Why Does Gojo Protect Itadori Yuji in Jujutsu Kaisen

WARNING: This post contains spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen manga!

During Wyrd and Wonder in May, I posted a character analysis of Itachi from Naruto, and I absolutely loved writing the post. Normally when I read books I don’t think about the characters’ motivations too much because I already get insight into their thought processes through the narration. However, manga and graphic novels tell stories through images and dialogue, so the characters’ motivations are often less clear. I love this ambiguity that leaves room for interpretation. Recently, while I was reading Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami I came across another character that piqued my curiosity. For today, I want to analyze the potential reasons why Gojo Satoru decided to protect Itadori Yuji from execution.

During the first few chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen, the main character, Itadori Yuji, is possessed by a powerful demon known as Ryomen Sukuna. Under Jujutsu laws, Yuji is sentenced to death. However, the infamous wielder of the Six Eyes, Gojo Satoru, manages to convince the Jujutsu elders to postpone Yuji’s sentence. Although Gojo initially claims that Yuji will still be executed after he consumes all of the parts of Sukuna, he later hints that he believes Yuji will instead learn to control Sukuna’s power (see Ch. 12, Pg. 14). However, the question remains: why does Gojo protect Yuji in the first place?

Does he care about Yuji’s life or is he just more useful to Gojo alive?

Although Gojo is honest with Yuji about what to expect as a Jujutsu sorcerer, his words are more typically misleading and even straight-up dishonest. Even when he talks about his reasons for protecting Yuji, it’s unclear whether what he says is the whole truth or just part of it. The fact that Gojo is far from heroic makes his seemingly altruistic actions even more mysterious. Anyone who’s read Jujutsu Kaisen knows that Gojo Satoru is a menace. He intentionally torments and disrespects sorcerors he dislikes and he’s willing to sacrifice innocent bystanders in order to defeat his enemies. So, why does he bother with Itadori when his survival risks the resurrection of Sukuna? For this analysis, I want to dig into how Gojo’s words and actions throughout the series reveal some potential reasons he has for saving Yuji. I also want to discuss the likelihood of each of the reasons actually being true.

So, why does Gojo protect Itadori Yuji?

Because Megumi Asked Him to Save Yuju.

This is the most basic, and misleading, answer, which we see evidence for in chapter 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen. After Gojo confirms that Yuji can switch with Sukuna at will he knocks Yuji out and tells Megumi that if Yuji wakes up and is still himself “he might have potential as a vessel” (Akutami, Ch. 2, Pg. 12). He then asks Megumi what they should do with Yuji. Megumi tells Gojo that he doesn’t want Yuji to die* and asks him to do something about it. Gojo concludes the scene when he exclaims, “A precious student’s request. Leave it to me!” (Akutami, Ch. 2, Pg. 13).

But that doesn’t explain why Gojo started testing Yuji before Megumi asked Gojo to save him.

When Gojo was introduced in chapter 12????, he didn’t wait for Megumi to say he wanted to save Yuji before he started testing his potential. In fact, knowing how powerful Gojo was, he could have easily killed Sukuna’s vessel without getting the higher-ups involved at all. If he was going to follow Jujutsu regulations before Megumi’s request**, he wouldn’t have bothered to confirm that Yuji could control Sukuna. Clearly, Gojo had his own reasons for wanting to save Yuji from execution.

He wants to get rid of all the parts of Sukuna

The reason Gojo was able to convince the higher-ups to postpone Yuji’s execution in the first place, was because he suggested they kill Yuji only after he consumed all of Sukuna’s fingers. That way they could get rid of 20 special-grade cursed objects and the chance of Sukuna ever resurrecting himself. This high-risk-high reward play seems exactly like something the reckless Six Eyes would attempt, making it a seemingly likely explanation.

However, this explanation is actually just as misleading as the first. When Gojo is explaining cursed techniques to Yuji in chapter 12 he thinks, “You’re unable to use it now. In due time, your body will learn Sukuna’s cursed technique!” (Akutami, Ch. 12, Pg, 14). Gojo wants Yuji to eat all of Sukuna’s fingers, but instead of being executed to appease the higher-ups, he wants Yuji to gain control of Sukuna’s power. When he suggested they kill Yuji later to get rid of Sukuna forever, he was really just buying time for Yuji.

An army of powerful young Jujutsu sorcerers to overthrow the higher-ups…

After Yuji is killed by the special grade cursed spirit, Gojo finally discusses his true reason for saving him out loud. He wants Yuji to become powerful enough to help him overthrow the higher-ups. He describes the Jujutsu elders as the “scum of the Jujutsu Word” and discusses his plan to overthrow their rule (Akatumi, Ch. 11, Pg 13). He reasons that the easiest plan would be to kill everyone in charge, but that someone else would just take their place and nothing would ultimately change. Instead, he needs strong and intelligent allies. He collects loyal allies by working in education and training the new generation to be as powerful as him. And, as Sukuna’s vessel, Yuji had the potential to become powerful and therefore useful to Gojo’s dream.

But was wanting another powerful ally really the only reason Gojo saved Yuji?

As Shoko Ieiri pointed out in chapter 10 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo showed a rare display of emotion after Yuji’s death. Gojo’s usual flippant attitude was replaced by fury, suggesting that Yuji was more than just a pawn in Gojo’s eyes. Gojo had plenty of other students that would become powerful allies, so there was no reason for him to get angry if Yuji was just part of his plan to change the Jujutsu world.

Even though Gojo does want Yuji to become powerful and help him overthrow the higher-ups, it appears that he also cares about saving his life. Yuji isn’t just a political pawn for Gojo to use.

