Summary
With only 5 chapters left beforeJujutsu Kaisenends, it looks like Gege is committed to giving fans an epic final battle against the King of Curses. Chapter 267 ofJJKdid not take too long to go viral, as the chapter finally confirmed that Kugisaki Nobara is alive, making her long-awaited return to the series. As many theorized, Nobara was Jujutsu High’s last trump card. They kept her hidden from Sukuna so that when the time was right, she coulduse her Cursed Technique, Resonance, against Sukuna’s final finger. And just as they planned, Nobara made a surprise comeback as Megumi’s soul finally woke up from “Bath”, and the main trio finally reunited against Sukuna.
It turns out Yuta didn’t copy Shrine from Sukuna’s finger, but from Yuji’s— which explains why Yuji was missing a finger beyond the one Sukuna savagely tore off in chapter 212. Resonance not only prevents Sukuna from opening his domain but also creates an opening forYuji to land a direct hit on the King of Curses with Dismantle. This also confirms that the suspended finger from chapter 266’s cliffhanger was Sukuna’s last, and is now the target of Nobara’s devastating technique. But while Nobara’s return was something fans waited years for, it raises a critical question: With only five chapters remaining inJujutsu Kaisen’s finale, is Nobara’s reappearance truly what the story needed?
Defying Mahito’s Idle Transfiguration Does Not Make Sense
Mahito’s Idle Transfiguration stands as one of the most horrifying techniquesin theJujutsu Kaisenuniverse, a power that defies the natural order and laughs in the face of conventional healing.
At its core, Idle Transfiguration allows Mahito to reshape souls with a mere touch. It’s not just physical transformation— it alters the fundamental blueprint of a person’s being. Imagine a sculptor working with clay, except the clay is someone’s soul, and the end result is either grotesque disfigurement or outright death.
The Irreversible Nature of Soul Transfiguration
When Mahito struck Nobara, the effect was catastrophic. Her eye melted, her brain was compromised, and part of her soul — the very essence of her being — should have been irreparably disfigured.
The crux of the issue lies in the nature of Idle Transfiguration. It doesn’t simply damage the body; it warps the soul into raw cursed energy. This transformation is, by its very nature, impossible to reverse. Once a soul has been morphed into cursed energy, there’s no going back. It’s like trying to un-scramble an egg or rebuild a shattered mirror with no knowledge of its original form.
Nobara’s pulse had stopped when Nitta found her. For all intents and purposes, she was dead. Her return not only stretches the boundaries of theJujutsu Kaisenworld’s internal logic but also undermines the weight and consequences of Mahito’s actions. It’s a narrative decision that, while potentially crowd-pleasing, risks unraveling the carefully constructed rules of Akutami’s universe.
Nobara’s Return Could’ve Been Handled Differently
Nobara’s apparent death representedthe harsh reality of the jujutsu world, where even the most beloved characters aren’t safe from the cruel whims of fate.
Nobara’s character arc had been building to this moment. From her introduction as a brash, confident sorcerer to her growth into a fiercely loyal comrade, every step of her journey led to this confrontation. Her resolve, honed through countless battles and personal trials, reached its zenith in her final stand against Mahito.
The scene of Nobara’s demise was crafted with painstaking care. Her final thoughts, her unwavering determination, and her acceptance of her fate all pointed to a carefully constructed conclusion. Mahito’s attack wasn’t just another battle — it was meant to be the definitive end of Nobara’s story.
Mahito, true to his nature, went for the kill. This wasn’t a moment of uncertainty or a cliffhanger, it was designed to be Nobara’s closure. The emotional impact of her loss resonated deeply with readers, driving home the stakes of the jujutsu world and the cost of fighting curses.
Gege’s Last-Minute Gambit: A Narrative Misstep?
ThroughoutJujutsu Kaisen’s run, Gege has played a delicate game with Nobara’s fate. The deliberate ambiguity—Megumi’s evasiveness when questioned, the lack of a definitive confirmation—kept fans guessing. This approach, while intriguing, now feels less like masterful storytelling and more like hedging bets.
It’s hard to shake the feeling that Nobara was kept in narrative limbo, a trump card to be played when all other options were exhausted. This last-minute revival, so close to the manga’s conclusion, smacks of desperation rather than planned resolution.
Jujutsu Kaisenhas often flirted with death, using it as a tool to raise the stakes and evoke emotion. Butthis cavalier attitude risks diminishing the impact of loss. Nobara’s return is perhaps the most egregious example, undermining not just her “death” but potentially trivializing other sacrifices in the series.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Cast
Based on Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Mappa’s battle shonen anime envisions a world where Jujutsu Sorcerers battle against entities born out of Cursed Energy. One day, a teenager named Yuji Itadori is dragged into this conflict when he eats a possessed finger.
