Later in the manga, he doesn’t get enough time to shine.
Summary:
- Yuji had many great moments in the Shibuya Incident Arc.
- Past that, he really didn’t get much development.
- Some fans feel that Gege doesn’t like Yuji enough.
If there’s one thing Jujutsu Kaisen fans can’t bring themselves to dislike, it’s the protagonist of the series, Yuji Itadori. He’s not exactly the most uniquely written protagonist in shounen, but he’s likable enough and determined, and that’s what matters.
Besides, it’s hard not to make yourself like Yuji. He’s the one character who definitely won’t die in the series — because he’s the protagonist, after all. Fans often think that Gege hates Yuji, making him experience so much trauma.
That said, this trauma can also lead to some of the best character moments — and a good example of that is the Shibuya Incident Arc.
Yuji Was Great in Shibuya Incident Arc, Even Though He Suffered a Lot
The confrontation between Yuji and Mahito was not only a great external conflict for Yuji. It also helped him explore his internal conflicts and deal with them, giving him some of the most character development he’d ever had.
Yuji’s interaction with Kenjaku, too, helped flesh out his character more. While it wasn’t the most memorable moment of the arc, it still ended up being an important moment for Yuji’s character development.
He Doesn’t Really Get Much Interesting Development After That
The issue with the manga past the Shibuya Incident Arc, though, is that Yuji himself doesn’t really get much time to shine. Not only does he stagnate as a character — he also gets outclassed in strength in his own series.
The current arc is the result of that, with Yuji being out of the picture simply because he can’t defeat Sukuna with his current strength.
Maybe Gege Just Doesn’t Like Yuji
Many fans feel that Gege doesn’t like Yuji enough — or at least, doesn’t give him as much time as he deserves. He’s the protagonist of the series, and fans don’t really dislike him; however, they wish he’d get more focus.
Some fans also speculate that Gege likes Yuta far more. He gets way cooler techniques in the story and clearly seems to be the author’s favorite.
And yes, this is purely speculation, but it would make sense: Yuta is the protagonist of the original manga that Jujutsu Kaisen is a sequel to, and probably was the character that Gege wanted to write about all along.
As the series is now, Yuji desperately needs a power-up to defeat Sukuna. That might coincide with long-awaited character development for him, as well, and fans still don’t lose hope for the series.