Chapter 196 of Jujutsu Kaisen serves as a mini-training montage for Maki as she accepts Miyo Rukojushi’s invitation to compete in a sumo battle by entering his Simple Domain. While they were tussling, he described how Daidou had detected Naoya despite not being able to see cursed spirits, and how he had dealt so much harm with a single stroke. After much struggle, Maki was able to gain a certain degree of sensory independence and leave Miyo’s control behind. Reader expectations that Maki will once again confront Naoya have been confirmed by spoilers for Chapter 197. With the publication of the official English translations, this article summarises and analyses chapter 197 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Summary and excerpt from Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 197
In this episode, Maki escapes Miyo’s control
On the cover of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 197, “Sakurajima Colony, Part 7,” we see Maki standing over a sprawled-out Miyo. When Maki first enters the realm, Noritoshi, Daidou, and even Naoya see that she is different from before. They cannot believe how drastically she has altered in such a short period of time, and they are concerned that something terrible may have occurred to her while she was in Miyo’s control. Later in Chapter 197, we learn that the consequences of the Binding Vow cause time to pass considerably more quickly in the Simple Domain.
They can have nearly a thousand sumo matches inside the domain without losing more than a minute of actual time. Naoya merely laughs it off, convinced that Maki’s sudden confidence boost proves nothing, and takes off. As far as Noritoshi can tell, he’s trying to recreate the high-velocity attack he used to critically wound Maki earlier.
Both Daidou and Miyo decide to get involved in the conflict
Meanwhile, in chapter 197 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Daidou and Miyo are getting ready for a fight and observing that they haven’t battled quite enough. Noritoshi, taken aback, demands to know who they are and why they are assisting Maki and him despite the fact that they are reincarnated athletes. Yet they both insist it is irrelevant and show no sign of caring. Daidou says he has a sword and wants to use it more, while Miyo says he wants to wrestle Maki again and asks Daidou if he wants to join in; Daidou declines. Noritoshi’s incessant queries have been cited as the cause of their delays, with the group claiming that Maki has already made progress without them.
A hot pursuit between Naoya and Maki
In the following chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen, Naoya vents his displeasure at being unable to capture Maki due to Maki’s incredible speed. When he flies straight ahead of her to try to intercept her, the girl keeps up with him effortlessly, anticipating his next move.
With her heightened senses, Maki lets herself fall freely and contemplates the newfound freedom she has. This time, she paraphrases Daidou because she is certain that the information gathered from her surroundings would allow her to counter Naoya’s assaults.
Maki reflects on her history, recalling Mai, the selfless woman who sacrificed herself to give her the eyesight to see cursed spirits without the need for spectacles. As she no longer feels like an outsider, she comes to terms with the fact that she has become satisfied with her present power. Maki remembers Toji, who she knows would not have been as hesitant as she was. He could have followed Naoya with lightning speed and swung his katana without a second’s hesitation. Being normal isn’t good enough, she decides because there are some things that only she and Toji can see because of their Heavenly Restriction.
Maki parries and strikes back
Naoya, certain that Maki can no longer escape, plunges headfirst through a building and tries to catch her as she continues to fall. She deftly avoids Naoya’s midair attack, which leaves him flabbergasted and upset. In Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 196, Maki reflects on the feelings she received while battling Miyo and realises that the environment isn’t as barren as it first looks. When Maki moves, she uses the air’s varying temperatures and densities as if they have distributed surfaces, thanks to her enhanced senses.
She then spins around, punching Naoya as he falls from the sky. Naoya continues to mock her, claiming that her blows are ineffective because they are not empowered by cursed energy.
Assault by Miyo and Daidou
When Naoya taunts Maki, Miyo rushes up to him and delivers a strong headbutt, which he dubs “Kappa Rokujushi.” Meanwhile, Daidou surrounds Naoya from the opposite side and slices him in two with Maki’s sword before he can regain his composure. After the last bow, Maki kicks away half of Naoya’s corpse. Despite recognising Toji in Maki’s actions, he continues to deny Maki’s strength. Chapter 197 of Jujutsu Kaisen concludes with a furious Naoya emerging from his shell in humanoid form and utilising Domain Expansion, proclaiming that he, not Toji, deserves to be on Toji’s level.
The horrific conclusion of chapter 197 of Jujutsu Kaisen comes when Naoya’s metamorphosis appears to have completed its cycle. He is determined to disprove Maki’s claim that she is like Toji, and he will likely try to isolate her within his realm to do so.
The last fight between Naoya and Maki is expected to commence in Chapter 198. Fans will have to wait until September 25, 2022, to see what Akutami has in store for Maki in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, as the series will be taking a vacation after next week’s episode.