Episode 44

DOGS HUNT DOGS (ＤＯＧＳ ＨＵＮＴ ＤＯＧＳ) is the 44th episode of Bungo Stray Dogs anime series and the seventh episode of the fourth season. It aired on February 15, 2023.

Summary
With the power of the Book's page in effect, Ranpo gets framed for stabbing Taneda, while the rest of the Agency are backed upon the corner by the military police. With Yosano grazed by a sniper attack, Tanizaki suggests surrendering given that they are innocent, though Ranpo thinks otherwise and warns them that the page's power must have altered their memories, to which Kyōka attests having memories of abducting and killing the hostages. As the MP corner him, Ranpo direly escapes through the window, leaving the rest of the Agency in grave disbelief.

As the MP deploys a knockout gas to ambush and capture the now-named terrorists, they soon detect one faint heartbeat and unable to confirm the other four. The squad storm in and find the five dead. With Kunikida having materialized an encrypted comm device and listened in on the MP's plan of attack, Yosano welcomes the squad, who figure that they must have bled themselves to lower their blood pressure and slow their absorption of the knockout gas. With the Agency near death, Yosano activates Thou Shalt Not Die and resuscitates the others, after which they incapacitate the squad and escape.

The MP HQ's captain prepares to go to the frontlines, but they are soon informed of a warhead incoming towards their direction. As it lands at their location, Fukuchi comes out unscathed and gets questioned by the MP of his affiliation. Upon answering light-heartedly, the MP lieutenant fires his gun, only for the bullet to be stopped by the man's subordinate, Jōno, using his bare hands. As the captain recognize them as the Hunting Dogs, the MP's most powerful force, two more pods land soon after, completing the four-elite lineup sans their fifth member.

After completing a phone call, Fukuzawa gets arrested by the MP. Meanwhile, the five Agency members manage to escape as far as they can. Kunikida anticipates the MP's next move to be more physical, hence worrying about their capabilities against the coming firepower and manpower. As the situation weighs on them, with Tanizaki frustrated that Naomi is being branded a criminal and them being labeled as criminals dawning upon Kunikida, Kenji recounts his village's ten-year orchard of having been devastated by a storm and analogizes it to the deluge that the Agency currently faces, where he reassures them to overcome the storm together as long as they live, motivating Kunikida to lead their strategy.

The Agency and the Hunting Dogs deliberate the former's next plan to either hijack a car down south or take the train up north. Kunikida chooses to escape by car for more minimal casualties compared to escaping via train should they come into contact with their pursuers; the Hunting Dogs split up to head north and south simultaneously. Kunikida and Kenji hijack a passing car, while Tetchō cuts through the forest to reach the road quickly. As he and Jōno bicker about personal preferences, Jōno listens to the ground and detects the Agency's getaway car.

Atsushi struggles to break away from his incapacitation, during which the MP arrives thinking they are reinforcements, only for the troops to corner and prepare to fire at him. The Agency discuss their next course of action, which entails hiding and acquiring intel, assuming there is still someone who can aid them, to which Yosano says that there is someone she can think of. As Tanizaki and Kenji voice out their intrigue, a third one inside the car likewise voices out his curiosity, who turns out to be Jōno.

Just as Jōno notices Kyōka missing, Kenji lands a punch on him, who effortlessly blocks his super strength. Jōno kicks him out of the vehicle, where Tanizaki activates Light Snow and drags Jōno out of the car to let the others flee. Jōno reveals having lured them out for Tetchō, the Hunting Dogs' strongest swordsman, to finish them off. As Tetchō brandishes his blade, Kunikida runs him over and picks up Kenji and Tanizaki. At the hostage incident site, Atsushi is rescued by Kyōka, who fills him in about their current crisis.

As Kunikida gets alarmed at having to face such a formidable opponent, Tetchō activates his ability, Plum Blossoms in Snow, and splits the Agency's car with his blade. Tetchō then fatally wounds Kenji and Tanizaki, afterwards cutting down Kunikida and his notebook before he can materialize anything. Kunikida soon comprehends that Tetchō's ability lets him quickly extend his blade. Jōno instructs Tetchō to decapitate Yosano, the so-called "Angel of Death", to further prevent healing them.

Kunikida surrenders on their behalf and to spare her life; Jōno remarks on Kunikida's relieved heartbeat upon the prospect of not having to worry about his ideals crashing someday, claiming that he shall be freed soon. As Tetchō's blade makes it way to kill Yosano, he gets attacked by gravity-manipulated bullets. Aboard a chopper, Chūya bellows out that he has come to pick up the Agency on Mori's orders.