Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuji's Domain Expansion may kill him and Sukuna both unless Maki can break fate once again

Modified Aug 04, 2024 22:33 GMT

Jujutsu Kaisen: Maki is Yuji's only hope for survival (Images via Shueisha and MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen fans expected chapter 265 to continue the fight between Sukuna and Yuji, especially since the previous chapter ended with Yuji opening a domain out of nowhere. However, chapter 265 had a completely different tone compared to the constant fights up to this point. The chapter also foreshadowed a shift in Yuji's demeanor and how he'll approach the final stretch of his fight against Sukuna.

Yuji's fate has been a huge topic of discussion in the fandom ever since Sukuna took possession of Megumi. While many fans had previously theorized his death after defeating Sukuna, chapter 265, with its numerous parallels to real-life mythology, has made it almost clear that Yuji will indeed die with Sukuna inside the domain.

However, since Maki is the only person left who can actually invade a domain, many fans theorize that only her intervention will be able to save Yuji from dying.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuji will die with Sukuna unless saved by Maki

Expand Tweet

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 265 revealed a complete change in Yuji and Sukuna’s dynamic, highlighting that Yuji had somehow climbed up to Sukuna’s power level. The entire Yuji and Sukuna interaction was made possible due to Yuji’s Domain Expansion, but the details and specifications of the domain expansion have continued to remain a mystery.

Fans have come forward with theories and parallels relating Yuji to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, suggesting that Yuji might be on his way towards enlightenment, with the purification of Sukuna being his last hurdle. While many fans continue to theorize the possibilities of Yuji’s domain, others believe it could mark the end for both Yuji and Sukuna.

The hand sign that Yuji used to activate his domain expansion is that of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who is often addressed as the guardian of souls as well as the guide and patron deity of deceased children and souls. In Japanese Buddhism, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is addressed as Jizo Bosatsu, and stone Jizo statues are often placed near cemeteries. This alludes to the overarching theme that Yuji’s domain might be a funeral for Sukuna.

Sukuna as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

While Yuji’s association with Jizo Bosatsu has sparked many theories, the actual train station where Yuji’s domain began has somehow tied back to the “Go South and Go North” theories that started floating after Gojo’s death. The train station shown inside Yuji’s domain is an exact recreation of the Kitakami city train station, which is a town located in Japan’s Iwate prefecture.

Coincidentally, Kitakami City was governed by the Abe Clan while being in association with the Northern Fujiwara clan during the late Heian Era in real life. The name “Kitakami” itself can be roughly translated to “Go North” or “Heading North.” Yuji’s hand sign represents Jizo, while Sukuna’s hand sign is closely associated with Enma, the king of hell, who is also said to be the guardian of the south direction.

Yuji as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Additionally, Jizo has been mentioned to be a direct manifestation of Yama in some texts. The sheer volume of correlations and references implies the possibility that Yuji will forcibly take Sukuna to the north to purify him while both of them meet their ends in the process.

Sukuna and Yuji sharing a common fate has been foreshadowed throughout the entire series, making their joint death even more believable. However, given the number of casualties and damage, it is possible that Maki invades Yuji’s domain due to her invulnerability to domain expansions and then pulls out Yuji to save his life.

Final thoughts

Maki as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga is currently on a break, and chapter 266 will be released on August 18, 2024. Given that the fight against Sukuna has entered its final stages, it is very possible that the fates of characters like Yuta and Megumi will be solidified in the next few chapters.