Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5: The old man’s true face revealed as Maru awakens his cursed eye

Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 delivers one of the most action-packed and eerie installments in the spinoff’s run so far. The chapter, filled with brutal choreography, cursed techniques, and a sinister villain, gives readers both intense battles and deep philosophical dialogue. Despite the rough fan translations this week, the story direction is clear. This chapter reminds everyone why Modulo deserves to stand beside Jujutsu Kaisen’s main series.

The Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 opens in a rather unsettling yet emotional way. A mother, visibly exhausted and distracted, hears her child calling for her repeatedly. Irritated, she finally enters the room, only to find something supernatural.

The child holds a glass, and all the liquid inside is suspended midair. “Mom, I don’t know what’s happening,” the child says, terrified. While this short scene might seem unrelated to the main conflict, it likely foreshadows the emergence of new cursed abilities in ordinary people.

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The Old Man reveals his true face

We then return to the aftermath of Chapter 4, where Maru lies unconscious and Tsurugi faces off against a mysterious curse user. What begins as a fight between a childlike figure and a Grade 1 sorcerer quickly transforms into something far darker. The “child” peels away his skin, revealing a decrepit old man with hollow eyes and a twisted grin.

This old man, a deranged jujutsu user, immediately summons his Shikigami, an entity named Maternal Spirit Intimidation. It’s a grotesque creature, wielding massive stitching needles and connected by cursed threads. The name itself feels ironic, as there’s nothing maternal about the spirit’s design; it’s haunting, sharp, and eerily human.

The battle in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 begins fast and brutal. Tsurugi proves his skill by parrying needle attacks and striking with precision, showing why he’s classified as a Grade 1 sorcerer. But the old man is cunning; using his cursed threads, he traps Tsurugi’s ankle, yanking him off balance and allowing his Shikigami to strike from behind.

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A clash of ideologies amid combat

Between their exchanges, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 delivers something deeper than just a fight. Tsurugi questions the old man’s choices, asking whether he ever considered using his power to help others. The curse user laughs at the idea, dismissing it as naïve idealism. “If you live long enough,” he says, “that sentiment rots into malice.”

A brief flashback then offers a glimpse into the old man’s psyche. We see him as a young boy walking to school with his father, under cherry blossoms, reminiscing about being “defined by grades and evaluations.” His dialogue reveals a tragic longing; he loved being a child and wanted to stay that way forever. This obsession explains why he disguises himself as an elementary schooler, clinging to a distorted version of innocence.

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Simple Domain unleashed

As the fight intensifies, Tsurugi in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 reveals his ace, Simple Domain. In one of the chapter’s best visual moments, his domain manifests like a honeycombed circle expanding around him, acting both as defense and sensory enhancement. This technique allows him to detect and automatically deflect any attack that enters its range, similar to Kusakabe’s moves during the Shinjuku Showdown in the main series.

This moment confirms something significant: Tsurugi isn’t entirely Heavenly Restricted. Unlike Maki, who has no cursed energy, Tsurugi still retains a bit, allowing him to combine physical prowess with jujutsu control. The Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 subtly showcases this balance, proof that Modulo’s new generation of sorcerers, while weaker overall, has found innovative ways to survive.

The old man, impressed yet frustrated, acknowledges Tsurugi’s skill, calling him a “natural-born physical talent.” Their exchange escalates into a fierce sequence of sword clashes and needle barrages, with both sides exploiting every inch of their abilities.

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Reinforcements arrive

Just as the tide seems even in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5, the old man is caught off guard when Yuka, another sorcerer, bursts onto the battlefield with her signature clawed strike. She taunts Tsurugi, “Need a hand?” before diving into combat.

Their teamwork creates one of the most cinematic moments in the chapter: a double-page spread showing them attacking from both sides, completely overwhelming the curse user and his Shikigami.

For a brief moment, it feels like victory. Both Yuka and Tsurugi stand panting over their fallen opponent, confident that the fight is over. But Jujutsu Kaisen never ends battles so simply.

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The horrific twist

Suddenly, a new figure emerges from the shadows; it’s the old man again. Before Yuka can react, a cursed needle impales her shoulder. Shocked, Tsurugi turns to counterattack but is instantly skewered by multiple needles through the abdomen.

The “defeated” version of the old man crumbles in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5, revealing it was only a puppet, a flesh sack animated by his Shikigami. His true technique is revealed: human-skin manipulation. He crafts puppets out of human flesh, inserting his Shikigami inside to pilot them as decoys. It’s grotesque, brilliant, and horrifying all at once.

As Yuka collapses, the old man mocks them, saying he’s “a few counters short” for his abacus set, an unnerving way to say he needs more victims. He plans to kill both sorcerers and continue his hunt.

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The cliffhanger: Maru awakens

Just when all hope seems lost, the atmosphere shifts. Objects start levitating: shovels, rocks, and debris rise into the air. The old man and Tsurugi both pause, confused. The source becomes clear: Maru, still unconscious on the ground, has opened the mysterious third eye on his forehead.

The Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 ends with that haunting image, the eye glowing as cursed energy floods the scene. Is this Maru’s innate technique awakening, or perhaps his connection with Cross activating subconsciously? Either way, this sets up Chapter 6 for what could be a major turning point in the Modulo arc.

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Final thoughts on Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5

Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 is a masterclass in pacing and tension. It balances psychological horror with old-school sorcery combat, using dialogue to deepen its characters while keeping the action razor-sharp. The cursed user’s human-skin puppetry is one of the creepiest techniques introduced yet, while Tsurugi’s Simple Domain shows off the tactical brilliance of modern sorcerers.

And that cliffhanger, Maru’s eye opening, might just redefine the power system of Moduolo going forward. If Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 5 is any indication, the series isn’t just a side story anymore; it’s expanding the entire Jujutsu Kaisen mythos.