Jujutsu Kaisen‘s latest chapters have revealed some shocking facts about protagonist Yuji Itadori’s childhood, cursed techniques, and ties to the main antagonist, Sukuna. There have been years of speculation among fans about Yuji’s origin and mysterious powers, and these new manga chapters finally offered some shocking revelations.
Yuji’s Paternal Link to Sukuna Explained
Chapter 257 dropped a massive bombshell: Yuji’s father, Jin Itadori, carries the reincarnated soul of Sukuna’s twin brother, whom Sukuna cannibalized in the womb. This means the dreaded King of Curses is Yuji’s paternal uncle! It all makes sense now: Yuji’s uncanny resemblance to Sukuna, his unconventional physical strength, and the reason why Kenjaku specifically targeted the Itadori family.
Sukuna revealed his twin’s soul wandered for ages before manifesting in Jin Itadori. Somehow Kenjaku realized this and arranged for Jin to mate with Yuji’s mother, Kaori (whose body Kenjaku had taken over), to produce Yuji as part of his grand scheme. Sukuna referred to his consumed twin as his “other half” with the same soul, indicating Yuji may have inherited formidable potential.
Yuji’s Awakening Cursed Techniques 
Recent chapters have provided major hints that Yuji is unlocking powerful new cursed techniques during his intense battle against Sukuna in the Shinjuku Showdown arc. The telltale sign was in Chapter 247 when an off-screen “Piercing Blood” attack struck Sukuna, suspected to be from Yuji using blood manipulation.
Sure enough, Chapter 257 confirmed Yuji has integrated the blood manipulation abilities of the Death Painting Wombs experiments like Choso and Noritoshi Kamo. This inherited cursed technique allows Yuji to harden his blood into armor over his body (like Choso’s Flowing Red Scale) for enhanced strength and speed, explaining how he landed some blows on Sukuna.
But in a shocking twist, Yuji has also awoken the ability to use a version of Sukuna’s signature Malevolent Shrine cursed technique! Though Yuji’s variation is much weaker than Sukuna’s, the fact he can manifest it at all shows the extent of their profound connection through sharing a body for so long.
Kenjaku’s Role in Granting Yuji’s Powers
How did Yuji acquire such powerful cursed abilities? The pieces point to the nefarious schemer, Kenjaku. In a Meiji-era past life, possessing the body of Noritoshi Kamo’s ancestor, Kenjaku created the Death Painting Wombs like Choso and imbued them with the Kamo family’s blood manipulation technique.
When Kenjaku later possessed Yuji’s mother, Kaori, to produce Yuji, he likely passed on blood manipulation (since he retained Antigrav from Kaori’s body too). This blood tie allowed Yuji and Choso to access the Kamo clan’s signature power, despite not being direct descendants.
As for the Malevolent Shrine, Yuji’s ability likely stems from sharing his body with Sukuna’s lingering soul for so long. Their spiritual connection allowed Yuji to integrate aspects of Sukuna’s master technique in his newly “awakened” state fighting the King of Curses himself.
Yuji’s Destiny and Final Showdown 
These jaw-dropping revelations about Yuji’s origin and awakened powers show his entire existence was inextricably intertwined with Sukuna from birth, thanks to Kenjaku’s meticulous machinations. The once ordinary Yuji now wields staggering power inherited from his familial link to Sukuna as well as Kenjaku’s Death Painting experiments.
With his strengthened resolve and unlocked potential, Yuji may finally be the one capable of defeating Sukuna once and for all, fulfilling his protagonist’s destiny. Fans should buckle up for an epic final battle where blood relatives clash, with Yuji putting his recently manifested blood manipulation and distorted Malevolent Shrine against Sukuna’s mastery of the same iconic cursed techniques. The climactic fight to end the Age of Samurai is heating up!