Now I’m just speculating, but…

I think the Jujutsu elders ruined Gojo’s childhood because their obsession with the powerful potential of Limitless and The Six Eyes combined caused them to forget that Gojo was still a child. It also wouldn’t surprise me if this was the source of Gojo’s hatred for the Jujutsu elders. Sure, we could just assume Gojo is a nice guy who wants all children to have a nice childhood, but why does he specifically care about powerful children who are perceived as dangerous? First, he saved Megumi from being sold to the Zen’in clan for his Ten Shadows Technique. Next, he saved Yuta from being executed to get rid of Rika, a special grade cursed spirit. And finally, he saves Yuji from being executed to get rid of Sukuna.

Additionally, after Sukuna resurrected Yuji, Gojo tells Shoko that he wants to give Yuji basic training before he’s targeted again. However, he still wants Yuji to be back for the Goodwill event. When Shoko asks Gojo why he replies, “I refuse to keep this kid from living the best years of his life. Not just him, but everyone” (Akutami, Ch. 11, Pg. 18). This is just one example of Gojo not only looking out for his students but specifically making sure they don’t miss out on their childhood just because they’re Jujutsu sorcerers. It’s not hard to believe that Gojo works especially hard to make sure powerful young sorcerers still get to experience the joys of childhood because he was never allowed to as the first Six Eyes in centuries.

Throughout the series, there are three major hints that the Jujutsu elders restrained Gojo from an early age. First, when Gojo threatens Principal Gakuganji, one of the Jujutsu world’s infamous higher-ups, he mentions that “The new generation won’t be limited to special grade” (Akutami, Ch. 18, Pg. ). Initially, I didn’t really understand what Gojo meant by “limited”, but then Principal Yaga’s memories before his death revealed the true reason for the special grade category of sorcerers. When Yaga created Panda, a fully independent cursed corpse, he was detained by the higher-ups and questioned about his knowledge of what he created. Gakuganji then revealed that the higher-ups were trying to designate him “as a special grade and officially impose an indefinite restraint upon [him]” (Akutami, Ch. 147, Pg. 3). Apparently, “special grade” is a label used for sorcerers who are seen as threats to the Jujutsu world by the higher-ups. Instead of being an honored title that recognizes a sorcerer’s ability, “special grade” is more equivalent to being tagged as dangerous so they can be monitored.

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The third hint that Gojo was monitored from an early age comes from the notoriety of the Six Eyes in Jujutsu society. Even Toji mentions he “once went to see that Gojo kid with the Six Eyes to see what the fuss was all about” (Akutami, Ch. 71, Pg 1). Most likely, Gojo was categorized as a special grade and monitored as a child, maybe even from the moment he was born. It’s also not hard to believe that being treated like a dangerous object from an early age left Gojo damaged. And maybe Gojo uses his position as a Jujutsu high teacher not only to build a following of powerful sorcerors but also to make sure no other children suffer for being deemed “too powerful”.

Not only that but…

Gojo is resentful

Assuming the Jujutsu elders did ruin Gojo’s childhood, what better way to get revenge than preventing them from ruining others’ childhoods and making them powerful enough to overthrow them? And then rubbing it in their stupid faces at every opportunity? One iconic Gojo moment I have seared into my mind was when he convinced Yuji to surprise everyone that assumed he was dead at the Goodwill event. Yuji believed the surprise was for Megumi and Nobara, but as soon as Yuji came out of the box, Gojo walked right up to Gakuganji. It was clear to me at that moment that the real reason Gojo wanted to surprise everyone was so he could rub in the Kyoto principal’s face and see his reaction when he realized his plan to kill Yuji had failed (Akutami, Ch. 32, Pg. 20).

I don’t think revenge is the primary reason Gojo saved Yuji and the other students, but it can’t hurt. I also think there’s an argument to be made that Gojo isn’t resentful at all. He just hates the way the higher-ups run the Jujutsu world and has a malicious personality. Like I said before, I’m just speculating at this point. But in my opinion, Gojo’s deep hatred of the higher-ups seems personal. I don’t think resentment like that comes from just disliking the way someone rules.

So to summarize Gojo’s motivation for saving Yuji from execution:

1. Gojo wants Yuji to consume all of Sukuna’s fingers so he can be executed to get rid of Sukuna forever can gain control of Sukuna’s cursed technique.
2. Gojo wants to overthrow the Jujutsu elders by collecting powerful young sorcerers to support him. Yuji is one of those potential allies.
3. It’s likely that the Jujutsu elders monitored Gojo from an early age, and he resents them for ruining his childhood. Gojo doesn’t want them to ruin Yuji’s youth just because he’s also potentially dangerous.
4. Gojo is getting revenge on the higher-ups by saving powerful children who will eventually overthrow them and rubbing it in their faces at every opportunity. [insert Evil Gojo Cackle]

Whether you believe Gojo just wants Yuji as an ally or that he really cares about him is up to you. There’s strong evidence that both are at least somewhat true, but there’s still room for interpretation. What’s certain is that Gojo’s plans for Yuji and all his other students will change the fate of the Jujutsu world. So the remaining question is…

What world does Gojo envision after he overthrows the higher-ups?

Notes:

*Megumi explains why he didn’t want Yuji to die later in the series. He chooses to save people unequally, meaning he saves people he perceives to be good and doesn’t save people he perceives to be corrupt. I just thought I’d add this for people who were curious but didn’t want to detract from the topic.

**Another interesting question related to Megumi is why Gojo asked him what he wanted to do with Yuji if he was already going to save him. Either Gojo wanted to test Megumi or to allow him to think for himself... I think it’s related to Gojo’s teaching style and his wanting his students to be able to stand on their own.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark fantasy/horror manga series written by Gege Akutami and first serialized in March 2018 in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The series is ongoing at 189 completed chapters.

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