Yuta's death in Jujutsu Kaisen won't be Rika's, and it'll lead to Maki truly surpassing Toji

Modified Jun 21, 2024 19:30 GMT

Jujutsu Kaisen: Rika might be the last piece Maki needs to surpass Toji (Image vai MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 262 was released on June 9, 2024, and it mainly focused on the fight between Sukuna and Yuta. However, the ending of the chapter, featuring two brief panels of Rika shedding tears while holding Yuta Okkotsu's lifeless body, became a point of discussion for many fans.

These few panels eventually gave rise to numerous theories about how Rika might team up with Maki and act as her arsenal to finally help her surpass Toji. The manga is currently on a break, and chapter 263 will be released on June 30, 2024.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Rika will complete Maki's transformation

Yuta Okkotsu as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

The actual workings of Rika and Yuta have remained a mystery even until Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 262. Although many aspects, such as Yuta Okkotsu's domain containing numerous cursed techniques stored as cursed tools, have been teased, none were used to their full potential in his fight against Sukuna.

Yuta Okkotsu's entire technique essentially revolves around being an arsenal that converts cursed techniques into cursed tools, a concept last utilized by Toji Fushiguro. The use of cursed tools is closely tied to characters with heavenly restrictions, like Maki and Toji.

While Toji's arsenal was nowhere near comparable to Yuta's array of cursed techniques, Toji's mastery over his various cursed tools was much greater. People with heavenly restrictions heavily depend on cursed tools. Currently, the only known person with a heavenly restriction, Maki, has been incapacitated, along with Rika, who essentially serves as a vast reserve of cursed energy.

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Since the arsenal of cursed tools greatly impacts the combat ability of sorcerers with heavenly restrictions, Maki falls behind Toji in that aspect. While Toji himself had the Soul-Splitting Katana, the Inverted Spear of Heaven, and the Chain of a Thousand Miles, Maki only has the Soul-Splitting Katana.

However, teaming up with Rika might not only provide Maki with one of the biggest sources of cursed energy, but it will also give her access to an arsenal that is inarguably much more vast and stronger than Toji's. This will truly make Maki surpass Toji in every way.

Maki as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Although Rika has been described as a pool of cursed energy, she also serves the purpose of holding Yuta's extensive arsenal, similar to Toji Fushiguro's worm. Chapter 262 ended with Rika shedding tears while holding Yuta Okkotsu's lifeless body. This entire ending sequence is essentially setting up a new plot twist regarding Rika.

Maki may reenter the battle, with Rika now serving as her arsenal, providing her with all the tools she could ever need. It has already been established that Rika is essentially the essence of the Rika who transformed into a cursed spirit. Although the actual spirit of Rika has passed on, her cursed spirit form remains with Yuta.

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This further establishes that Rika is a completely separate entity. Currently, Yuta has engaged Sukuna in combat, much to Sukuna's delight. Although Yuta has taken possession of Gojo's body, his fight with Sukuna has made it clear that Sukuna has the upper hand.

It is possible that Yuta will die while inside Gojo's body, weakening Sukuna even more in the process. The understanding that curses grow stronger after death has been repeatedly established throughout the story, so Yuta's death at the hands of Sukuna will only further increase Rika's strength.

Final thoughts

Toji as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Although chapter 262 ended with the foreshadowing of Rika's possible actions, it is likely that chapter 263 will solely focus on Yuta vs. Sukuna while exploring the possibilities of what might happen after Yuta Okkotsu's technique runs out.

Yuta Okkotsu possessing Gojo Satoru's body is a product of numerous cursed techniques and rules overlapping each other, leading many fans to theorize that this unpredictability might even pave the way for Gojo's return.