The long-awaited question that’s been circulating in the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom since the sequel began has finally been answered as Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 6 marks the moment fans have been waiting for: the first true glimpse of Yuji Itadori.
While not a full-fledged return, this brief but powerful flashback has set the entire community ablaze with discussion. At first glance, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo may seem like it’s trying to move beyond the legacy of Yuji Itadori, Gojo Satoru, and the original cast, focusing instead on new characters like Maru, Cross, and Tsurugi.
However, Chapter 6 proves that Gege Akutami hasn’t forgotten where it all began. Through the recollections of the curse user Masaki Takeda, the manga gives readers their first look at an older Yuji Itadori, and it’s an unforgettable one.
Yuji’s shadow looms over the new generation

As Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 6 unfolds, Takeda finds himself facing Maru, a Sumerian with frighteningly potent abilities. Readers then see the now-iconic panel: a hooded figure with a scar over his eye, smirking ominously through the shadows.
Though his name isn’t explicitly mentioned, the resemblance is unmistakable; this is Yuji Itadori. The close-up on the scar, the familiar eyes, and Takeda’s internal monologue all confirm that he once fought Yuji and barely escaped with his life.
This reveal implies two things. First, Yuji survived long after the events of Jujutsu Kaisen and continued to fight even into the decades that followed. Second, his power as an adult sorcerer grew so overwhelming that even a veteran curse user like Takeda still carries psychological scars from the encounter.
The power of the adult Yuji Itadori

Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo takes place roughly 68 years after the Shinjuku Showdown, meaning the world of jujutsu has evolved, and so has its strongest. According to Takeda’s recollection, Yuji had already ascended to the status of a top-tier Special Grade sorcerer, perhaps rivaling Gojo Satoru himself.
In fact, Chapter 6 subtly reframes the concept of “the strongest.” Where Gojo embodied unrestrained power and isolation, Yuji’s strength appears tempered by empathy and restraint. He didn’t annihilate Takeda when he had the chance; he spared him. That act of mercy now stands in contrast to Maru’s uncontrollable rage, creating a poignant thematic link between the old hero and the new generation’s rising powerhouse.
This duality also echoes Yuji’s own internal struggle during Jujutsu Kaisen, when he constantly wrestled with Sukuna’s influence while striving to remain compassionate. Now, even in memory, Yuji represents that perfect balance between immense power and human warmth, a legacy that Maru, consciously or not, seems to be inheriting.
What Yuji’s return means for the future of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo

Yuji’s brief reappearance doesn’t just serve as nostalgia bait; it redefines Modulo’s narrative direction. Through Takeda’s flashback, Gege Akutami draws a clear parallel between Maru and Yuji, establishing Maru as the new “Itadori-type” protagonist, kind-hearted, absurdly strong, and teetering on the edge of losing control.
Meanwhile, the looming mention of Dabura, the alien “king” who’s supposedly stronger than Sukuna, hints at the cosmic scale Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is heading toward. If Yuji truly did once face monsters like this, then his power as a legend in this world might dwarf anything fans have seen before.
More intriguingly, this chapter suggests that Yuji’s legacy remains woven into Modulo’s very foundation. Characters like Tsurugi and Yuka Okkotsu, the new generation of sorcerers, are fighting in a world Yuji helped shape, one where the fragile peace between humans and aliens depends on the lessons learned from his era.