Ryomen Sukuna, also known as the King of Curses, is the most powerful being in the Jujutsu Kaisen series so far, whose power level is nearly impossible to rival by any jujutsu sorcerer in existence. Even so, many fans wondered whether Gojo could defeat Sukuna, as Satoru Gojo is also one of the most powerful jujutsu sorcerers that ever existed.
Chapter 236 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga ended the debate, as Sukuna killed Satoru Gojo brutally. Surprisingly, chapter 213 of the series had already dropped a hint about another unsung character in the series who almost defeated the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna. In fact, during their encounter, Sukuna had to use deception and pretend to be Megumi to save himself.
Ryomen Sukuna, known as the King of Curses, possesses unrivaled power in the Jujutsu Kaisen series. His level of strength makes it nearly impossible for any existing jujutsu sorcerer to compare. However, fans had speculated on whether Gojo could defeat Sukuna, considering Gojo is also one of the most formidable jujutsu sorcerers ever.
The debate came to an end in Chapter 236 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga when Sukuna brutally killed Satoru Gojo. Interestingly, Chapter 213 had hinted at another lesser-known character who nearly defeated the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna. During their encounter, Sukuna had to resort to deception and posing as Megumi to save himself.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen series.
Hana Kurusu, the unsung Jujutsu Kaisen character who nearly defeated Sukuna
Hana Kurusu, depicted in the manga (Image via Sheisha)Hana Kurusu is a youthful jujutsu sorcerer who makes an appearance in the Jujutsu Kaisen series. Participating in the Culling Game, a perilous tournament orchestrated by Kenjaku, Hana acts as the vessel for Angel, an ancient sorcerer with the primary aim of defeating Sukuna, also known as the fallen one. In a similar vein to Yuji's role as Sukuna's host, Hana assumes the role of Angel's host, with the two cooperating due to their shared interests.
Later, upon Sukuna's possession of Megumi's body, Hana astutely observed that Sukuna had not fully harnessed his power within Megumi's physical being. Recognizing this, she discerned a prime chance to separate Sukuna from Megumi before the former could attain utter dominance.
Angel employing the Jacob's ladder assault against Sukuna (Image via Shueisha)Sukuna's full potential was cut off when Angel used Jacob's Ladder, a powerful move that created a massive circle of light in the sky above the angel. Beams of light shot down from the center of the circle, neutralizing any cursed technique it touched. Surprisingly, Sukuna was gravely injured by this attack. As chapter 213 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga unfolds, Sukuna's initial confidence in easily defeating Hana quickly crumbled. For the first time, he found himself on the brink of defeat.
To save himself, Sukuna resorted to a cunning ploy, feigning that Megumi had regained control, and he extended his arms in a seemingly inviting gesture towards the angel. Tragically, Hana fell right into Sukuna's trap, resulting in the grievous injury to her right arm as he viciously bit it off.
Sukuna employing deception in Jujutsu Kaisen manga (Image via Shueisha)Final thoughts
Hana showed undeniable potential to overcome Sukuna and could have possibly achieved the unprecedented feat of being the first person in history to defeat the King of Curses. With her exceptional jujutsu sorcerer skills and immense power, Hana stands out as one of the select few characters who have come incredibly close to overthrowing Sukuna.There has been much speculation and debate among fans regarding what could have happened if Hana hadn't fallen into Sukuna's trap. Some argue that she had the ability to defeat the King of Curses, while others believe that Sukuna was intentionally holding back his full power.
While this is a subjective matter, one undeniable fact is that Hana put Sukuna in a unique position, one that only Satoru Gojo had done before. In their intense battle, Gojo showed that he was able to hold his own against Sukuna at his strongest.
Gojo tragically fell during the intense battle with Sukuna in chapter 236 of Jujutsu Kaisen. Sukuna, acknowledging Gojo's strength and abilities, stated, "Satoru Gojo, you have done well. I will remember you for eternity."