Summary
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen 256, “Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 28” by Gege Akutami, translated by John Werry, and Lettered by Snir Aharon, available in English fromMangaPlus.
Jujutsu Kaisenchapter 256 might just be one of the most important chapters in the story going forward, as the protagonist of the series, Yuji Itadori has now started to strengthen himself greatly in the face of danger. This chapter was one that the fans entered with quite a bit of nervousness, which was down to the fact that Sukuna had started to enter the zoneafter hitting a powerful black flashin the previous chapter against Larue.
While he certainly did build upon that momentum, Yuji and the other sorcerer got their moments as well, and it was quite a brilliantly executed chapter by the author.
Sukuna Rages In Battle
Sukuna Hits Two More Black Flashes
JJKchapter 256 focused quite a bit on Ryomen Sukuna. This was something that the fans expected right from the get-go. Sukuna was on a completely different level of strength towards the end of the last chapter, and hitting a black flash against Larue meant that he was now going to climb even higher in terms of power. When Gojo hit his second black flash, he got his reverse cursed technique back. In the case of Sukuna, this didn’t seem to be the case, however, he was certainly getting closer to it. That said, Sukuna picked up momentum even more, and much to the surprise of the fans, hit two more black flashes.
Beneath the scattering sparks of black…Itadori Yuji…Awakens
Sukuna showcasedhis incredible level of strength against the likes of Makiand Choso. The latter was able to successfully tank a powerful black flash from Sukuna, thanks to his blood manipulation ability. This just goes to show how incredible a user he is of this cursed technique, and how Yuji can pick up these skills from him later down the line. Meanwhile, Maki once again stood resilient, and even after a powerful black flash that sent her flying, she is still on her feet, which, once again, goes to show that she is on a completely different level than before entering the Shinjuku Showdown battle, and that she has potentially surpassed Toji in terms of power.
Meanwhile, Larue and Miguel looked ready to leave the battle, however, the former persisted, and he has proven himself to be one of the heroes of the Shinjuku Showdown battle already. His contribution in this arc has been massive, and it will most likely be even bigger in the upcoming few chapters of the story.
The Raid Team Combine
The Sorcerers Gang Up On Sukuna
Jujutsu Kaisenchapter 256 showcased Sukuna in a brilliant fashion, however, it also threw quite a lot of attention to the raid team. Finally, all the main players in the raid were starting to assemble, and they played their part against the Sukuna brilliantly. As was mentioned above, Choso and Maki showcased their incredible resilience against Sukuna by displaying tremendous feats in the face of danger. However, they were not the only ones who shined here.
The output of his base slashes is increasing too!! – Maki Zenin
Larue and Miguel certainly had their role to play, with the latter providing the opportunity for Yuji to land a powerful blow on Sukuna that could have very well gone on to change the face of this battle for good. Before that, Choso provided an opportunity for Yuji to land a powerful Piercing Blood on Sukuna. For the very first time, Yuji has now given fans a confirmation of the fact that he has a cursed technique. Previously, fans were discussing the possibility of Yuji having a cursed technique or not, and now, it has been essentially confirmed that he has gained an incredibly amazing power that he will most likely take to the next level.
That said, it was also confirmed in the very same chapter that Yuji does not have access to abilities such as Supernova right now. This simply means that Yuji is still somewhat away from the level where he can utilize this cursed technique at the highest level. However, the fact that he was able to get this far in just one month is a great achievement for him. With the power of Piercing Blood,Yuji was able to graze Sukunaand injure him even more.
Yuji even landed a couple of blows on him, which, once again, reduced his cursed energy output and was the main reason that kept Sukuna from reaching higher levels of power even after hitting four black flashes.
Yuji Gets An Awakening
Yuji Lands A Black Flash
Quite easily, the most important part ofJJKchapter 256 came towards the very end. This is where Larue shined in combat, as he utilized his ability to grab Sukuna’s attention and distract him from Yuji. This gave Yuji enough time to charge a perfect black flash, and land this hit on the King of Curses. This black flash was special and the sparks that it released were absolutely massive. This black flash is likely going to change the face of battle from here onwards. After hitting this powerful black flash, Yuji is most likely going to enter the zone, and, as a result, he is going to be even more dangerous in the upcoming few chapters.
Most importantly,JJKchapter 256 confirmed to the fans that Yuji has now gained an Awakening. For Yuji to get a powerful Awakening means thatSukuna is now going to be on the back foot, and at the same time, it also means that he is most likely going to demonstrate new abilities in the upcoming chapter. This is the moment that the fans have been waiting for right from when the Shinjuku Showdown began, and Yuji, being the main character ofJJK, deserves it the most.
As such, JJK chapter 256 did a great job in giving Yuji the platformto shine against the King of Curses, and potentially go on to defeat him. Now, Yuji is going to awaken new powers, and potentially rival Sukuna in combat, which would eventually pave the way to defeat him.
Of course, defeating Sukuna is still not going to be easy for him. For one, Sukuna is the strongest sorcerer, and, secondly, he has still managed to recover after hitting four black flashes. This in its house means that Sukuna will be in a better position heading into the next chapter, however, it also gives the fans a lot of hope concerning the state of this battle, asYuji is now going to get strongerand possibly face Sukuna on a more level playfield.
Above all, fans are eagerly waiting to see what Yuji is going to pull off in the next chapter ofJJK. The power-up could be his cursed technique, Blood Manipulation, being taken to the next level, or it could be something else entirely. It is possible that Sukuna’s technique inside him has finally awakened, or even the ability to hit black flashes at will. Only time can tell, and fans will simply have to sit back and wait with patience to see what the author delivers in the next chapter. Unfortunately,JJKis going to be on a break heading into the next week, which means the answer to Yuji’s awakening will come only after 2 weeks.
Jujutsu Kaisen is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and theManga Plusapp. The release date for the next chapter of JJK, Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 257, is set to be July 18, 2025.
