In the most recent installment of Jujutsu Kaisen, it seems that Gege Akutami has once again orchestrated a major twist. After the defeat of Gojo Satoru, the Jujutsu sorcerers facing Ryomen Sukuna have been steadily dwindling.
From Hajime Kashimo to Hiromi Higuruma, Yuta Okkotsu, Yuji Itadori, and now Maki Zenin, each formidable force has succumbed to the overwhelming power of the fully resurrected King of Curses.
Chapter 253 depicted Maki falling victim to a surprise Black Flash attack from Sukuna, leaving her incapacitated, at least temporarily.
Now, only Atsuya Kusakabe and Kinji Hakari remain. With Hakari occupied by Uraume, Kusakabe stands as the sole remaining combatant.
Kusakabe’s Ascendancy: A Parallel to Gojo’s Legacy in Jujutsu Kaisen
In Chapter 253 of Jujutsu Kaisen, there’s an intriguing parallel drawn between the opinions of “the strong” regarding the most powerful Grade 1 Sorcerer. Mei Mei, Kento Nanami, and even Gojo Satoru all agree: Atsuya Kusakabe holds that title.
This echoes an earlier moment when Gojo’s own students, Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki, unanimously pointed to Gojo as the pinnacle of power.
What’s fascinating is how both instances adopt an “interview” style, subtly connecting the two scenarios. Despite Kusakabe’s lack of a known Cursed Technique, he has made an impression on his adversaries.
Using techniques like Simple Domain to thwart Kenjaku’s Uzumaki and rescuing Miwa left an impression, even eliciting acknowledgment from Kenjaku himself.
Similarly, his use of the New Shadow Style to shield Higuruma from Sukuna’s attacks briefly caught the King of Curses’s attention.
It’s evident that when the confrontation ensues, Sukuna will likely find Kusakabe’s abilities as thrilling as he did Gojo’s.
Just as Gojo’s mastery over Jujutsu and strategic brilliance made him a formidable opponent in Sukuna’s eyes, Kusakabe’s reliance on Cursed Energy manipulation and the New Shadow Style is poised to intrigue the King of Curses.
Prior to Kusakabe’s emergence, Sukuna had faced off against numerous sorcerers with diverse Cursed Techniques.
Yuji’s own Cursed Technique remains undisclosed, and his current inability to fight puts his involvement on hold. Meanwhile, Maki, whose very existence challenged Jujutsu norms, piqued Sukuna’s interest.
Gege Akutami seems to be laying the groundwork for Kusakabe to assume a role akin to Gojo’s. We’ve witnessed Kusakabe’s defensive prowess, and the consensus among three powerful sorcerers solidifies his reputation.
There’s no doubt that his skills will amaze and engage the attention of the King of Curses, much like Gojo’s did.