The Impact of Kenjaku’s Statements and Megumi’s Awakening on Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ongoing Merger

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268, released last week, marked the significant conclusion of the Shinjuku Showdown arc. However, many fans expressed disappointment, as it left numerous unresolved plotlines and unanswered questions hanging before the manga’s impending end.

One major point of contention among fans is the apparent disregard for the threat posed by the merger activation. This was a storyline that had been built up for a considerable time but ultimately went unaddressed in the narrative. With only three chapters left until the conclusion, there are growing concerns regarding the story’s direction.

A fan within a popular Jujutsu Kaisen community on Reddit recently proposed an interesting theory about the series’ ending. They suggested that the merger may have already started unbeknownst to anyone, with Megumi’s awakening in chapter 268 and Kenjaku’s last words suggesting this possibility.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Fan theory posits that Sukuna may have activated the merger

Chapter 268 not only concluded the Shinjuku Showdown arc but also saw the long-awaited defeat of Ryomen Sukuna at the hands of Yuji Itadori, which some fans found anticlimactic.

For a long time, Gege Akutami built up the notion that the merger would be the climax of his masterpiece. Many fans anticipated this outcome after Sukuna’s defeat.

If the story progresses in this predicted direction, it could position Jujutsu Kaisen as one of the few shonen series to end on a dark and somber note.

Master Tengen as seen in the manga (image via Gege Akutami, Shueisha)

The merger in Jujutsu Kaisen refers to Master Tengen integrating with all of humanity in Japan, which could result in catastrophic outcomes, leading to the creation of a malevolent Cursed Spirit capable of wreaking havoc worldwide.

Kenjaku’s plan for over a millennium aimed at achieving this merger, believing it would optimize Cursed Energy to its finest form, hence allowing humanity to reach a new evolutionary stage.

However, Kenjaku later revealed that his primary motivation behind activating the merger was his own curiosity about its outcome.

Kenjaku as seen in the anime (image via MAPPA)

According to u/Adventurous_Dealer31 on Reddit, the merger may have already taken place, and the events depicted in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268 are occurring in a liminal space between dreams and reality, known as the Cursed Realm.

The user justified their theory by highlighting Kenjaku’s final claim that his will would be inherited, presumably referring to passing his will to Sukuna, who is key to activating the merger after consuming Tengen.

The user stated that while many fans may have overlooked this development amid the ongoing plot events, they believe it will come full circle in the upcoming chapters.

Additionally, they surmised that Sukuna might have activated the merger during his battle against the Jujutsu Tech sorcerers, particularly when he sensed his grip on Megumi weakening due to Yuji’s attacks, leading him to activate the merger as a failsafe mechanism.

In his final moments, Sukuna scorned Yuji, deeming him foolish and reaffirming that he would always be a Curse. While these words could merely be indicative of his disdain, they might hint that he foresaw his defeat and chose to embrace his curse by activating the merger, potentially taking humanity down with him.

The user’s theory also highlights Megumi’s sudden awakening in chapter 268 following Sukuna’s defeat, suggesting that this transition felt abrupt and disconcerting.

Thus, they proposed that the events unfolding after Sukuna’s death could merely be a dream sequence envisioned by Megumi while trapped within the merger alongside his companions.

Concluding their theory, the user suggested that if the narrative takes this route, it could lead to an ambiguous ending without a definitive resolution following the merger activation. This would, they believe, render the series’ abrupt ending more coherent.

If Gege Akutami pursues this storyline, it would certainly affirm Jujutsu Kaisen as one of the few shonen series to conclude on a bleak note, highlighting the villains’ triumph and the heroes’ downfall.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268: Yuji defeats Sukuna as Yuta’s ultimate fate is teased
Jujutsu Kaisen made a critical error during the Heian Era, and fans won’t forgive Gege
Why the controversy surrounding Sukuna’s death in Jujutsu Kaisen reflects the internet age