Fumihiko Takaba vs. Kenjaku is a battle fought between comedian-turned-Culling Game player, Fumihiko Takaba and the ancient curse user, Kenjaku. It occurs in the Lake Gosho Colony, after Fumihiko is sent by his allies to attack Kenjaku and delay his plans to end the Culling Game.
Prologue
The jujutsu sorcerers discuss their plan to attack Kenjaku.
Before the paramount battle between Satoru Gojo and Sukuna, the Angel discusses the need to attack Kenjaku before the battle ends with Yuta Okkotsu, Atsuya Kusakabe, Mei Mei, and Kinji Hakari. She notes that even if they defeat Sukuna, it wouldn't matter if Kenjaku achieves his goal of merging the Japanese people with Tengen. Kinji notes that judging from the rules added by Kenjaku, killing all the players participating in the Culling Game might be the condition to end it.
Yuta asks why they should worry about that since he and Kinji are also players, which would prevent Kenjaku from achieving his objective so long as they are fighting Sukuna. The Angel suggests the possibility of Kenjaku ambushing them if Satoru loses, which Kinji admits would be disadvantageous for them if they are occupied with fighting Sukuna. The Angel adds that even if Kenjaku doesn't ambush them and they achieve a narrow victory against Sukuna but at the cost of Satoru, they would be too weakened to fight Kenjaku. While the sorcerers deliberate over who to send to fight Kenjaku, the Angel nominates Fumihiko Takaba, much to their confusion.[1]
On December 24, Kenjaku leaves Sukuna's side to kill all the remaining players participating in the Culling Game in preparation for the merger.[2] Around the time when Satoru and Sukuna's battle concluded, Kenjaku arrives at the Lake Gosho Colony, where he kills an unnamed female player and Iori Hazenoki. Afterwards, Fumihiko is sent to the colony by Ui Ui's cursed technique, where he confronts Kenjaku.[3]
Battle
Fumihiko survives Kenjaku's attack.
Upon seeing Fumihiko, Kenjaku questions the jujutsu sorcerers' assassin of choice before attacking him with cursed spirits. Fumihiko is seemingly overwhelmed and killed, but soon crawls out of the crater unharmed, surprising Kenjaku. Kenjaku takes notice of the peculiar effect of Fumihiko's cursed technique as the comedian expresses his belief that the most thrilling thing in the world is when comedians who are only there to pad out the cast end up stealing the show.[4]
Kenjaku wounds Fumihiko and his confidence.
Kenjaku continues to attack Fumihiko to no avail, all the while the latter jokes around. Deducing the capabilities of Fumihiko's cursed technique, Kenjaku tries to uncover its weakness and begins conversing with Fumihiko. After having a conversation over their mutual enjoyment of comedy, Fumihiko attempts to impress Kenjaku with his wi-fi joke, only for it to fall flat. After receiving criticism from Kenjaku that leaves him disheartened, Fumihiko's innate technique deactivates, allowing Kenjaku to finally damage the comedian with a powerful elbow strike that sends him flying into a forest.[5]
Realizing that Fumihiko's innate technique requires his own confidence and certainty to remain active, Kenjaku piles on the criticism and outdoes Fumihiko in humor, rendering him increasingly vulnerable to his attacks. A defeated Fumihiko attempts to regain confidence by convincing himself that he is funny, only to be devastated upon seeing Hazenoki's corpse. As Kenjaku approaches him, Fumihiko realizes that the situation isn't funny at all.[6]
As he is chased and attacked by Kenjaku through the forest, Fumihiko remembers his past, as well as his original motivation for becoming an entertainer: to have people know him better. Coming to the realization that he stopped taking comedy seriously due to being afraid of getting hurt, Fumihiko regains his confidence as a comedian and resolves to make Kenjaku laugh his guts out. This allows him to reactivate his technique, exciting Kenjaku, who looks forward to his abilities.[7]
Fumihiko exorcises a special grade cursed spirit with a truck.
Kenjaku summons the special grade rebel spirit Akuro-o Otake, but it is swiftly exorcised by a truck driven by Fumihiko, created through Comedian. The cursed technique brings Kenjaku and Fumihiko into imaginary scenarios manifested from the latter's imagination, causing the two to engage in hilarious shenanigans in various simulated environments, such as reviving a dead goldfish at a hospital, participating in a game show in a valley, or playing with water on the beach. As the antics ensue, Kenjaku realizes that any damage incurred to himself will persist, but damage done to Fumihiko are nothing but simulations to him. Therefore, if the battle continues, he will lose. Since the simulations won't end until Fumihiko's desire for laughs is satisfied, Kenjaku prepares to end it by bringing Fumihiko into a scenario manifested through his thoughts, a stand-up comedy performance with him and Fumihiko as the performers.[8]
Walking onto stage, Kenjaku and Fumihiko engage in a comedy routine revolving around the tale of Momotarō, earning the laughs of the audience. As the performance comes to a close, Fumihiko's technique ends, and the two reappear in the forest. Satisfied, Fumihiko lays on the ground dressed as a corpse and thanks Kenjaku for being his partner, and the latter compliments the comedian for his hilarity.[9]
Aftermath
Yuta decapitates Kenjaku.
Fumihiko is seemingly defeated, but Yuta suddenly appears behind Kenjaku, poised to strike with his katana. Kenjaku attempts to defend himself with the cursed technique reversal of Antigravity System, but he is too late as Yuta moves behind him once more and cleanly slices off his head.
As Kenjaku's head falls to the ground, he wonders about how he didn't notice Yuta's immense cursed energy. Seeing Fumihiko, he realizes that it was due to the comedian's influence, as he didn't want the show to be interrupted. Falling onto the ground, Kenjaku asks if this was the jujutsu sorcerers' plan all along, which Yuta confirms, since they knew Fumihiko couldn't kill people. Regretting being unable to finish what he started, Kenjaku nonetheless ominously declares that his will shall be inherited.[10]
References
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 240 (p. 3-6).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 222 (p. 12-13).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 239 (p. 1-16).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 239 (p. 17-19).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 240 (p. 7-15).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 240 (p. 15-19).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 241 (p. 1-19).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 242 (p. 1-19).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 243 (p. 1-15).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 243 (p. 16-19).
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