Highlights
Toji Fushiguro, a character without any powers in Jujutsu Kaisen, has a significant impact on the story and its characters.
Toji's victory over the formidable figures of Gojo and Geto sparks their growth as characters and unleashes their incredible potential. Through Toji's fatal encounter with Riko Amanai, Gojo and Geto undergo a profound transformation that profoundly influences their convictions and motivations throughout the series.
In a world where superpowers and overpowering characters reign, it is intriguing to consider how someone without any abilities can profoundly impact the destiny of nearly every character in the setting. Enter Toji Fushiguro, a cherished figure in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, despite being born without a trace of cursed energy and lacking a natural cursed technique.
Remarkably, Toji is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most capable individuals in the story, even though his presence is limited to a brief arc. He swiftly garnered a dedicated fanbase. Toji's significance lies in his association with crucial moments that altered the course of the series and influenced the development of various character arcs. In many ways, he became the catalyst for unexpected narrative shifts. Let's delve into how Toji transformed the entire realm of Jujutsu.
Backstory
Toji, originally from the infamous Zenin clan, one of the three main sorcerer families in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, was born with a unique trait called the Heavenly Restriction. Unlike others in the clan, he lacked cursed energy but possessed extraordinary physical abilities. This distinction led to him being disregarded and constantly pushed to train harder against curses by the Zenin family, who highly valued cursed techniques and energy. Despite this treatment, Toji left the clan and became a skilled hitman, continuously enhancing his talents. He found love with Megumi's mother and decided to leave his dangerous lifestyle. However, after her passing, Toji found himself reverting to his old ways, eventually abandoning Megumi. This is where his story intertwines with the Hidden Inventory arc.
Defeating the Strongest
Toji's impact on the future of the series goes beyond the increased strength of Gojo and Geto. He also played a significant role in shaping their personalities. In the Hidden Inventory arc, we witnessed Gojo and Geto as best friends who held contrasting beliefs regarding the role of sorcerers in society and their responsibility to protect the vulnerable.
At the beginning of the arc, we were introduced to younger versions of Gojo and Geto. Gojo possessed a weaker version of his Limitless technique, restricting him to using Lapse Blue and lacking the Reverse Cursed Technique. He expressed indifference towards the weak and non-sorcerers. In contrast, his best friend Geto strongly believed that Jujutsu Sorcerers existed to safeguard non-sorcerers without any magical abilities.
The theme of protecting non-sorcerers played a crucial role in the arc, particularly in relation to Riko Amanai, who was meant to be delivered to Master Tengen as the Star Plasma Vessel by both Gojo and Geto. As Gojo and Geto spent time with Riko and Kuroi, we witnessed their growing attachment to these individuals. Gojo, finally starting to sympathize, realized the value of someone weaker than himself in the world.
During the later part of the arc, Gojo's battle with Toji brings everything to a culmination. Despite being classified as one of the strongest alongside Geto, Toji outclasses Gojo completely. In fact, Toji seemingly kills Gojo using his vast collection of cursed tools. Just as Geto tells Riko that she can refuse to become the Star Plasma Vessel and live her own life, Toji shoots her in the head. An enraged Geto then unleashes his most powerful curses in an attempt to defeat Toji, but like Gojo, he ultimately falls victim to Toji's hands.
This event holds immense significance for the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. When Gojo is pushed to the brink of death, he discovers Technique Reversal Red, a skill that allows him to reverse curses and heal himself from his wounds. This revelation leads Gojo to attain enlightenment, transforming him into the unparalleled strongest sorcerer in the entire world. Moreover, it unlocks his ultimate move, the Hollow Purple, a technique that surpasses even the abilities of Geto and other Special Grade sorcerers. Gojo's newfound strength creates a divide between him and nearly everyone else, especially Geto.
Killing of the Star Plasma Vessel
Toji's assassination of Riko Amanai sparked a series of events that significantly impacted the character development of Gojo and Geto. Initially, Gojo despised weakness and held little regard for non-sorcerers. However, he underwent a transformation after forming a close bond with Riko. Tragically, her demise served as a turning point for Gojo as he recognized the value in protecting the weak and accepted his duty as a sorcerer to safeguard those in need. This realization also brought forth the significance of fostering the strength of those around him, as evidenced by his students in the current setting of Jujutsu Kaisen. Gojo understood that, as a powerful individual, he had the choice between isolating himself or building alliances that could benefit the world, as he had done.
Conversely, Riko's death had an opposite effect on Geto. During his fight against Toji, it became apparent that Geto, despite possessing significant cursed energy and power, was defeated by Toji, who had no cursed energy at all. This defeat led Geto to question his limitations and further isolated himself, even from his closest friend, Gojo, as he realized that Gojo stood as the strongest and unattainable figure. Like Gojo, Geto had developed a deep bond with Riko and Kuroi initially. He had believed that it was every sorcerer's duty to protect the weak, regardless of the circumstances. However, after Toji killed Riko, Geto began to experience disillusionment with the Jujutsu society and those he deemed weak. He started growing a disdain towards the weak and individuals who lacked the ability to use cursed energy, as he believed that if Riko had possessed more strength, she could have defended herself without needing him or Gojo.
Toji's interference in the story led to the convergence of Geto and Gojo's character arcs, setting the stage for their eventual face-off in Jujutsu Kaisen 0. In a poetic manner, Toji's actions prompted a shift in the thinking of Special Grade sorcerers and served as the initial link for Kenjaku to possess Geto's body after his death. This sequence of events laid the foundation for where the story of Jujutsu Kaisen currently stands. Despite lacking Jujutsu powers, Toji Fushiguro made a significant impact, surpassing the influence of many other characters. Jujutsu Kaisen can be streamed on Crunchyroll.