The anime community is reeling from a monumental revelation in one of its biggest series. The second episode of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, which aired on 9 January 2026 on Crunchyroll, delivered a plot twist that has fundamentally altered the understanding of the show's protagonist, Yuji Itadori. The episode confirmed the long-running fan theory that the ancient, body-hopping sorcerer Kenjaku is directly responsible for Yuji's birth, having used his mother's body to conceive him.
The Shocking Confirmation of Yuji's Origins
Season 3, premiering on 8 January 2026, continues the adaptation of the Culling Game arc from Gege Akutami's manga. It picks up the narrative threads after the catastrophic events of the Shibuya Incident. While fans knew Yuji's background involved his grandfather Wasuke and his seemingly ordinary father Jin, his mother remained a mystery. Episode 2 shattered that mystery by revealing that the woman known as Kaori Itadori was not in control of her own body when Yuji was conceived.
The tell-tale sign was the presence of Kenjaku's signature cross-shaped scar on her forehead. This confirmed that Kenjaku had possessed Kaori, using her as a vessel to give birth to Yuji as part of a grand, centuries-spanning experiment. Yuji was not a product of chance but a deliberately engineered vessel for immense cursed energy, created through Kenjaku's sinister manipulation.
Connecting the Bloodlines: A Darker Legacy
This revelation does not exist in a vacuum. It deeply connects Yuji to Kenjaku's earlier, horrific experiments. Centuries prior, under the alias Noritoshi Kamo, Kenjaku created the abominations known as the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings, which included the characters Choso, Eso, and Kechizu. By using the same method of supernatural conception through a possessed host, Kenjaku has effectively made Yuji a half-sibling to these cursed beings.
This twist provides a chilling explanation for the unexplained bond Choso felt with Yuji during the Shibuya Incident. It reframes Yuji Itadori from a regular teenager thrust into a world of sorcery to a predestined creation, born from a fusion of dark science and cursed energy, with his very existence serving a master plan.
Fan Frenzy and Narrative Implications
The immediate aftermath of the episode was a storm of reactions across social media platforms like X. Fans expressed sheer disbelief, with comments like "Kenjaku being Yuji's mom was an insane reveal" capturing the collective shock. The discussion quickly moved to analyzing how this new information reshapes past events and foreshadows future developments in the Culling Game.
Analysts and viewers note that this twist is classic Jujutsu Kaisen, delving into complex, morally grey areas of fate, free will, and the corruption of natural order. It adds profound weight to Yuji's ongoing struggle, raising critical questions about his agency. Is he merely a pawn in Kenjaku's game, or can he defy his engineered destiny?
With Kenjaku's machinations now at the heart of the story, Season 3 promises to explore even darker and more emotionally charged territory. As new episodes release weekly, the focus remains on Yuji's fight for survival, the shifting alliances, and the heavy consequences of previous battles. This revelation ensures that every step of Yuji's journey will now be viewed through the lens of his terrifying true origin.
