Warning: Spoilers for the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen.Jujutsu Kaisen is a revolutionary franchise that made a name for itself by breaking the precedents set by such shonen giants as Narutoand Gege Akutami’s masterpiece even subtly challenged NarutoThe most controversial twist. Jujutsu Kaisen was always aimed Naruto as a rival, structuring Yuuji and Sukuna as a parallel to Naruto and Kurama. It’s no surprise then that Jujutsu Kaisen would take the most controversial card from Narutodeck just to show how the card can be played differently.
The map in question is NarutoA controversial reincarnation twist in which Naruto and Sasuke were revealed to be the reincarnations of two brothers, Ashura and Indra. Jujutsu Kaisen would have reflected this twist by making Yuuji the son of Sukuna’s reincarnated twin brother, with Sukuna being the closest to a Sasuke-type rival who Jujutsu Kaisen Yuji suggests. Path Jujutsu Kaisen implements this twist, apparently adapted to criticism Narutoreincarnation’s own twist, so although it is often underestimated, it one of the most interesting examples of the strange relationship between two series.
NarutoOThe reincarnation twist has sparked controversy for good reason
By redefining the entire story at the end, Naruto’s reincarnation plot undermines its narrative
NarutoThe Ashura/Indra twist was controversial because it essentially retconned the entire series and rejected Narutothe most important topics while it was on it. The story goes that Asura and Indra were brothers and children of Kaguya Otsutsuki, who, while feuding, initiated a chain of revival that gave birth to the Senju, Uzumaki and Uchiha clans.. The souls of Ashura and Indra apparently chose blood descendants that reflected their own characteristics. In the process, through reincarnations like Hashirama and Madara, he also gave birth to the entire shinobi world.
Connected
Conveniently, through Naruto and Sasuke, this chain of reincarnations also gave rise to the entire plot. Naruto. While the idea itself worked well in action, it didn’t sit well with many fans. Firstly, it came at a point in the story where everything was starting to seem resolved – Kaguya’s turn in itself is very controversial. Secondly, Naruto spent so much time creating the story of an outcast misfit who through hard work and determination could have become the leader of a village that despised him. Making Naruto the fateful reincarnation of a pseudo-mythological character is a difficult task Narutoostensibly egalitarian foundations.
What was different about Jujutsu Kaisen’s reincarnation twist?
A more localized approach was less disruptive to the story
If the reception NarutoWhat the reincarnation storyline shows is that the value of a twist is usually inversely proportional to its explanatory power, and a good twist requires an unspoken commitment to some overarching theme. At the decisive moment of the final fight between Yuuji and Sukuna. The narrative bomb is dropped in chapter #257.. Although the time is similar Narutoown, will be released just 14 chapters before Jujutsu KaisenIn conclusion, fans have long speculated that Sukuna and Yuuji were related (and even twins).
Connected
There was also a narrative place for this, as Yuuji always had a mysterious and unclear past. On top of that, the fact that Yuuji and Sukuna share a soul has already been explored before through Mai and Maki Zenin. The fact that this twist was part of Kenjaku’s grand plan to create a suitable vessel for Sukuna does have a conspiratorial undertone, as NarutoThis is a twist on reincarnation, but there are two key differences.
First of all, Sukuna and Yuuji’s turn is simply less significant than NarutoAshura and Indra. Bye Jujutsu KaisenThis twist really only matters for Kenjaku’s plan and Yuuji’s origins and potential. NarutoThis twist holds the fate of the entire shinobi world in its hands.. Both twists feature a similar fatalism—such as the acknowledgment that the cycle of curses will continue for Sukuna and Yuuji as long as they both live—but Narutothe scope is obviously much wider.
Secondly, the Sukuna/Yuji reincarnation twist fits elegantly with Jujutsu Kaisenthemes without undermining them. Naruto gave what was essentially a deterministic “divine right” justification for order throughout the universe after several hundred chapters/episodes that build up the concept of willpower, peaceful intervention, and the ability to decide one’s own destiny. Jujutsu KaisenOn the other hand, he always paid attention to the roles people play, how fate can shape someone’s life, and (most importantly) how willpower provides the ability to overwrite both.
Jujutsu Kaisen Tuk NarutoBiggest twist and made it better
While not necessarily intentional, Jujutsu Kaisen is based on Naruto’s most controversial decision.
To address the obvious: Jujutsu KaisenThe reincarnation twist is partly inspired by an urban legend, while Narutoinspired by Japanese Buddhism (although Buddhism also has a large influence on Jujutsu Kaisen). The mere presence of reincarnation in both stories does not mean that Jujutsu Kaisen deliberately relied on Narutouse of this concept. Whether intentional or not, it is remarkable how Jujutsu Kaisenimplementation of a similar turn did not generate the same level of controversyand at least this speaks of the scope and execution of the turn in Jujutsu Kaisen compared to Naruto.
Both are nice twists of the moment, but problems arise when thought about for a long time. Admittedly, Jujutsu KaisenThe reincarnation twist undermines an otherwise excellent narrative thread concerning the interplay of chance, fate, and willpower. By making Yuuji’s birth a deliberate effort on Kenjaku’s part, it rises to the level of, say, Madara’s deliberate intervention to ensure his eventual reincarnation and his undying feud with Konoha and the Senju clan. Jujutsu Kaisen still not getting there Narutolevel of unnecessary reconnectionAlthough.
Jujutsu Kaisen localized Narutoglobal implications and brought his version of the reincarnation twist closer, carefully fitting it into the narrative and thematic cracks he’d been carving out over time. Against, NarutoThe reincarnation twist always felt like a colorful but ultimately unnecessary addition to a story and world that didn’t need it. Maybe Jujutsu Kaisen always imagined myself as Ashura in order to Narutostraightforward Indra; Here, Ashura comes out on top.