Kenjaku: Jujutsu Kaisen: Not Sukuna but Kenjaku was the opponent Gojo deserved to battle in the final arc and for a good reason

Jujutsu Kaisen: Not Sukuna but Kenjaku was the opponent Gojo deserved to battle in the final arc and for a good reason

Modified Jun 22, 2024 13:20 GMT

Kenjaku in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen did a fantastic job when putting forth important characters such as Gojo Satoru, Ryomen Sukuna, Suguru Geto, Kenjaku, and others. Each of them is unique in its way and contributes substantially to the story. Upon each's introduction, the most awaited face-off was Gojo vs Sukuna.

True to the hype it generated, Gojo battling Sukuna took the animanga community and even those outside it by storm. The battle was every bit as interesting, adrenaline-inducing, and nail-bitingly intense as one could hope for.

However, while the bout of the two strongest sorcerers was beyond entertaining, there was another who would have made a more fitting opponent for Gojo —Kenjaku. From a psychological standpoint, no one could be better, and here's why.

Disclaimer: This article contains the opinions of the author.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Kenjaku vs Gojo in the final arc would have been a fitting match-up for the latter

Before jumping in, it is necessary to clarify that the route taken by the manga was undoubtedly appropriate. Gojo's fight against Sukuna was hinted at from the very beginning when Yuji Itadori asked the former if he could beat the Demon King and the white-haired replied in the affirmative.

Truly it was the battle of the century, as such a small moment had planted the seeds of something great. With their respective titles of being "The Strongest", almost every fan wondered what a face-off would be like. To say that creator Gege Akutami stood up to the fans' expectations would be an understatement.

However, when looking at it from a psychological standpoint, Gojo vs Kenjaku would have been a more fitting battle in Jujutsu Kaisen. To elaborate, Kenjaku stands as likely the perfect villain in animanga. Each and every move he made was calculated down to the last detail and executed with perfection.

Geto's body reacts out of turn (Image via Gege Akutami, Shueisha)

Coming to his encounter with Gojo, the Shibuya Incident showed just why Gojo deserved to battle him in the final arc. Most crucially, his master plan of using Geto's body to throw off Gojo worked exceptionally well. Due to his technique, he was aware of Gojo and Geto's relationship.

He was sly enough to leverage that fact and seal the Six Eyes user. Moreover, when he appeared before Gojo, the latter seemed to have lost his composure and cool when he questioned Kenjaku's identity. The normally aloof Gojo appeared Human.

To add to it, Geto's body reacted out of turn, gripping its own neck to prevent Kenjaku from harming Gojo. In Kenjaku's eyes, it was likely part of the plan to leverage such an advantage, but it was something deeper for Gojo. His best and only friend whom he witnessed die and had to bury was standing before him, tainted and used like a tool.

Final thoughts

Gojo Satoru facing the Prison Realm (Image via MAPPA)

Gojo taking on Kenjaku in Jujutsu Kaisen's final arc would have been a fight to behold. Not to be mistaken, Gojo vs Sukuna was explosive and every bit worthy of its hype. However, when looking at it abstractly, Kenjaku would've made a more fitting final opponent for the white-haired sorcerer.

Instead of Yuta, Gojo could have been the one to save his best friend. Granted, he couldn't do much when Geto chose to walk his own path, and even in his final moments, Gojo harbored no ill feelings toward him.

Now, with Kenjaku in control, Gojo taking him on and winning would've been his final act of service towards Geto. It would have been Gojo saving him in a sense, something that he was unable to do previously.