This post contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, currently available for U.S. readers from VIZ Media
Between the return of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and the ongoing Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo manga, my life is overflowing with cursed bliss. I feel like I’m in heaven right now, constantly surrounded by a steady stream of JJK. Modulo Chapter 20, “Old Soldiers Never Die,” picks up with Itadori’s return at the end of Chapter 19.
We are ready to find out what the new strongest is planning for this ridiculous aliens vs. sorcerers showdown. Maybe we’ll even get a couple quick peeks at what’s going on with Tsurugi and Maru, as well as Dabura vs. Mahoraga/Yuka. But before any of that gets started, we are granted a teeny tiny little boon. It’s a brief, humorous revelation about the status of another jujutsu sorcerer of old, and it is fabulous!
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Confirms the Indestructible Aoi Todo Is Still Out There
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There are a lot of characters we have been wanting to catch a glimpse of in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. So far, only three have physically made an appearance, and as of Chapter 20, that still hasn’t changed. We do, however, get to see a silly, two part phone conversation with Mino. Mino has been tasked with hunting down Yuji Itadori for several chapters now. With many of the officials in charge believing Itadori is the answer to all their alien-related problems, getting him on board needs to happen ASAP.
Unfortunately, nobody is able to locate him. When it’s suggested that Mino try asking Yuji’s best friend, Aoi Todo, there’s a glimmer of hope. Mino notes that former First-Grade sorcerer Aoi Todo’s whereabouts are also unknown. He asks if she could connect them, to which she says laughs and says no. He should try Itadori. Itadori would know. In fact, he’s probably the only one who would know because he’s the only one who doesn’t hate Todo.
To know that after six decades, Todo and Itadori are still out there palling around brings me endless amounts of joy. Jujutsu society might hate Aoi Todo, but we all know the truth. Without Todo declaring himself as Yuji’s best friend all those years ago, things might have turned out very differently. It was a very small part of the manga’s chapter, but it was incredibly satisfying.
Yuji Itadori’s “Kalyan” Aura Could Solve Everything
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First things, first, Yuji’s first word in this chapter is “Busted.” As Mino recognizes his intervention in the alien/human chaos breaking out, it’s refreshing to see that not aging means Yuji isn’t really mentally aging either. He still seems to have that goofy teenager air about him. Despite everything, he still carries himself the way he always did. But he’s also a lot more cynical, as we see at the end of his meeting with Mino here.
Osuki practically dive-bombs Yuji, ax at the ready, and he’s immediately marveling over what Yuji is. He looks human, but he has the aura of a Kalyan. Permanently altered after hosting Sukuna in his body, Yuji himself is basically a cursed object. That explains why Osuki is reading the Kalyan spirit energy from him. Because he’s potentially walking on both sides of the fence, this could be incredibly helpful in establishing a sense of peace between humans and Simurians.
Simurians have become incredibly distrustful of humans since learning that jujutsu sorcerers kill the cursed spirits. The funny thing is, the sorcerers have been looking for Yuji since the aliens landed, never even realizing the importance of his role. Seeing someone like Yuji Itadori, who is both human and curse, could change everything. But first, he’s going to have to get everyone to calm the heck down. That means knocking them all out. Humans and aliens.
Now, Yuka and Dabura can finish their battle, while Tsurugi and Maru finish theirs.
Tsurugi Continues the True Zen’in Legacy in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo
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We already know that, like Maki, Tsurugi Okkotsu was born with a Heavenly Restriction. His superhuman strength is his greatest asset, but it wasn’t quite enough for him to face off against a powerhouse like Maru. Way back in the first chapter, there was the rivalry and resentment for Tsurugi and Yuka’s mother giving him Grandpa Yuta’s ring. Yuta told Yuka he wanted her to have it, but their mother knew Tsurugi actually needed it.
He didn’t need it for Rika, though she definitely came in handy in completely throwing Maru off his guard. He needed it because it is where Maki’s Split Soul Katana is stored. Rika is the means for retrieving the katana, so Tsurugi can embrace his true potential, just like Grandma Maki once did.
Before Maki, Toji embodied the true Zen’in clan power, which was why his own family feared him so much. They were all about strong sorcery, but Toji proves that it was never really necessary. Both he and Maki were beyond superhuman in their strength. They were also undetectable to sorcerers because they had no cursed energy.
Add to that a remarkably high resistance to cursed energy, and even the most powerful sorcerers would struggle against them. We see this firsthand in Satoru Gojo’s battle against Toji, and again when Maki went up against the entire Zen’in clan. Maru may be powerful on a level Earth’s jujutsu sorcerers can’t even fathom. But Tsurugi is Earth’s best shot at stopping the Simurian’s incredible cursed technique.
Itadori Exorcising the Cursed Spirits Throws Maru Off His Game
While the two battles are carrying on, Yuji promises to deal with the cursed spirits that have leaked out of Tokyo. As he dismantles the mass of spirits, Maru is instantly affected by the agonizing connection his people seem to share with them. With tears streaming from his third eye, Maru knows they need to finish this fight, and now.
The moment he realizes how powerful Tsurugi became the moment he set Rika free, he seems to lose the confidence that has been fueling him through this fight. Could this mean Maru is about to lose this fight? And if he loses, but Dabura wins, what does that mean? GAH! The suspense is killing me. Anyone who wants to argue about Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo not being just as good, if not better, than the original, I’ll be right here. With gloves on.
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 20 on a Scale of 1 to 10
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I’m sick with flu, feeling absolutely rotten, so it was a struggle for me to even write this week. Still, Chapter 20 of JJK Modulo is a great escape. I continue to be completely mesmerized with each new chapter, and one thing that really stands out for me in this one is Yuji. He’s not there to be the hero, but to make sure this generation’s heroes get to finish their work. I love that. Do I want to see more of Yuji? Heck yes, I do. Does he need to be the hero this time? Nah.
I absolutely cannot wait until the tankobon volumes for this start coming out, and I can sit down and relive it again without having to wait. I am handing out 10/10s like Oprah giving away cuckoo clocks, and I ain’t even mad about it.
