For over a year, I have been stewing in my thoughts on the end of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. Not for the same reason a lot of others do, of course. I wasn’t dissatisfied with the ending. Sure, I am still bitter about Gojo, but all-in-all, I was happy with the overall end of JJK. If you’ve been lost in the Void for a minute or two recently, you already know how much I am enjoying Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. Modulo does bring some things to the surface that are hard to put down again once I pick them up.
One of JJK‘s biggest letdowns happens near the end of the Shibuya Incident. An infuriated Yuji, stalking a terrified Mahito down to exorcise him once and for all, never gets his chance. Yes, we all wanted to see Mahito destroyed. The fact that Kenjaku was so eager to dispose of him when he was no longer necessary was glorious. But… Yuji deserved to rise victoriously over Mahito, to be the one who brought an end to his reign of horrors. Yuji was robbed.
Mahito Was One of Yuji’s Greatest Teachers
Image property of Studio Mappa
Now, before you go getting all bent out of shape, hear me out. As the old saying goes, adversity is one of life’s greatest teachers, and Mahito is adversity in its purest form. From his inception, he believes he is the embodiment of fear and the hatred humans harbor toward one another. Strengthened by emotions like sorrow, grief, insecurity, and hate, we see firsthand how easy it was for him to manipulate Junpei Yoshino through his hate and insecurity.
Under Nanami’s guidance, Mahito is Yuji’s first major encounter with a Special Grade curse that isn’t Sukuna. Investigating the incident at the theater leads them to the transfigured humans Mahito left in his wake. This puts things into perspective for Yuji in ways he hadn’t truly processed yet. Living by the innocent creed that he won’t kill humans, no matter what, Yuji’s innocence is quickly shattered.
When Shoko Ieri confirms that the curses they fought on the rooftop were, in fact, once human, Yuji is horrified. Even though Nanami never intended for Yuji to approach or befriend Junpei, he was actually perfect for the job. Not only were they the same age, but they had a lot in common that made them fast friends. Junpei needed someone to make him laugh, to remember that he was a kid with his whole life ahead of him. Yuji did just that.
Mahito’s First Lesson for Yuji in JJK Was Brutal
Image property of Studio Mappa
Had Mahito not planted Sukuna’s finger in Junpei’s home and killed his mother, Junpei probably would have joined Yuji at Jujutsu High. He would have had a chance to experience real friendships, and the guidance of experienced jujutsu sorcerers . Unfortunately, Mahito had already gotten into Junpei’s head before Yuji came along.
The plan all along was to corrupt Junpei in such a way that Yuji would be forced to bargain with Sukuna. With Sukuna taking the reins, Mahito believed he could persuade the King of Curses to join their cause. He he seriously underestimated his opponent. For the most part, the plan went off without a hitch. Yuji managed to talk Junpei down, but then Mahito transfigured Junpei into a monster, and Yuji had no choice but to fight.
Begging Sukuna to switch out with him and help Junpei, Yuji offered him whatever he wanted. Sukuna refused. With nothing left but his own resolve, Yuji channeled his rage, frustration, and hatred, and went toe-to-toe with Mahito in a battle that actually frightened the curse a bit. Yuji made Mahito bleed his own blood, which was thrilling because it was the first time the curse had ever experienced actual damage to his soul.
JJK Had Mahito Teach Yuji Two More Very Important Lessons
Image property of Studio Mappa
The Shibuya Incident brought an end to a lot of things for JJK. Gojo’s ability to protect Japan as the strongest sorcerer not withstanding, Kenjaku and the curses were only just the beginning of Shibuya’s devastation. In awakening Sukuna, an entire age of jujutsu society was devastated, along with tens of thousands of civilians and sorcerers. Shibuya was the beginning of the end for Tokyo. As horrific as the experience was, it taught Yuji so many lessons.
One of his greatest teachers during this horrific trial was none other than Mahito. In the midst of Yuji’s darkest hour, he could still taste his own contribution to Shibuya’s smoldering remains on his tongue. He stepped onto the scene just in time to watch Mahito kill his mentor with Idle Transfiguration. Though he was still reeling with guilt and self-loathing, Nanami’s death pushed Yuji to fight on.
An epic battle between him and Mahito kicked off, with the two of them going at it solo for a while. But when Yuji witnessed what appeared to be Nobara Kugisaki’s death at Mahito’s hands, it was too much. Sorrow made Yuji vulnerable, and Mahito turned the tides. Had it not been for Todo’s miraculous intervention, Mahito would have killed Yuji, too.
Kenjaku Robbed Yuji of Closure
Image property of Studio Mappa
With Todo’s help, Yuji manages to land a black flash on Mahito. The two of them team up in an epic battle powered by Black Flash and Boogie Woogie all over what remains of Shibuya. It’s brutal, costing Todo one of his arms with Self-Embodiment of Perfection before all is said and done. That doesn’t stop them from clapping hands together to use Boogie Woogie one last time.
Image property of Studio Mappa
With Yuji finally reaching the pinnacle of his rage, not even Mahito’s Idle Transfiguration: Instant Spirit Body of Distorted Killing is enough to contend with Itadori. His resolve pushes him into stalk and destroy mode, with Mahito scampering away like a coward. The chase lands them at Kenjaku’s feet, and Mahito believes he’s been saved. Fortunately, Kenjaku has a better use for him.
Absorbing Mahito, Kenjaku combines his Special Grade cursed energy with the other cursed spirits in his vast collection to turn him into the ultimate technique: Cursed Spirit Manipulation: Maximum Uzumaki. It’s a super cool turn of the tide, but it completely robs Yuji of his chance to exact vengeance and closure after everything Mahito did. Yuji doesn’t even think about that in the moment. He’s more concerned with getting “Geto” to release Gojo from the Prison Realm, which makes his unfinished business with Mahito fade into nothing.
JJK Modulo Is the Perfect Grounds for Mahito’s Re-Manifestation
Image property of VIZ Media
With JJK Modulo set decades into the future, three have been a lot of questions about who, if any, of the original characters are still alive. We already know Yuta and Maki have passed away, and Yuji has been mentioned several times as still being out there. We also got a firsthand look at Mahito lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment.
As events escalate between Modulo’s humans and the alien Simurians who’ve recently landed in Japan, the most recent chapter gives us the perfect scenario for Mahito’s resurrection. Distrust between sorcerers and Simurians has already resulted in an attack that will more than likely destroy relations permanently. Shots were fired, a Simurian was purposely harmed, and their greatest warrior has stepped onto the scene.
Distrust-bred animosity is the murky water from which a curse like Mahito is born. Considering the Simurian religious beliefs and the similarity between Kalyan and cursed spirits, it’s the perfect setup for Mahito to become a god in their eyes. He will happily feed on their suffering, growing stronger by the day as he guides them toward their own destruction.
Since Akutami sensei has already hinted at Yuji’s comeback, potentially to stand off against Dabura, this could be the perfect time to give him the closure Kenjaku stole from him at Shibuya. I don’t want to see Mahito anymore than the next gal, but if I have to, that’s how I want it to happen. I want Yuji to black flash him into oblivion, never to return. And I want the memory of Nanami standing over his shoulder smirking with pride as it happens.
Maybe that’s too much to ask for, but I never claimed I wasn’t greedy.
New chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo drop on Sundays in the Viz Media app.
