Jujutsu Kaisen reveals, in its intricate plot, that Yuji Itadori's fate was sealed long before he swallowed Sukuna's finger. What seemed like mere bad luck is actually the result of Kenjaku's century-old obsession with human evolution and cursed energy. At the heart of this obsession are the Death Paintings, and understanding what they are, their creation, and their familial bond with Yuji unravels much of the series' mysteries, which remains available on Crunchyroll for Brazilian fans in 2026.
The Death Paintings are, in other words, Kenjaku's first and most disturbing experiments. Over 150 years ago, while possessing the body of Noritoshi Kamo, he found a woman capable of bearing children with cursed spirits. Through nine forced and terminated pregnancies, the fetuses merged with curses, forming sentient cursed wombs that were sealed as special-grade cursed objects. As such, they are neither pure humans nor pure curses, but unstable hybrids existing between the two worlds.
Yuji Itadori, however, is not a Death Painting. Still, his connection to them is deep and direct. Kenjaku, possessing the body of Kaori Itadori, was the one who gave birth to the protagonist, technically becoming his biological parent. Therefore, Yuji is no ordinary boy, but a planned creation. Unlike his painted brothers, his body was designed from the start to withstand extremely high levels of cursed energy, which explains his unique ability to host Sukuna without immediately losing control.
Kenjaku's Twisted Family
It is through this bond that Choso, one of the Death Painting brothers, recognizes Yuji as family, calling him "brother." Both share a genetic and spiritual origin from the same dark creator. While the Death Paintings were early experiments considered failures and sealed away, Yuji represents the practical application of the lessons Kenjaku learned. His existence as a living being, created to host the King of Curses and unleash chaos, is central to the larger plan of forcing humanity's evolution. Thus, the painted brothers help explain why Yuji is here, and Yuji helps explain the tragic significance of those first tests.
The legacy of these experiments continues to impact the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, and the series' third season explores precisely these complex relationships of family and destiny. For Brazilian fans following the saga, understanding this background makes every twist and every fight even more meaningful, showing that behind the spectacular action lies a carefully crafted mythology about creation, identity, and the consequences of playing god.