Jujutsu Kaisen Returns to Sukuna After Two Years With New Official Update

Ryomen Sukuna’s reign of terror in Jujutsu Kaisen first began on March 5, 2018, when he appeared in Chapter 1 of the series in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #14. From there, Sukuna grew into the show’s ultimate antagonist and one of the most recognizable anime villains of the modern era. He originated in the Heian period, but after being transformed into a cursed object, he was able to reincarnate into the modern timeline of Jujutsu Kaisen. The story’s Shinjuku Showdown Arc officially kicked off with Chapter 222 on May 15, 2023—and in the end, Jujutsu Kaisen formally closed the book on his terror.

In Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 268, released officially on September 2, 2024, Ryomen Sukuna was finally defeated, meeting his end at the hands of Yuji Itadori. Now, two years later, the series has entered the Modulo era, and it has officially set up a new Ryomen Sukuna. That setup was confirmed in Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Volume 3, released on May 1, 2026. With more time passing, the odds of Yuji Itadori returning as the next Sukuna—three centuries after the conclusion of Modulo—are increasingly becoming the most likely direction.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Final Modulo Volume Confirms Yuji Itadori As The New Ryomen Sukuna

Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo introduced Yuji Itadori in adult form for the first time. While the focus of this story was centered on the grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin, Yuji still remained a key player toward the end of the arc. We’re told that Yuji lost his way after struggling to accept that he was aging far more slowly than everyone around him.

His unusually slowed aging is tied to what he absorbed: the Death Paintings No. 4–9. Because of that, Yuji’s condition resembles a “half-cursed spirit, half-human” state—similar to Tengen.

“Upon absorbing the Cursed Wombs, he became a hybrid between a curse and a human, which caused his aging to slow down to an extreme degree” — Gege Akutami explains Yuji’s slow aging in Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Volume #3 Notes

As the story progresses, Yuji is forced to endure loss after loss, with his friends dying one by one—including Megumi Fushiguro, as confirmed in JJK Modulo Chapter 25 on March 8, 2026. But by the end, he regains his perspective and comes to understand what matters most. From that point onward, Yuji commits everything he has to raising the next generation and preparing for the day he will no longer be alive.

His ultimate strategy is to become the new Ryomen Sukuna by turning himself into a cursed object. This mirrors what was introduced right at the start of Jujutsu Kaisen on March 5, 2018: Yuji wants to become a “finger” that someone can consume. The catch is that, at the time, he doesn’t yet know how to transform himself into a cursed object—so Nobara, Todo, and Yuji set out on a new mission. The end goal is for this cursed object to be sealed away and guarded until the moment it’s needed centuries in the future.

“I’m going to live for another 300 or so years. I will handle whatever follows. And if necessary, I’ll bear the consequences of this great sin,” — Yuji Itadori explains his plan to Maru, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter #22

Yuji also confirms that he expects to live for about 300 years, meaning he can remain to oversee the next generation for a long time. When he eventually dies, he wants to become a cursed object—so that, in the end, he can come back in the same way Sukuna did in the very first chapter, closing the loop on the series’ beginning.

Kenjaku was a major force in Jujutsu Kaisen, and through his Body Hopping technique, he was able to occupy multiple bodies.

Yuji Itadori’s Return Post-Death Is Now Officially

With Yuji’s plan to become a cursed object established—mirroring Ryomen Sukuna’s method—his post-death return is now treated as canon within the Jujutsu Kaisen timeline. At present, Yuji is expected to die roughly 300 years from now. That would place his final end about 368 years after the conclusion of the Shinjuku Showdown battle between Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna.

When that moment arrives, Yuji won’t just die—he’ll be transformed into a cursed object. From there, the idea is straightforward: if a cursed spirit emerges in Tokyo that the next generation can’t handle, they can consume the finger left behind by Yuji Itadori and set the stage for his reincarnation.

“When I die, I’ll become a cursed object. Who knows what will happen here? Maybe hundreds of years from now, cursed energy will become necessary again, and then they can just eat me.” — Yuji Itadori explains his plans to follow Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter #25

After reincarnation, Yuji would regain his prime-era abilities and effectively position himself as the most powerful figure of a new generation—exactly the kind of payoff fans have been waiting for. That said, the author hasn’t provided any concrete indication that the story will actually go that far. As far as readers can tell, Gege Akutami may be finished with Jujutsu Kaisen, even though his return to Weekly Shonen Jump is guaranteed. Whether that comeback comes as another Jujutsu Kaisen entry—or a completely new series—remains unknown.

Sign in
to claim your place on the leaderboard!

Why Yuji Could Return As The King Of Curses In The Future

If Gege Akutami ever decides to return to Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji becoming the next Ryomen Sukuna is one of the most direct storyline threads to revisit. By converting himself into a cursed object and reincarnating roughly 300 years later, Yuji could become a “new King of Curses” after a long stretch of time. After Sukuna’s fall in JJK Chapter 269, the series hasn’t yet delivered the same level of looming threat from any villain. In fact, aside from Sukuna, no other antagonist in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen—as established by Gege Akutami—has carried a comparable presence or aura.

“Please look forward to the next work of Gege Akutami and Yuji Iwasaki. Thank you!” – Editor’s note teases Gege’s return, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter #25

Bringing Yuji back as the new King of Curses would let the series revisit that scale of menace. The primary difference would be his role: Yuji wouldn’t be a villain in the traditional sense. Instead, he would work toward helping Japan, even if he still expects whoever consumes him to earn the power he provides. In that way, Yuji could end up playing a similar narrative function to Kurama from Naruto—a comparison that fans will be watching closely if Gege ever chooses to explore it.

All the chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen and Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.