output. She can also change the shaft's length at will.
- Myōga Riu
- Vice-commander of the MDF's 1st Squad, and its former commander. Riu is a veteran MDF servicewoman who has spent many years on the force, and has many years of combat and operational experience. She is also a skilled martial artist, and was the instructor to two of the MDF squad leaders, Kyouka Uzen and Konomi Tatara. In the series, Riu hands over leadership of the MDF 1st Squad to her protégé Konomi, while remaining as an adviser and vice-commander. Her power is "White Mausoleum", which allows her to summon a being from the afterlife to fight by her side. While active, both Riu and her summoned target gain a boost to their physical abilities. Riu usually summons her late husband, a swordsman, as her battle partner.
- Azuma Maia
- Vice-commander of the MDF's 9th Squad, Fubuki Azuma's eldest daughter, and Yachiho and Himari's elder sister. Maia has a serious personality, and is diligent in performing her duties and assisting her mother. She gets her moment in the spotlight during a joint training session with Yuuki Wakura, in which she is tasked with proving her resolve in a hostage rescue and protection mission (with Yuuki as the hostage). Outside of serving in the MDF, Maia is an avid gamer, and regularly streams her gameplay sessions online. Her power is called "The Great One", and allows her to create two hands which she can control at will, using any available material or even thin air.
Humanoid Shuuki
The Humanoid Shuuki are women who were victims of Mato disasters and were forced to eat peaches to survive the hostile environment. Due to the conditions of Mato, they underwent physical and mental changes, gaining powers and resembling Shuuki in the process. Despite their condition, most still retain vestiges of their original appearance and personalities. Their condition also enables them to command ordinary Shuuki and consume multiple peaches without adverse effects. Though initially hostile, they forged a truce with the MDF. Kyouka promised to change the organization's policies to help them once she became Supreme Commander.
- Wakura Aoba
- Yuuki's older sister, who disappeared in a Mato disaster five years before the series' events. While trapped in Mato, she consumed a Peach to survive, and had to fight to keep her senses through sheer willpower when she began mutating into a humanoid Shuuki. Aoba currently leads a small community of humanoid Shuuki that have settled deep in the caverns of Mato. As children, Aoba was responsible for training Yuuki in domestic chores and basic self-defense, and is incredibly possessive of him. Though she is initially hostile towards the MDF, Aoba eventually forges a truce with the 7th and 6th Squads, and strikes up a friendship with 6th Squad Commander Tenka Izumo. Her power, "Invincible", grants her prehensile hair. She can extend it to any length she desires, and use her hair in combat to attack or defend herself. Aoba also regularly consumes Peaches to boost her physical abilities.
- Zenibako Koko
- One of the humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command. Koko has a cheery disposition, and is good at looking after others. She also has a strong personality, and is obsessed with fighting. Initially hostile towards the MDF, Koko made peace with them after being abducted and then rescued from the clutches of the Gods of Thunder, and developed a crush on Yuuki. Her power, "Koko Juice", allows her to secrete slippery bodily fluids that make her harder to hit, and also imbues her saliva with healing properties.
- Yuno Naon
- One of the humanoid Shuuki under Aoba's command, Naon is a former model who lost her livelihood when she was involved in a Mato disaster. After being rescued, she was imprisoned by the Onmyou Agency, which experimented on her condition and barred her from seeing her family. Naon eventually managed to escape with Koko and other prisoners, and settled in Mato. Once hostile towards the MDF, Naon made peace with them after being abducted and then rescued from the clutches of the Gods of Thunder, and developed a crush on Yuuki. Naon is also precocious, and is constantly seeking ways to become beautiful. Her ability, "Hidden Beauty", allows her to become intangible, and hide or pass through solid objects and other living beings.
Eight Gods of Thunder
Also known as the Hachiraishin, they are a group who rule Mato and control the Shuuki. They serve as the overarching enemies of the MDF, and humanity in general. Their main goal is to bring ruin to the human world, as retribution for them invading Mato and harvesting its Peaches without their approval. Each member is incredibly powerful, requiring multiple MDF members to engage them on equal footing in combat. Of the eight Gods, only five are still active. Three of them have been defeated in battle by the MDF, with their physical bodies destroyed, and their spirits living on inside Yuuki Wakura due to him ingesting parts of them.
