This article contains spoilers from Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 270.
Summary
Jujutsu Kaisenis incredibly close to its end now, and fans know that this story that has lit up Shonen Jump for years upon years now has now finished its final battle. The clash between Sukuna and the sorcerers is finally over, and that essentially means that this story is coming to an end.
The final arc has split opinion among the fans, and for many reasons. This isn’t a surprise, as nearly all stories have some things that certain fans like, and others do not. However, when it comesto the handling of Kenjaku, the vast majority of the fans ofJujutsu Kaisenagree that it was not done properly and that the author dropped the ball here. Clearly, the author failed the character of Kenjaku greatly at the end of the series, for one reason or another.
Kenjaku’s Death In The Culling Game Arc Of Jujutsu Kaisen
Kenjaku’s death in the Culling Game arc came out of absolutely nowhere. Fans did not expect him to go out the way he did, and in many ways, this was an underwhelming end for him. Essentially, Kenjaku fought against Takaba after Gojo’s fall. This battle was largely underwhelming, and while it was certainly funny and had its moments here and there, in the grand scheme of things, fans knew that Kenjaku deserved something much better for his final battle in the entire series. At the end of things, Kenjaku won against Takaba, but that is precisely when Yuta popped up behind him out of absolutely nowhere and chopped his head right off. Immediately after Kenjaku’s head was chopped off, Yuta stabbed him right in the brain with cursed energy, which essentially meant that he could not use reverse cursed technique to heal himself properly. At the same time, Yuta also ensured that he fed a part of him to Rika, which would essentially give him the Body Hopping ability that Kenjaku utilizes in the story on various occasions.
My will shall be carried on! – Kenjaku
This was certainly a shocking turn of events. Fans did not expect Kenjaku to go out the way he did, and many fans held out believing that he hadn’t actually died. In fact, the vast majority of the fans believe that he had a major role to play in the future, in one way or another. While some believed in his resurrection,others believed that Kenjaku’s will would be carried on by someone else, and that it would eventually all make sense in the end. Sadly, none of that happened, and Kenjaku’s last battle inJJKwas against Takaba, which was largely underwhelming, and his end came in the most anticlimactic ways of all.
Kenjaku’s Will Being Passed On To Ryomen Sukuna
Kenjaku Passed On The Key Of The Merger To Ryomen Sukuna
When Kenjaku died, he was largely disappointed. However, he did not look pathetic in any way. For instance, when Sukuna died in JJK, fans could clearly see the fear in his eyes. Sukuna knew that this was the end for him, and he was sweating profusely. Credit to him, he did not beg Yuji or ask for mercy. He stuck to his guns right until the very end. But, what fans know for a fact is that Sukuna was scared. Kenjaku was the total opposite of that. Even in death, Kenjaku smiled and knew that this was not the end for him. Kenjaku believed that his death didn’t change things in the slightest, and, as fans know, the Culling Game had to continue despite his elimination.
Furthermore, Kenjaku’s grand plan, which was to cause the merger, hadn’t been stopped either. According to Kenjaku, even if he died and couldn’t see the the merger himself, it was okay because someone else would go on and inherit his well later down the line. Fans did not actually get to see what Kenjaku meant, but, given that his insurance was then passed on to Sukuna, it was implied that it was Sukuna who inherited his will and had the responsibility now to start the merger.
Essentially, everything that Kenjaku had built over the years rested on this merger, and that is precisely why his thousand-year plans should have borne fruit in one way or another. Sukuna received his insurance to start the merger but decided not to invoke it. According to Sukuna, he wanted to play with the sorcerers first, and when they were all dead, he would then decide to utilize the power of the merger. Unfortunately, that did not happen. As fans know already,Sukuna fell in this battle, and with his fall, the entire plotline surrounding the merger collapsed as well, which was baffling, to say the least.
Now, everything that Kenjaku worked towards over the last hundreds upon hundreds of years has essentially amounted to absolutely nothing. This means thatKenjaku died in a very cheap manner,and whatever he had acquired over the years was absolutely pointless in the grand scheme of things.
Now, many fans ofJJKtry to defend this by saying that if the merger had begun, then that would essentially have meant the end of society as a whole. While there might be some element of truth to that, the fact is that the author could have figured out ways around that in one way or another and had the Sorcerers overturn the situation and restore balance to the world. This would essentially make more sense, because when an author introduces a plot point, it should go somewhere. If the merger was introduced inJJK, the author should make it so that it isn’t something to just be talked about. Instead, it needs to be shown.
Can you hear it, Sukuna? The Heian Era is returning! – Kenjaku
Having the worst situations befall the main characters and then having them turn it around and claim victory is the way to go in these situations. Simply talking about a particular thing happening and not having that plot point lead anywhere is simply disappointing, to say the least.
Looking Back At Kenjaku’s Character In JJK
Kenjaku Was An underwhelming Character In JJK
Looking back at Kenjaku’s character, fans know now that he did not achieve anything of significance. Of course, Kenjaku created a Binding Vow long ago and because of that, many sorcerers from various eras took part in the Culling Game. Yuji, for instance, was birthed for reasons that had to do with Sukuna. Kenjaku also finally awakened the Ancient Sorcerers following the events of Shibuyaand started the Culling Game.
The energy produced from the Culling Game was required by him to start the merger. Unfortunately, none of his plans worked, and fans didn’t even get to see him take part in any significant battle towards the end. If Kenjaku had to die anyway, then, the author should have killed him off in the battle against Yuki, where both of them took each other out.
Having him go out in a battle against Takaba in the most unremarkable of ways was certainly a failure on the part of the author and something that will leave its mark on the finale of the story forever.
Jujutsu Kaisen is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and theManga Plusapp. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 270, is set to be July 03, 2025.
