Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263: Hana Kurusu returns to save Megumi as Yuji continues to fight Sukuna

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 was expected to finally bring an end to Yuta Okkotsu (in Satoru Gojo’s body) and Ryomen Sukuna’s battle within the shrunken Unlimited Void Domain Expansion. Officially released earlier this weekend, the chapter did see this stage of the fight end, but not in the way fans were envisioning.

While Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 did see Yuta launch and hit Sukuna with a Hollow Purple, the former’s lack of mastery over the Technique resulted in Sukuna surviving.

Moreover, Yuta’s use of the Hollow Purple completely burnt out his Cursed Technique, leaving him lying motionless on the battlefield. However, the issue ends by taking advantage of this fact and Yuta’s abundant Cursed Energy, giving him and the others a key opportunity for victory.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 finally sees Hana Kurusu make her move in the fight against Sukuna

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263: A barrier ruptured, and a body exhausted

Yuta's inexperience with Kenjaku's Cursed Technique comes back to haunt him in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263's opening pages (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 begins with the shrunken barrier to Yuta’s Unlimited Void Domain Expansion shattering and rupturing. A heavily burned but still fighting Sukuna emerges, commenting on how Yuta pulled off the Hollow Purple and while it may be powerful, he’s not fully comfortable using it. He cites the barrier to his Domain being destroyed as proof of this.

Yuta, Yuji Itadori, and Aoi Todo then spring into action, with the latter telling the former to fire Hollow Purple again as soon as it’s ready since Boogie Woogie can get them out of the way. Yuji doesn’t acknowledge Yuta’s current status at all as the narrator explains that Sukuna has once again fallen into a state where his Cursed Technique is extremely difficult to use.

However, Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 sees Yuta suddenly fall, explaining that the use of Hollow Purple burnt out what remained of Kenjaku’s Cursed Technique. Yuta cursed Rika for not haunting Gojo’s body, saying he thought he’d still be able to use Kenjaku’s Cursed Technique after. Yuta questioned if Kenjaku had a special means of using his Cursed Technique after a Domain Expansion, saying he found no information like that when copying the Technique.

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Todo, meanwhile, is briefly distracted by Yuta, which sets up Sukuna to land a Black Flash on him which breaks the ball part of his Vibraslap in the process. Yuji then rushes at Sukuna, prompting Todo to activate the Vibraslap by hitting it against his head. This lets Yuji swap behind Sukuna, landing a devastating punch on him. Todo swapped Yuji with a shard of Yuta’s barrier, still floating around the battlefield. He adds this is the perfect chance for him to shine.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 sees him activate Boogie Woogie once more with his head, allowing Yuji to spin around Sukuna like a roulette until Todo stops the Vibraslap with his mouth. Yuji then says he’ll do this as many times as it takes, yelling at Megumi Fushiguro to wake up as he hits Sukuna with a Dismantle. However, Sukuna realizes he’s selectively targeting things with Dismantle, aiming at the barrier between Sukuna’s soul and Megumi’s.

Sukuna deduces that Yuji made some sort of Binding Vow to make his strikes more effective at tearing souls from bodies. Sukuna says that if he continues taking these blows, he’ll lose control of Megumi’s body and lose. As he says this, Sukuna throws up some of his fingers and swallows them again, while beginning to caveat his previous statement.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263: In check

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Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 then sees Yuji rush at Sukuna as he tries to create distance, using Dismantle to cut up a pillar he’s standing on. Yuji goes for a punch, but Sukuna dodges and counters, explaining his earlier comments that if he avoids Yuji’s blows, no other move will be as effective. Todo, meanwhile, grows concerned with his Vibraslap not functioning, trying to use it once more but there is no swap made.

However, he uses it once again to swap in Hana Kurusu directly above Sukuna’s head, which he notices immediately. The narrator then explains that Todo extended his range via a Binding Vow, as a flashback begins which sees Hana and Yuta discussing the fight against Sukuna. They both agree that Angel won’t fight, but Yuta says he’d like for her to deliver the finishing blow by firing Jacob’s Ladder.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 sees Yuta say it’s an all-or-nothing gamble on splitting Sukuna and Megumi, making the most of his Copy Cursed Technique’s strong point. He explains that when someone is fighting Yuta, they never consider the original user of the Cursed Technique and the possibility that they could appear in the fight.

Yuta explains that this is especially true for those who know how Copy works, as they can think of it as “taking” the Technique rather than copying it in the heat of the moment. He explains that Copy’s true strength is having two of the same card in one hand as the flashback ends. Returning to the present, the chapter concludes with Hana firing a Maximum Output Jacob’s Ladder at Sukuna. Unfortunately, it’s not confirmed whether it hit or not on the final page.

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263: In summation

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While it didn’t quite progress in the way fans were expecting, Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 263 is nevertheless an enthralling chapter that sets up an exciting follow-up after a return from break. Although this break is somewhat unfortunately timed, it’s to be expected considering the health issues that author and illustrator Gege Akutami has recently been dealing with.

Chapter 263 also does a good job of keeping multiple aspects of the battle in suspense. While there’s concern regarding the success of Hana’s attack, there’s also the issue of Yuta’s status, and whether or not he’s slowly progressing towards a death in Gojo’s body. It’s a truly suspenseful point in the series which will likely lead directly into the fight’s climax upon return from break.