Shonen Jump’s Hottest New Manga Just Made a Classic Naruto Mistake

Though Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine has ended around ten manga series this year, it continues to thrive with new releases. Joining its already massive library is a special sequel to one of Jump’s darkest series, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, a continuation of Gege Akutami’s magnum opus, Jujutsu Kaisen. When the sequel was announced, its initial teaser suggested it would stand out with a distinctive identity of its own, featuring art by Yuji Iwasaki, the illustrator of Cipher Academy. However, it soon became clear that the story directly extends the original, taking place around seventy years after the events of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Naturally, fans were thrilled about this sequel. The ending of Jujutsu Kaisen felt somewhat abrupt, and with many unresolved threads left behind, readers were eager to see what this continuation would deliver. Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo debuted on September 7th with its first chapter, “Special Grade Incident.” In its opening pages, it reveals that alien beings called “Simurians” will serve as the central focus of the story. However, these initial pages also confirm that the powers the Simurians wield are the same as those used by Earth’s Jujutsu sorcerers. This raises doubts about the true origin of cursed energy, a mystery deeply tied to the original series. Much like Naruto, which faced criticism for similar choices in its final arc and sequel series by introducing aliens, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo may encounter the same kind of backlash.

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Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sequel Is Mirroring Naruto’s Classic Mistake

The Naruto series initially established Chakra as something unique to humans and the Earth. However, near the end, it was revealed that Chakra originated from the alien being Kaguya. This sudden shift felt forced and undermined the foundation laid earlier in the story. Jujutsu Kaisen’s sequel risks making the same mistake. What makes this even more disappointing is how strong and authentic the original foundation of Cursed Energy was in Jujutsu Kaisen. Gege Akutami’s manga introduced Cursed Energy as something born from negative human emotions, making it an original and deeply compelling concept.

This idea gave rise to some of the series’ greatest villains, with Ryomen Sukuna himself embodying how such energy could manifest as both spirit and emotion. The concept felt unique because, while fictional, it was grounded in something very real and relatable. The sequel, however, introduces alien beings, with one of the central characters, Maru, revealing that their powers are the same as Cursed Energy. This suggests that Cursed Energy may not have originated from humanity at all, but was instead bestowed upon them, much like how Kaguya granted Chakra to her sons, shaping the shinobi world.

This theory is gaining traction among fans, with some speculating that Sukuna himself may have roots in this alien race, explaining his unusual body structure. If this direction proves true, it risks undermining the authenticity of the original series, where Cursed Energy was intricately tied to human emotion. Such a shift could make Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo’s narrative feel hollow, appealing only as an extension of the original rather than for its own originality. That said, the sequel still holds potential if it chooses to build upon the original foundation of Cursed Energy rather than discard it. With Maru, an alien yet central character, there is an opportunity to avoid repeating Naruto’s mistake and instead redeem the sequel’s narrative path.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sequel Could Still Redeem Naruto‘s Classic Mistake

The first chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo revealed little about the alien beings, only showing that they arrived on Earth seeking living space among humans. However, Maru’s interactions with the other two main characters, the Okkotsu siblings, Yuta and Maki’s grandchildren, offered important insights. These exchanges suggested that the Simurian race may not be so different from humans after all. Despite their obvious physical differences, Maru displays emotions familiar to all people. His most notable moments in the debut were his concern for Yuka and Tsurugi’s relationship, as well as sharing the struggles of his own sibling bond, reflecting experiences very much like those of humans.

This implies that Simurians may differ only in appearance, while their emotions, and by extension, their powers, stem from the same source as humans, particularly negative emotions, just like Jujutsu sorcerers. The debut chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo was promising and carried strong potential to stand as its own narrative. Still, concerns remain, especially around the possibility of it repeating Naruto’s mistake, or of the story feeling rushed and compact due to a limited run.

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