Sukuna’s end in Jujutsu Kaisen and his backstory with Angel: a failed plan?

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268 marked the end of the Sorcerers vs. Sukuna battle, as Yuji managed to defeat and eliminate Sukuna. While the chapter’s standout moments were Sukuna’s defeat and Megumi’s recovery, some fans have expressed disappointment with how Sukuna’s downfall seemed to contradict the character development he had received throughout the series.

It has been widely acknowledged that Sukuna’s Heian Era narrative, hinted at during the Culling Games arc, still remains unexplored. Angel, who was sought out to release Gojo, was portrayed as having a strong connection to Sukuna, yet her backstory remains unknown. As a result, many fans have speculated that Gege may have overlooked this plot point entirely.

This article includes spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

The Forgotten Foreshadowed Story of Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege

From the start of the story, Sukuna and his entire journey leading up to his supposed “subjugation”at the end of the Heian Era were shrouded in mystery and meant to be uncovered.

Fans speculated that a “Heian Era flashback”would take place in the manga due to the numerous references to this time period and its significance to Tengen, Kenjaku, and other key characters in the story. It was believed that Gege would delve deeper into this plot point and provide extensive development.

Angel was one of the sorcerers who, along with other parties, directly confronted Sukuna during the Heian Era. She later entered the present age after making a contract with Kenjaku.

Kenjaku as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Angel’s overarching concept revolved around Abrahamic angels, utilizing her cursed technique to create a pillar of light that nullifies all cursed energy, ultimately laying the groundwork for the idea of a deity within the narrative.

The appearance and influence of Heian Era sorcerers like Uro and Ryu suggested that Gege may have been planning to create an arc or mini-arc focused on the Heian Era. It is plausible that this storyline was either overlooked or intentionally dropped by Gege.

Heian Era Sukuna as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Despite the increasing focus on action in Jujutsu Kaisen’s story since the Culling Games arc, the quality of its writing has not noticeably declined. However, the lack of payoff in the setup of a Heian Era flashback or arc is a disappointment in the overall story.

Despite its straightforward plot, Jujutsu Kaisen’s overall story is not lacking in complexity for Gege to potentially overlook a plot point that was being foreshadowed throughout the entire manga. It is plausible that he may have intentionally reserved the Heian Era for future spin-offs or a possible sequel after the series concludes in chapter 271.

Conclusion

The conclusion of Sukuna’s story at the hands of Yuji was depicted in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268. Although there are only three chapters remaining until the official end in chapter 271, it is likely that Gege Akutami has hinted at a potential continuation or spin-off of the manga in the final chapter with a plot twist.

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