Jujutsu Kaisen: Akutami’s Clever Misdirection to Bring Back Nobara Involves Yuji’s Recollection of the Deceased

Despite being filled with unexpected plot twists, hidden references, and difficult to decipher clues, Jujutsu Kaisen has captivated readers with its unpredictability. Creator Gege Akutami has constantly kept viewers on their toes, leaving them unsure of what would happen next. And out of all the enigmas in the series, one of the most significant was the true fate of Nobara Kugisaki. It wasn’t until chapter 267 that her status, like Schrodinger’s cat, was finally revealed.

Once again, Akutami’s cleverness was evident. The mangaka skillfully kept the identity of the character a secret until the very end. The only piece of information known was that Arata Nitta had encountered her during the Shibuya Incident and had used his Cursed Technique (CT) Painkiller on her. However, her safety remained unconfirmed.

Following that, Akutami caused fans to experience despair with a specific panel in an earlier chapter, before ultimately revealing the truth in chapter 267 of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen: The Connection Between Akutami’s Misleading Description of Nobara’s Return and Yuji’s Memories of the Deceased

Yuji recalls the memories of the ones he lost along the way (Image via Gege Akutami, Shueisha)

In chapter 265 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Akutami led fans to believe that Nobara had died. The chapter focused on Yuji Itadori and Ryomen Sukuna in Yuji’s domain, where he had trapped Sukuna in order to have a conversation with him. During their conversation, Yuji shared his past with Sukuna.

As the monologue came to a close, the manga portrayed a group of characters who had passed away, including Gojo Satoru, Kento Nanami, Junpei Yoshino, Choso, and Naobito Zenin. Among them was Nobara. This evoked a sense of sadness in the fandom, who were still clinging onto the possibility of the return of the ginger-haired girl.

Despite fans losing interest, Akutami proceeded to add one more chapter to the story before revealing the big surprise. In Chapter 267, a well-known character with an eye patch appeared, holding a nail and a hammer, and standing in front of Sukuna’s last finger. She had made her long-awaited return, and at the crucial moment of the Shinjuku Showdown no less.

Akutami cleverly utilized Yuji’s flashback to deceive viewers into thinking that Nobara had met her end. This narrative was made even more convincing due to the lack of any updates on her condition after the Shibuya Incident. With her eye destroyed by Mahito and lying motionless on the platform after saying goodbye to Yuji, it was easy to believe that she had truly perished.

Furthermore, Arata remained uncertain about Nobara’s chances of survival. The explanation for how she ultimately pulled through may be uncovered in future chapters, but at present, it can only be speculated upon. It can be assumed that Arata’s Painkiller prevented the injury from worsening until the intervention of Shoko Ieiri’s expertise.

Despite being often overlooked, Akutami has demonstrated his mastery of deception and attention to detail in Jujutsu Kaisen, as many major plot points have been foreshadowed through subtle hints.

For example, Yuji initially relied on physical attacks, but he surprised fans when he started using Sukuna’s Shrine Techniques. This was foreshadowed earlier when Gojo mentioned that Sukuna’s presence in Yuji’s body would result in his CT being imprinted on Yuji, eventually allowing him to use the same techniques. This prediction came true as Yuji eventually gained the ability to use Sukuna’s techniques.

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Nobara’s return in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 267 makes perfect sense, and her role in the series is a key reason why