Yuji and Sukuna’s Development in Jujutsu Kaisen’s Shinjuku Showdown Arc Cements Akutami’s Authorial Skills

The purported spoilers for chapter 268 of Jujutsu Kaisen marked the end of the Shinjuku Showdown arc, as Yuji’s domain successfully removed Sukuna’s from Megumi’s body. While the final outcome of the battle has sparked varied responses, numerous fans have gone back to reexamine the arc and observed the shifting ideologies of Yuji and Sukuna during the fight.

Sukuna’s core belief centered on his own sense of self, prioritizing his own well-being above all else. However, as Sukuna grew closer to Gojo and Yuji adopted a similar mindset during the arc, his philosophy began to unravel.

Disclosure: This article includes information that may spoil the plot of the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuji and Sukuna’s Role Reversal

Sukuna as shown in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga (Image via Shueisha)

Despite being an entity unbound by humanity and cursed spirits, Sukuna never identified himself as a cursed spirit and always held himself in high regard, displaying his arrogance through his words and actions. He firmly believed that only he could determine his own worth and that others had no right to label or assign him any role or title.

Despite his arrogant dialogue and impressive abilities, he was known only as “Sukuna.”However, his overwhelming sense of self began to diminish during his battle with Gojo.

Gojo as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

This clash only fueled his desire to confront Gojo, making him more determined than ever before. Throughout the initial stages of the Sukuna vs. Higuruma battle, Sukuna showed little interest, as Gojo had already established himself as Sukuna’s ultimate rival.

Despite Sukuna’s resistance, Gojo’s constant taunting and formidable abilities gradually wore down Sukuna’s sense of self, ultimately leading him to see Gojo as someone he needed. In his final moments, Sukuna finally accepted his cursed nature and relinquished his former identity as “Sukuna.”

Yuji as shown in anime (Image via MAPPA)

While undergoing an opposite transformation, Yuji also experienced a simultaneous change. Initially, he saw himself as a mere “cog”in the world, devoid of any individual identity or worth. However, as he battled Sukuna, Yuji came to recognize his own value and the value of every individual, understanding that there are many aspects of a person that hold more significance than their assigned role.

During the Shinjuku Showdown arc, Yuji broke away from his previous belief of being just a small and insignificant part of a larger system, and instead started to acknowledge his own worth. At the same time, Sukuna, who had always held himself in high regard compared to humans and other cursed spirits, was compelled to accept his given “role”as a “curse.”

Concluding Remarks

Yuta Okkotsu as shown in the anime (Image via Studio MAPPA)

Despite meeting his demise in chapter 268 of the manga at the hands of Yuji, it has been stated that Sukuna’s soul may not be able to survive in the single remaining finger due to all 19 fingers being suddenly purged. However, there is a small chance that Gege could introduce a plot twist, potentially leading to a continuation in a part 2.

The final chapter of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, chapter 271, will be released on September 1, 2024. This will be preceded by chapter 268, which will serve as an epilogue to the series.

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