WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen, Chapter #137, by Gege Akutami, John Werry and Snir Aharon, available now in English from Viz Media.
With the conclusion of Jujutsu Kaisen's "Shibuya Incident" arc, the series has finally introduced the mysterious Yuta Okkotsu into the main story. The star of the prequel manga -- Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 0 -- arrives after some significant changes for Yuji Itadori, his friends and the Jujutsu world at large come into play.
With Satoru Gojo currently trapped within the Prison Realm -- captured by Suguru Geto's possessed body -- the struggle between Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits has gravely shifted in the direction of the latter. So, Yuta's introduction should be exciting for fans. However, the jaded and conservative Jujutsu society elders have decided to pit Yuta against Itadori -- blaming Sukuna's vessel for much of the mayhem in Shibuya.
Jujutsu Kaisen's Mysterious Yuta Okkotsu
Jujutsu Kaisen's Vol. 0 serves as a prequel to the series main story and focuses on Yuta Okkotsu during his first year at Jujutsu Tech -- a year before Itadori's journey begins. Yuta's circumstances aren't too dissimilar from Itadori's, with both of them meant to be executed for serving as vessels for powerful Curses. In Itadori's case, he houses Sukuna, while Yuta can summon the Cursed Spirit of his childhood friend, Rika -- who suffered a gruesome death.
Rika's Cursed Spirit form, like Sukuna, is frighteningly powerful, which filled the Jujutsu elders with enough fear to mark Yuta for execution. Satoru Gojo vouches for Yuta, as he would later do for Itadori, delaying his sentence. Like Itadori, Yuta had little experience with Curses but aimed to learn more for his sake and Rika's. Aside from Yuta's immense Cursed Energy, he also can copy Cursed Techniques. Yuta is a distant relative of a famous sorcerer named Michizane Sugawara, making him Gojo's distant relative.
Following the events of Volume 0 and Geto's Night Parade of 100 Demons, Yuta would go on to study abroad to hone his skills further. Though Itadori hasn't met Yuta, the prequel star has been mentioned by Fushiguro and Todo with much praise.
Will Yuta & Itadori Be Forced to Fight?
When Yuta finally returns, it doesn't come on good terms. He is immediately named Itadori's executioner, which he has no issue with after learning that Toge Inumaki -- with who Yuta is incredibly close -- lost an arm because of Sukuna's vessel. The fallout from the Shibuya Incident looks to shake the Jujutsu world to its core. Not only are both Itadori and Principal Masamichi Yaga sentenced to death, but Gojo is named an accomplice in the disaster -- resulting in his exile and making it a criminal act to release him from his sealing.
Still, there is a chance that once Yuta meets Itadori, and if he's willing to hear his side, that the two could bond over their mutual experiences and shared enemies. Plus, Gojo is no stranger to operating under scrutiny and has always intended to challenge the archaic traditions of Jujutsu society with this younger generation. So, it's possible the series' next arc could be a civil war between Jujutsu Sorcerers -- with the Cursed Spirits benefiting from their potential mutual destruction.
Itadori, Fushiguro, Nobara and the rest of Jujutsu Tech are far from out of the woods with some pretty clear battle lines drawn. However, if they can sway Yuta out of his seemingly vengeful mission, they'll gain a much-needed ally with Gojo missing for the foreseeable future.