- 雷煉
- One of the Eight Gods of Thunder, and their only male member. Rairen is a confident, arrogant warmonger, and believes that all humans are beneath him in terms of strength and intelligence. Immensely strong and durable, Rairen has power over lightning and fire. He is first seen attacking the MDF's 6th and 7th Squads during their inter-squad training exercise. Though he manages to overpower most of the MDF personnel, he is defeated in single combat by Tenka Izumo, and has to be rescued by his fellow god Shikoku. Rairen's second encounter with the MDF sees him facing the members of the 7th Squad. Though he initially has the upper hand, Rairen falls to Bell Tsukiyono's Canopus power, and his physical body is destroyed. A small piece of his spirit lives on inside Yuuki Wakura, due to the latter biting and ingesting a part of his body in combat.
- 紫黒
- One of the Eight Gods of Thunder. Shikoku is one of their elder members, and is also their main strategist. She resembles a gorgon, with a snake motif on her kimono and live snakes in her hair. Shikoku has the power to manipulate these snakes to attack and poison her enemies, and also has the power to control darkness. Unlike most of the Gods of Thunder, Shikoku is fascinated by humans, despite seeing them as enemies, and enjoys human forms of entertainment such as video games.
- Jōryū
- One of the Eight Gods of Thunder. She has dark skin, and has features of an Eastern dragon such as scales and antlers. Despite her strength and power, Joryuu is stoic and rarely speaks, preferring to follow her fellow Gods in planning attacks on humanity. Joryuu has the power to manipulate the earth, and can also heal others through direct skin contact.
- Kūsetsu
- One of the Eight Gods of Thunder, Kuusetsu is one of their younger members. Unlike the other Gods, Kuusetsu did not originally have a human form, instead resembling an egg with feet and tendrils. She had to absorb other living beings to gain strength and power, brought to her by her fellow Gods. Upon absorbing Naon and Koko, Kuusetsu adopts a human form resembling both of them. Besides incredible physical strength and stamina, Kuusetsu can also adopt and copy the abilities and attributes of any being she absorbs. She encountered the MDF in Yokohama, and had her operation to abduct and absorb its citizens foiled. She was eventually defeated in battle by Kyouka Uzen, and all of her victims were rescued alive. Her spirit lives on inside Yuuki Wakura, due to forcing him to ingest some of her bodily fluids when she ambushed him while alone.
- 伏摩
- One of the Eight Gods of Thunder, Fukuma is one of their younger members. She has the power to shapeshift, changing her physical appearance to match anything and anyone. Fukuma used this power in an attempt to destroy the MDF by infiltrating their ranks, taking on the form of 3rd Squad Chief Bell Tsukiyono. Though she was successful in posing as Bell, she was found out by Yuuki Wakura, who devised a plan to ambush and expose her. Fukuma was eventually defeated in battle by Varvara Pilipenko and the members of the MDF's 8th Squad. Due to accidentally kissing Yuuki before being exposed, a piece of Fukuma's spirit entered him, and she now lives on inside him.
Media
Manga
Written by Takahiro and illustrated by ,
Chained Soldier began on
Shueisha's
Shōnen Jump+ online platform on January 5, 2019.
Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on March 4, 2019.
As of January 5, 2026, 20 volumes have been released.
The manga has been licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press.
Volumes
Anime
In November 2021, an
anime television series adaptation was announced.
It is produced by
Seven Arcs and directed by Gorō Kuji, with
Junji Nishimura serving as general director, Yasuhiro Nakanishi handling series composition, Ryota Kanō and Akira Kindaichi writing the scripts, Hiroyuki Yoshii designing the characters, and
Kohta Yamamoto composing the music.
The series was initially scheduled for 2023, but was later delayed,
and eventually aired from January 4 to March 21, 2024, on AT-X and other networks.
The opening theme song is "String of Dreams", performed by Akari Kitō, while the ending theme song is "Chain", performed by
Maaya Uchida.
Sentai Filmworks licensed and streams the series uncensored on Hidive.
A second season was announced on March 23, 2024, two days after the airing of the first season's final episode.
Episodes
Season 1 (2024)
Season 2 (2026)
Reception
By November 2021, the manga had over 1 million copies in circulation.
By January 2024, when the anime's first season aired, it had over 2 million copies in circulation.
By June 2025, it had over 5.5 million copies in circulation.
See also
-
Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father!, a light novel series with a manga adaptation illustrated by Yohei Takemura
External links
