The Cost of a Sequel: Yuta Okkotsu’s Significance for Jujutsu Kaisen Fans

In Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 269, fans expressed their astonishment at the surprising return of Hiromi Higuruma and Yuta Okkotsu—two characters previously presumed dead during the Shinjuku Showdown arc.

During this chapter, Yuta, who many believed was permanently trapped inside Satoru Gojo’s body after Kenjaku’s cursed technique had burnt out, made an unbelievable comeback to his original body, a feat that few thought achievable.

Yuta explained that his return was facilitated by Rika, who apparently kept his original body intact. This revelation has sparked speculation among fans that this unexpected twist could potentially be a clever setup by Gege Akutami, hinting at a possible sequel to Jujutsu Kaisen.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Fan Theories About Kenjaku’s Return Inside Yuta’s Body

Since the announcement of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga’s conclusion on September 30, 2024, fans have been grappling with the reality that their cherished series will end abruptly, with numerous plotlines and unanswered questions still lingering.

This announcement prompted widespread theories that the manga could follow a similar path to Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man, which continued with a part 2 following the first part’s conclusion.

The excitement intensified with the release of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 269, where fans witnessed the unexpected returns of Yuta Okkotsu and Hiromi Higuruma, alongside the setup for a critical battle between the Gojo and Kamo clans, igniting fan theories that the series might not be finished just yet.

Yuta Okkotsu as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

A prominent fan theory shared on X suggested that Gege Akutami may have subtly hinted at Kenjaku returning inside Yuta’s body in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 269, raising the possibility of a sequel.

This theory was proposed by user @KashimoCT, who asserted that the individual inside Yuta’s body wasn’t actually Yuta, but rather Kenjaku in disguise. The user hypothesized that Kenjaku may have been the Body-Swapping cursed technique itself, with his brain merely serving as a diversion to conceal his true nature.

Before delving deeper into this theory, let’s revisit Yuta’s explanation for his extraordinary return.

Yuta and Rika as seen in Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (Image via MAPPA)

In chapter 269, Yuta revealed that his return to his original body was thanks to Rika. Initially, he thought that his connection to her had been severed when she didn’t follow him into Satoru Gojo’s body. However, he later discovered that Rika had been using the Reverse Cursed Technique to hold his body together post-treatment by Shoko Ieri.

After burning through Kenjaku’s cursed technique with Unlimited Void, Yuta found himself trapped inside Gojo’s body, feeling utterly powerless. He thought it marked the end of the road for him, confined within his teacher’s corpse.

Nevertheless, he realized that Kenjaku’s technique eventually recovered and entered a suspended animation state. Fortunately, he managed to reconnect with the external storage of his copied cursed technique, enabling his return to his original body.

Kenjaku as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

The theorist, @KashimoCT, highlighted Yuta’s state of suspended animation, asserting that it was actually Kenjaku who returned inside Yuta’s body, and not Yuta himself. The user reinforced this theory with another bold assertion, arguing that Kenjaku could indeed be the Body-Swapping cursed technique.

They further alleged that if it was genuinely Yuta inside his body, he could have easily healed the stitches on his forehead. Since he did not, the theory suggests that Kenjaku chose not to heal them as part of a Binding Vow.

This significant plot development at this point in the narrative would be hard to resolve in a mere two chapters, indicating that this theorized twist could pave the way for a sequel to Jujutsu Kaisen, addressing the ramifications of Kenjaku’s return.

However, most fans on X are skeptical about this theory, finding it debatable in several respects. Firstly, the notion of Kenjaku as a cursed technique contradicts his portrayal as merely a brain during the Shibuya Incident arc. Moreover, Rika was said to have consumed Kenjaku after Yuta killed him, enabling Yuta to copy the Body-Swapping technique.

Ultimately, the possibility of a sequel to Jujutsu Kaisen seems remote, especially since Gege Akutami has emphasized his commitment to creating a conclusive ending that satisfies the majority of fans.

This theory is certainly an intriguing take, especially as many fans are reluctant to see Jujutsu Kaisen conclude in such an abrupt fashion. Conversely, some fans are hesitant to entertain this theory as it suggests that a sequel could only materialize at the expense of Yuta Okkotsu’s life.

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