Jujutsu Kaisen reveals the secret behind Yuji and Kusakabe’s body-swapping

After much speculation, the mystery of Yuji Itadori and Atsuya Kusakabe switching bodies in Jujutsu Kaisen has been solved in chapter 258. The recently leaked spoilers have shed light on the previously unexplainable panel from chapter 222.

Despite appearances, it is surprising that Gege Akutami’s explanations do not involve either Itadori or Kusakabe. In other words, the two sorcerers are not individually involved in the body-swap, as they lack the necessary technique to perform it. The individual responsible for the soul-swapping is an unexpected person whose unique Cursed Technique has its own set of limitations.

Note: This article includes spoilers for chapter 258 of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen: The Mystery of Yuji-Kusakabe’s Soul Swap Finally Revealed

Kusakabe as seen in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

The latest spoilers for chapter 258 were released today, and fans were eagerly waiting to uncover the truth behind the Yuji-Kusakabe Soul Swap mystery following the events of the previous chapter. As expected, creator Gege Akutami did not disappoint as he delved deeper into the highly debated conundrum.

In chapter 222, Yuji and Kusakabe were observed training in hand-to-hand combat. However, an unusual event occurred as Yuji referred to Kusakabe as “Itadori”and Kusakabe responded with a respectful “Yes, sir.”This led to speculation that they had swapped souls, possibly as a means for Yuji to enhance his fighting skills.

Despite initial speculation that Yuji or Kusakabe may possess the ability to swap souls, chapter 258 spoilers reveal that it is actually Ui Ui’s Cursed Technique (CT) that holds this power. However, he can only use it twice in a month and then must undergo a cooldown period.

Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

It is worth noting how the two were matched. Prior to the major battle, during the meeting of the Jujutsu High Sorcerers to discuss strategy, Hakari emphasized the significance of understanding Reverse Cursed Technique (RCT) and Domain countermeasures.

Choso contributed to the conversation by expressing his belief in Yuji’s ability to master RCT. With the help of Blood Manipulation and Yuji consuming the remaining Cursed Womb Paintings, the two could generate enough CE to use RCT without harm. Their exceptional constitutions also played a role in their success with the technique.

This is the location where Kusakabe offered to perform a Soul Swap with Yuji using Ui Ui’s technique. The purpose was to instruct Yuji in the fundamentals of CE Manipulation and Simple Domain. This would allow him to more easily utilize the techniques in the future, as long as he had received prior training.

Conclusion

Despite the popular belief that Yuji possessed the power of Soul Swapping, it was a shock to discover that Ui Ui was the one with this ability. The true extent of the blue-haired boy’s powers remained a mystery, with only his high CE, Simple Domain, and Teleportation abilities being known.

His character becomes even more intriguing with a reveal like this. Additionally, his participation in the fight has been equally significant, as he played a crucial role in transporting the injured to Shoko Ieiri, potentially saving those who may have otherwise perished.

Gege Akutami continues to surprise readers with each new installment, proving his storytelling prowess once again. As the story continues to unravel, there is no doubt that there will be more mysteries waiting to be uncovered.

The release date for Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 258 is scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2024, at 12:00 JST in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonon Jump Issue 22.