The stunning conclusion of chapter 193 of Jujutsu Kaisen included Naoya’s rapid strike and a severely hurt Maki. Maki’s cousin Naoya Zenin reappears in the manga as a strong cursed spirit in the current Sakurajima chapter, leaving people stunned at how outmatched Maki appears to be. As the combat continues to escalate in Chapter 193, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting chapters in this arc by mangaka Gege Akutami. This article summarises and analyses chapter 194 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Review of Chapter 194 of Jujutsu Kaisen: Summary
At the beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 194, titled Sakurajima Colony Part 4, Naoya mocks his cousin Maki Zenin, calling her a kid and mocking her weakness while claiming to be an adult and implying that he would easily win this fight. When Maki asks when he first became an adult, Naoya suggests they talk to Maki’s late twin, Mai. This infuriates Maki, but Naoya explains that she has to calm down and accept the fact that he is in the stronger position. At that very moment, Noritoshi Kamo enters and uses his shield to protect the victim from the cursed spirit, but he is struck by one of Kamo’s arrows. Naoya is shocked by Noritoshi’s use of Blood Manipulation because it’s his own blood, and Naoya is stunned by the volume of blood the former is using.
Since losing that much blood would kill him, he wonders if he is making use of pre-prepared blood bags. After fighting Naoya, he immediately realises that Noritoshi is controlling his blood flow so that he can force it back into his body. He says that Noritoshi will soon perish and that it must be tough to keep up the method. They can’t afford to lose Maki right now, so Noritoshi has her sneak out of the colony while he distracts Naoya. Having no cursed energy allows Maki to move across colonies, as revealed by Nishimiya in chapter 190 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, therefore this is a nod in that direction. Maki resists, saying that if she goes, Noritoshi would die, but Noritoshi retorts that they will both perish if Maki remains.
He takes stock of her wounds, pointing out that her internal organs were harmed in Naoya’s attack and won’t recover with just bed rest. Maki assures everyone that she is healthy and able to recover from her wounds. Noritoshi chooses to man the fort until Maki returns, a process she estimates will take five minutes. When he inquires as to their odds, Maki responds that they have a 2:8 shot of victory. This is satisfactory to him. Despite Maki’s pleadings to the contrary, Noritoshi admits that it is now irrelevant whether he lives or dies and that he will do his best to avoid doing so. The battle between Naoya and Noritoshi begins in earnest in chapter 194 of Jujutsu Kaisen, when Noritoshi employs his cursed skill to manipulate his blood into a grid-like pattern to shelter himself from Naoya’s attacks.
He lands a blow, but is pushed back as Naoya, still somewhat taken aback by Maki’s absence, tries to recover. He says she’s just like Toji in that he has no idea she’s there at all. In this brief respite, Noritoshi is able to assess Naoya’s skills, and he comes to the conclusion that Naoya’s armoured shell hardens in direct proportion to his speed, preventing him from exploding under the strain. He deduces that Naoya’s naturally soft shell makes him vulnerable to Noritoshi’s blood, which is harmful to cursed spirits, because of this Binding Vow. Naoya strikes him with another high-velocity punch, forcing him back even as he continues to charge forward, before he has a chance to respond. When he coughs up blood, he exploits the chance to spit on Naoya’s intake valve, facilitating his rapid method.
He assumes Naoya will expect him to limit the amount of blood he uses in order to prevent excessive bleeding, so when he surprises him with another Piercing Blood strike, Naoya is taken aback and scolds him angrily. In chapter 194 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Noritoshi reflects on his childhood while worrying about his mother’s reaction to his current predicament. He ruminates on how she would respond to his failure to become Kamo clan chief and to transform the clan into a source of joy for her. Unfortunately, it appears too late when he spots her, her new family, and her child strolling along a path lined with gingko leaves between his beaming parents. Despite his remorse, he feels like an outsider. But before he can explain why, Naoya cuts him off, asking whether murdering him is a consolation prize, and then attacking him again.
Noritoshi is knocked back, but he stays on his feet because he knows that if he is no longer required, his death will not be in vain if he does everything he can to ensure the survival of his friends. Naoya is preparing his next strike in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 194, but the combat is cut short by the arrival of two additional characters. At the end of the chapter, two more participants in the Culling Game show up at the spot, both sobbing as one cries “Sumo” and the other yells back “Katana,” evidently debating fiercely with each other.
Chapter 194 of Jujutsu Kaisen concludes with a dizzying double bout. The two characters’ entrance may have bought Noritoshi enough time to tap out and have Maki come in for another round against Naoya, albeit he still appears to be in imminent danger of dying.
Noritoshi’s importance in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga grows in chapter 194, which also manages to smuggle in details about Naoya’s restrictions and Maki’s Heavenly Restriction-granted powers. Constant comparisons between her and the legendary Toji help shed light on the latter’s legendary invincibility.