WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 9 of Jujutsu Kaisen, "Small Fry and Reverse Retribution," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
From severed fingers to ripped out hearts, Jujutsu Kaisen doesn't shy away from the strange or gruesome. However, Mahito's ability to transfigure humans catches even a seasoned Jujutsu Sorcerer like Nanami Kento by surprise after he and Itadori mistook them for Curses.
While Mahito's actions have drawn Sorcerers' attention, they've also piqued the interest of a young high school outcast, Junpei Yoshino, who finds the Cursed Spirit more compelling than frightening. As Itadori and Nanami start to close in on Mahito, Junpei could find himself caught in the middle as a potential pawn.
Itadori & Nanami Discover Transfigured Humans
After following trace amounts of Cursed Energy, Itadori and Nanami are confronted by a pair of enemies they presume are Curses. With Nanami's technique, which allows him to create weak points on any opponent, and Itadori debuting an improved version of his Divergent Fist, they're able to defeat them with relative ease. Unfortunately, Nanami's eventual realization that they're humans, not Curses, leaves Itadori shaken.
Jujutsu Tech's resident doctor, Ieiri Shoko, confirms Nanami's suspicions, revealing that the creatures they fought were once human. A Cursed Technique had altered their bodies and brainstems, imbuing them with large amounts of Cursed Energy as well. Shoko tries to clear Itadori's conscience by informing him that the "former humans" died when they were transformed, not from the damage he caused. Nonetheless, Itadori feels immense responsibility for their deaths and, in equal measure, anger towards the Cursed Spirit responsible.
Mahito's Manipulation
Junpei's frustrations have been made prevalent, so his desire to learn Cursed Techniques isn't too surprising. The three discovered bodies were school bullies who had earlier tormented Junpei, beating him and putting cigarettes out on him. When Junpei witnesses Mahito kill them, he sees it as an opportunity to grow strong enough to defend himself, even if it means crossing a line.
Just as Junpei sees his encounter with Mahito as an opportunity, the Cursed Spirit does the same, luring him in with flattery. His apparent kinship with Junpei leads him to explain the existence of Curses, revealing his origins as well. Mahito explains that while some Curses are born from human's fear of things like urban legends, he was created from the fear humans have for one another.
Junpei's internalized pain from being bullied, wishing death on his tormentors, is a direct example of how Mahito came to be. The fear and hatred people feel towards each other is what brought Mahito into existence, and his choice of opening up to Junpei can only have sinister intentions. Despite an apparent bond, Mahito's goal remains to make Curses the dominant species, and his disregard for all human life doesn't bode well for Junpei.
Junpei Yoshino Falls Into Mahito's Corruption
Mahito's frightening ability to transfigure someone with just a touch sets him up as someone Itadori and the other Jujutsu Sorcerers will need to keep a close watch on. Nanami intends to fight the Cursed Spirit on his own while having Itadori focus on learning more about Junpei. With the next episode teasing both meetings, Mahito's true intentions for Junpei could come to light.
