Iori Hazenoki vs. Kenjaku is a battle between incarnated Culling Game player, Iori Hazenoki and the curse user, Kenjaku. It occurs in the Lake Gosho Colony during Kenjaku's attempt to eliminate the remaining players in the Culling Game to end the event.
Prologue
On December 24, Kenjaku leaves Sukuna's side to kill all the remaining players participating in the Culling Game in preparation for the merger.[1] Around the time when Satoru Gojo and Sukuna's battle concluded, Kenjaku arrives at the Lake Gosho Colony, where he kills an unnamed female player. Iori Hazenoki then approaches Kenjaku, knowing full well his reason for coming to the colony. After watching the conclusion to Satoru and Sukuna's fight, Kenjaku reveals that he is closely monitoring the jujutsu sorcerers in Shinjuku, so there won't be anyone to help Iori during their fight.[2]
Battle
Several cursed spirits rush out of the forest and charge Iori as Kenjaku asks if the incarnated sorcerer really thought he could hold him off until help arrived. Iori removes a tooth and detonates it, causing a massive explosion in the forest that destroys the curses. A large curse then appears to his side, causing him to remove his eye and throw it into the curse's stomach before exploding it. While he is regenerating his eye with reverse cursed technique, a distracted Iori is attacked by small flying curses.
Kenjaku explains his motivation for starting the Culling Game.
Kenjaku walks towards Iori and explains that he was aware of his ability to use reverse cursed technique, which is why he targeted his head. As he mocks Iori's shoddiness despite being a reincarnated player, it is revealed that the small curses stabbed their proboscis-like appendages through the reincarnated player's neck, preventing him from healing his body from the neck down.
Resentfully, Iori asks Kenjaku why he is killing players. Kenjaku explains that he needs to kill all the players to end the Culling Game due to a binding vow. By ending the Culling Game, he would be able to merge the people of Japan with Tengen. Iori is unable to understand Kenjaku's motives, who explains that he believes life is about seeing what one hasn't seen, and confirming what one thinks is interesting in imagination is interesting in real life. Still unable to understand, Hazenoki insults Kenjaku one last time before being killed.[3]
Aftermath
Fumihiko survives Kenjaku's attack.
After Kenjaku kills Iori, he senses Fumihiko Takaba leave Shinjuku. As Fumihiko runs down the road to meet Kenjaku, he exclaims that he finally arrived in Hakodate, leading Kenjaku to correct him that they are in Iwate. Not understanding why the jujutsu sorcerers chose Fumihiko to fight him, Kenjaku seemingly disposes of the comedian with a swarm of curses. However, Fumihiko survives the attack, surprising Kenjaku. After agreeing 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, the two begin their battle.[4]
References
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 222 (p. 12-13).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 239 (p. 1-9).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 239 (p. 10-16).
- ↑ Jujutsu Kaisen Manga: Chapter 230 (p. 16-19).
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