His son is born horribly deformed — missing skin, limbs, eyes, ears, nose, and internal organs. The baby is placed in a basket and cast into the river to die.

… a feral, prosthetic-wielding boy (the same child, now called Hyakkimaru ) roams the land. He has blade-prosthetics for arms and legs, can “see” souls through supernatural perception, and hunts demons. He kills a demon guarding a ruined shrine, and his right eye regenerates instantly — each demon slain returns a stolen body part.

Meanwhile, a young orphan thief named (a brash, scrappy girl disguised as a boy) tries to rob Hyakkimaru but ends up following him after witnessing his power. They encounter a village plagued by a “false god” — actually another demon. Hyakkimaru kills it, regaining part of his leg. Dororo, initially dismissive, realizes Hyakkimaru is not just a monster but a tragic warrior.

If you enjoy this episode, you’ll likely appreciate the entire 2019 adaptation, which is darker and more coherent than earlier versions.