Apart from his talent, intelligence, and looks, the one defining characteristic of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Satoru Gojo was his ego. From his first appearance to his final fight, Gojo was the quintessential swaggering protagonist. He was never shy about telling anyone—be they friend or foe—how good he was. The problem for those subjected to his boasts was that he rarely failed to prove himself right. However, there was one exception.
Gojo’s aura of self-confidence was so thick that it’s hard to think of a situation where the character would seriously doubt his belief in himself. For instance, despite being locked in the Prison Realm in Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #90, Gojo is completely at peace even though surrounded by a swarm of ominous skeletons. Indeed, he seems confident that he’ll ultimately break out of the notoriously desolate dimension.
But even more revealing of his gargantuan ego is his most famous boast, which happened in Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #221. That boast was made in response to Yuji Itadori’s question of whether he’d defeat Ryomen Sukuna. Although Sukuna is generally acknowledged as the most powerful sorcerer/curse in the history of Jujutsu sorcery, Gojo confidently declared himself the winner without any hesitation.
Gojo’s Doubts: Why He Didn’t Shut Down Yuta’s Sacrificial Backup Plan
With such a reservoir of confidence, it doesn’t make sense that Gojo wouldn’t shut down Yuta’s plan of taking over his body after his death using Kenjaku’s cursed technique. After all, the plan requires Gojo to die in his fight with Sukuna—which Gojo has already stated was not possible. It also needed Yuta to sacrifice himself for the greater good, something that Gojo would have surely avoided if possible.
Nothing in Gojo’s history suggests that he would agree to such a plan on a practical basis. Despite this, he did not unequivocally shut Yuta down. The only way Gojo could be so indifferent about the plan was if he secretly believed that there was a possibility he would lose to Sukuna.
Despite his hard-to-avoid braggadocio, Gojo doubted his ability to carry the day. That is the only explanation for why he believed a backup plan might be necessary.
Gojo’s Ego and Doubts: The Surprising Acceptance of Yuta’s Backup Plan in Jujutsu Kaisen
Naturally, it can be argued that Gojo’s acceptance of Yuta’s plan is a simple example of keeping all options open. However, this belies the enormity of Gojo’s ego. Indeed, thanks to his ego, Gojo was able to pull himself together after Toji Fushiguro’s otherwise fatal strike in Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #75. That willpower was instrumental in helping him trigger his reversed cursed energy abilities.
Surviving that near-death experience most certainly deepened Gojo’s impression of himself. In the aftermath, it’s unlikely that Gojo would ever believe he’d be defeated again—unless the threat was even more dangerous than Toji.
There was no way Gojo would sign off on Yuta’s plan unless he thought there was a possibility he would lose. Moreover, it seems highly unlikely that Gojo would allow a plan that would incapacitate one of his star pupils unnecessarily. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with considering the possibility of defeat and taking the appropriate steps to mitigate any damage suffered.
However, considering the personality of Satoru Gojo, allowing Yuta’s “Plan B” is inconsistent with his supremely confident nature. Conversely, while he might not admit it outright, by questioning his abilities, he may have just provided the means to save the Jujutsu Kaisen universe from Sukuna.
