The latest Jujutsu Kaisen episode validates a grim reality that will haunt its protagonist forever

Image: MAPPA

The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen is currently barreling through the high-stakes Tokyo Colony arc. In its ninth installment, titled “Tokyo No. 1 Colony, Part 3,” the narrative centers on a psychological and physical deadlock between Yuji Itadori and Hiromi Higuruma. Picking up immediately after Higuruma activated his Domain Expansion, the episode traps Yuji within the rigid confines of “Deadly Sentencing.” This chapter serves as another testament to MAPPA’s ability to refine Gege Akutami’s manga, using fluid combat to underscore a heavy, recurring motif: Yuji’s inescapable sense of culpability.

The judicial battle begins with Yuji facing a trivial charge of underage gambling. Upon receiving a guilty verdict, Yuji pushes for a retrial, only for Higuruma’s shikigami, Judgeman, to level a far more harrowing accusation: the mass murder in Shibuya on October 31, 2018. This was the catastrophic moment when Ryomen Sukuna seized control of Yuji’s body to unleash unprecedented devastation.

To Higuruma’s disbelief, Yuji accepts the blame without a second thought. This confession instantly triggers the ultimate penalty, granting Higuruma the Executioner’s Sword—a weapon capable of ending a life with a single strike. Even as he prepares to strike, Higuruma grapples with his own disillusionment, struggling to find a glimmer of hope within a world of moral decay.

Image: MAPPA

Yuji’s survivor’s guilt is exceptionally nuanced, born from his unique role as the only vessel capable of restraining the King of Curses. Haunted by his grandfather’s final request to use his strength for the benefit of others, Yuji has developed a profound, almost reflexive, altruism. The fact that his physical form was used to murder innocents brings him immense shame; he is unable to separate Sukuna’s autonomy from his own existence. This internal torment is mirrored in the season’s opening sequence, where Yuji gazes at his blood-stained hands while Sukuna sneers back from the reflection.

In the aftermath of the Shibuya Tragedy, Yuji plunges into a relentless cycle of curse extermination alongside Choso Kamo. This obsession is fueled by a desperate need for karmic balance—to save as many lives as Sukuna extinguished. Yet, Yuji isn’t running from his conscience; rather, he is inviting accountability. He is more than willing to pay the ultimate price for the horrors enacted through his hands.

This crushing weight of responsibility nearly led him to accept death during his battle with Mahito, until Aoi Todo forced him back to his senses. Despite this, Yuji’s self-perception remains grim. He famously describes himself as a “cog” in the machine of jujutsu society during his encounter with Kinji Hakari—a tool whose only purpose is the eradication of curses until his own inevitable end.

Image: MAPPA

This perspective continues to evolve, eventually shaping Yuji’s destiny in the broader Jujutsu Kaisen mythos. Years into the future, as explored in the source material, Yuji becomes a far cry from the spirited teenager he once was. The cost of protecting the world has left him jaded, bearing the scars of countless losses and a soul weary from eternal vigilance.

In the present, Yuji’s poignant dialogue with Higuruma confirms his unwavering resolve to sacrifice his personal happiness for the greater good. By internalizing the guilt of the Shibuya massacre—even after Higuruma legally exonerates him—Yuji showcases a level of selflessness that reshapes the attorney’s worldview. Higuruma, who had lost faith in the concept of justice, finds himself revitalized by Yuji’s integrity.

Image: MAPPA

Before meeting Yuji, the former defense attorney was consumed by nihilism, having witnessed the failure of the law firsthand. He initially attacked Yuji as a way to vent his frustration on a world that seemed devoid of meaning. However, Yuji’s pure intent shattered Higuruma’s assumption that all humans are inherently selfish. Inspired to seek true redemption, Higuruma agrees to use his accumulated points to establish a new rule in the Culling Game, facilitating point transfers between players, and even suggests he may ultimately surrender himself to face the consequences of his own actions.

Yuji Itadori’s journey in the anime remains fraught with peril. His path is paved with the constant fear that his very presence invites catastrophe. While he strives to maintain his spirit, the true test lies ahead: can he overcome his internal trauma to save the world from Kenjaku—and from the darkness residing within himself?

New episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 debut every Thursday on Crunchyroll.

Source: Polygon