With the Jujutsu Kaisen manga nearing its conclusion, fans finally got to see fate of the series’ most fearsome antagonist, Sukuna, sealed.
Known as the King of Curses, Sukuna has been a relentless force throughout the series, causing unimaginable destruction and despair.
However, with the recent events in the manga, one pressing question lingers: Was Sukuna’s death really justified?
Let’s delve into these questions to understand the final fate of the King of Curses.
Is Sukuna Really Dead? How Did He Die?
In short, yes—Sukuna was killed by Itadori Yuji after a grueling battle during the Shinjuku Showdown.
The battle against Sukuna had been a long and bloody one, with the reincarnated King of Curses taking on Jujutsu sorcerers one after the other.
This fight led to numerous casualties, including some of the most powerful sorcerers like Gojo Satoru, Higuruma Hiromi, Kashimo Hajime, and Choso.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Itadori, alongside Yuta Okkotsu and Aoi Todo, made a final stand against Sukuna.
Throughout the fight, Yuji Itadori consistently weakened Sukuna with his relentless punches and later with the Dismantle technique, which disrupted Sukuna’s connection with Megumi Fushiguro’s body.
As the battle progressed, Itadori’s presence and influence grew stronger, while Sukuna’s hold over Megumi and his terrifying aura began to wane.
In the final moments, Itadori unleashed his Domain Expansion and delivered a decisive blow with his Black Flash, which separated Sukuna from Megumi’s body and ultimately led to his death.
Even in defeat, Sukuna remained defiant. When Itadori offered him a chance to live life the right way, Sukuna rejected the offer, declaring himself a curse who would never change his ways.
Sukuna’s Death: Underwhelming Yet Deserved
Sukuna’s death has sparked mixed reactions among fans. While some found his end underwhelming, others argue that it was a fitting conclusion for the character.
Sukuna, who had been portrayed as a larger-than-life, regal figure from the Heian era, met his end in a rather unremarkable way.
Inside Itadori’s Domain Expansion, Sukuna was a shell of his former self, a far cry from the legendary King of Curses.
His final moments were marked by desperation as he tried to break Megumi’s soul, pointing out the futility of the young sorcerer’s existence.
However, his tricks no longer worked, and by the time Itadori was finished with him, Sukuna was reduced to nothing more than an ugly ball of cursed energy.
Despite his threats and proclamations, he ultimately failed to deliver on his promises, leaving fans feeling that his end was less than legendary.
However, Sukuna’s death was also deserved.
Addressing the inconsistencies:
It was revealing to learn that the King of Curses was also afraid of death. However, upon first reading, this seemed like a glaring inconsistency.
In chapter 217, Sukuna appeared indifferent to defeat or death. He didn’t care what Yorozu would do to his corpse after he was dead.
He seemed like a pure evil force, driven solely by his own ideals. Existing only to satisfy himself, he trampled over those around him without hesitation.
He saw others merely as a means to pass the time until his death. Life held no other meaning for him. He lived by his own rules and expected no understanding or approval from others.
Yet, in JJK chapter 268, we see a different side of Sukuna. Not only did he stoop to trying to retain control of Megumi’s body, but he also showed fear of dying.
This is not entirely out of character. We are talking about the man who chose to turn himself into cursed objects to revive a thousand years later. He agreed to be a pawn in Kenjaku’s plan to come back to life.
This can be further supported by Sukuna’s nervousness when Gojo fired his Hollow Purple.
True, he did relish the challenge of facing strong opponents. He got motivated while fighting Maki, as he felt that he had to prove a point. However, we can say that in the face of a life-threatening situation, Sukuna lost his composure.
Perhaps he was always afraid of death, but he had simply never been consistently put in such a situation before.
Sukuna’s desperation was fueled further by the fact that he was facing his end at the hands of Itadori. He was irritated by the fact that someone far weaker than him was able to match him.
After tormenting the powerhouses for nearly 50 chapters, he was finally brought down by the very person he had mocked and underestimated.
Itadori, who had been Sukuna’s vessel and victim for so long, delivered the final blow that ended the King of Curse’s reign of terror and the cycle of curses.
In this sense, Sukuna’s death was poetic justice—a deserved and fitting end for a character who had caused so much pain and suffering.
Master of his own downfall:
Sukuna’s defeat was not because he was weaker than his foes but rather because the Jujutsu sorcerers maximized the conditions available to them. After, all sorcerers are just con artists.
As Uraume had noted, Sukuna’s loss was inevitable due to the circumstances surrounding his incarnation. If Sukuna hadn’t been incarnated into Megumi’s body, or if Itadori and the others hadn’t found a way to separate their souls, Sukuna might have emerged victorious.
Ironically, Sukuna himself unwittingly contributed to his downfall. He was the reason Itadori could use techniques like Dismantle and Cleave, and he enabled Itadori to perceive the contours of the soul.
This allowed Itadori to target the boundaries between Sukuna’s and Megumi’s souls, exploiting a weakness that ultimately led to Sukuna’s defeat.
If this battle had taken place in the Heian era, where such conditions did not exist, Sukuna would have been unbeatable.
No chance of return:
One of the lingering questions following Sukuna’s defeat is whether he could return. This speculation largely centers around Sukuna’s final finger, which is still not destroyed nor consumed.
The existence of the final finger raised the possibility that Sukuna could be revived, but Gege Akutami, the series’ creator, has addressed this point.
As Megumi pointed out, Sukuna was approximately 19 fingers strong at the time of his death. If Sukuna died at this point, the final finger would not have enough essence to bring him back to life.
Sukuna’s soul was divided into 20 parts, and with the majority of them gone, the last finger is nothing more than a ball of cursed energy. While it can still attract curses and cause harm, Sukuna’s return is impossible.
Akutami has successfully clarified that the final finger does exist, but it does not provide a way back for the King of Curses. With Sukuna’s soul fragmented and his power diminished, the possibility of his return seems highly unlikely. For now, it appears that Sukuna’s story has come to an end.
In conclusion, Sukuna is indeed dead, killed by Itadori Yuji in a battle that showcased both the strength and cunning of the Jujutsu sorcerers.
While some fans may be disappointed with the way Sukuna met his end, it was a fitting conclusion for a character who had caused so much destruction.