Akutami may have scrapped Merger to finish Jujutsu Kaisen in time, and Kenjaku’s Cursed Realm line proves it

Despite the announcement that the manga will end in late September 2024, there has been speculation within the fandom that the story of Jujutsu Kaisen is being rushed to meet this deadline. However, some fans argue that the pacing of the story may not actually be rushed, pointing to Gege’s previous statement that he had a clear vision and plan for the story from the very beginning.

In contrast, some have observed that the multitude of hints about the Heian Era, which ultimately led to no resolution, and the absence of a conclusion to Kenjaku’s true intentions, suggest that Gege may have discarded several plot points.

Despite lacking evidence, numerous fans have gone back to previous chapters of the manga and observed that Kenjaku’s previous mention of a “Cursed Realm”could be seen as a discarded plot point, as it was neither developed nor referenced in the later parts of the manga.

Please note that this article may contain spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Gege Akutami’s Potential Plot Points for the Ending of the Series

Kenjaku as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Despite the announcement of its ending in Chapter 271, the story and decision of Jujutsu Kaisen have faced heavy scrutiny. While the fandom has mostly expressed disappointment, fans have also pointed out the many unanswered plot points and unexplained phenomena within the series.

Moreover, a large number of fans have highlighted that the multitude of unexplored plot points, which were left as mere hints, suggest that the series finale is being hastily concluded and that Gege may have abandoned several of his intended plans for the series.

In the manga’s 160th chapter, Kenjaku encounters Setsuko Sasaki, a former high school classmate of Yuji’s, within a dream. He guides her out of the barriers where the Culling Games were intended to occur.

Yuji as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Despite being a setup for the start of the Culling Games arc, many fans have observed that Kenjaku appeared in a dream and spoke with Setsuko, referring to the dreamlike space as the “cursed realm”and acknowledging it as the boundary between dreams and reality.

Despite the speculation of some fans, the setup for a future reveal was ultimately forgotten and never mentioned again in the manga. Additionally, there have been observations made by fans that the term “cursed realm”may have been mistranslated. In the official translation, it is referred to as “the space between dreams and reality is a curse,”with no mention of a separate realm.

Despite being hinted at, the concept of a space between dreams and reality and Kenjaku’s ability to enter these spaces has not been fully explored. Its resemblance to Sukuna’s domain, which also creates a separate open space, has led many fans to believe that it was a significant plot point that was ultimately abandoned by Gege.

Conclusion

The highly anticipated Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 269 is scheduled to be released on September 15, 2024. Fans are eager to find out the fate of Yuta, who had been possessed by Kenjaku’s cursed technique while inhabiting Gojo’s body. Although Chapter 268 confirmed Yuta’s survival through the main characters’ conversation, there have been speculations among fans that he may be experiencing challenges with Rika at the moment.

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