The Character of Naoya Zenin in Jujutsu Kaisen Manga
Naoya Zenin is a character in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. He is part of the famous Zenin Clan, one of the big three families in the world of jujutsu sorcerers. Naoya is a powerful and fast sorcerer, but he is also known for his rude, arrogant, and cruel personality. His story shows how pride and hate can destroy a person from the inside.
In this blog post, let’s take a close look at who Naoya Zenin is, his powers, personality, and the role he plays in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga
Who Is Naoya Zenin?
Naoya Zenin is the son of Naobito Zenin, the former head of the Zenin Clan. After Naobito dies during the Shibuya Incident, Naoya wants to become the next leader. However, things don’t go his way.
Naoya is a Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer, which means he is very strong. He has trained hard and is especially skilled at using speed-based cursed techniques. He believes that only powerful sorcerers deserve respect and that weak people—especially women and non-sorcerers—should be looked down on.
Naoya is proud, loud, and mean. He often insults others and believes he is better than everyone else. This attitude makes him one of the most hated characters in the story.
His Personality: Arrogant and Cruel
Naoya is extremely arrogant. He always talks down to people and acts like he’s the best. He has no respect for people who do not meet his standards. He especially hates women who become strong sorcerers. For example, he shows deep hate for Maki Zenin, one of his relatives.
He believes that Maki is worthless because she has no cursed energy. He also thinks Mai Zenin, Maki’s twin sister, is weak and useless. His cruel words and actions cause a lot of pain to his family members.
Naoya’s attitude comes from the strict rules of the Zenin Clan. The clan values power more than kindness or love, and Naoya grew up learning that only the strong deserve to lead. But instead of learning to protect others, Naoya uses his power to hurt and control people.
His Cursed Technique: Projection Sorcery
Like his father, Naobito, Naoya uses a cursed technique called Projection Sorcery. This technique is based on old film reels. He can divide one second into 24 frames, allowing him to move incredibly fast in short bursts. He also forces people he touches to follow this frame-by-frame movement, and if they fail, they freeze for one second.
Naoya’s speed is his greatest weapon. He moves so fast that most people cannot react. He uses this ability in close-range battles to overwhelm his enemies.
Even though this technique is not flashy like fire or lightning, it is deadly when used by someone like Naoya, who fights with skill and precision.
Naoya vs. Maki: A Deadly Battle
One of the most important moments in Naoya’s story is his final battle with Maki Zenin. After Maki becomes stronger by losing her limits as a human, she returns to the Zenin Clan to stop the family’s cruelty.
Naoya sees this as a betrayal. He tries to kill Maki, but he is shocked by how powerful she has become. She no longer has cursed energy, but her physical strength is now at the level of Toji Fushiguro, the strongest non-cursed sorcerer in history.
During the fight, Naoya underestimates her. He calls her names and believes he can still win. But Maki overpowers him and, with the help of her mother, defeats him completely.
This moment is powerful because it shows how Naoya’s pride leads to his downfall. He thought he was better than everyone else—but in the end, he lost to the very person he hated the most.
Naoya’s Return as a Cursed Spirit
After his death, Naoya’s story doesn’t end. In a shocking twist, Naoya returns as a cursed spirit. His spirit comes back even more dangerous than before. He now has a monstrous body, and his Projection Sorcery has evolved. He can fly, regenerate, and move even faster.
Naoya’s return shows how his hatred and pride were so strong that they turned him into a curse. He wants revenge on Maki and comes back to destroy her. But once again, Maki and Noritoshi Kamo fight against him.
In the end, Maki defeats Naoya once and for all. His cursed spirit is destroyed, and his story finally ends.
The Symbol of Toxic Pride
Naoya Zenin is more than just a strong enemy. He represents the toxic side of the Zenin Clan—the pride, the hatred, and the old traditions that hurt people instead of helping them. He looks down on women, mocks the weak, and only respects those with power.
His story is a warning about what happens when people live only for pride and strength. He had the chance to be a true leader, but he chose hate over love. In the end, his poison destroyed him.
Final Thoughts
Naoya Zenin is one of the most disliked but unforgettable characters in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. He is strong, fast, and skilled—but also arrogant, cruel, and selfish. His story shows how dangerous pride and hate can be, especially when they are mixed with power.
Even though Naoya was a villain, his role in the story is very important. He pushes characters like Maki to grow stronger and stand up against unfair systems. His life and death help bring change to the Zenin Clan and the world of jujutsu sorcery.
If you enjoy reading about deep and complex villains, Naoya Zenin is a character you will remember. He may not have had a happy ending, but his story teaches a powerful lesson: true strength comes not from power alone, but from the heart.
