Exploring Akutami Gege’s previous work: No. 9 manga

The author who made Jujutsu Kaisen did not make it there on his first try. He wrote 3 One-shot manga, that can be considered as underrated gems, and in this article today, I will be exploring one of them. No. 9 is Akutami Gege’s second one-shot published on October 10, 2015, which revolves around Yakuza. Buckle up, because there are a lot of things that would scream Jujutsu Kaisen in this story.

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No. 9 – One of Akutami Gege’s hidden pieces

Np. 9 is a story that revolves around the concept of Yakuza and the thin line that separates good and evil. Set in the town of Rakkachou, also known as the “Yakuza Town”, high school student Megumi returns home to find her dog murdered in mysterious circumstances. While she consoles her mother, a person who is clad in mystery tries to coerce her mother into selling the house. Warning them that that was the last time he was going to be so peaceful.

As she walks disheartened from the Police Station, she has a chance encounter with Hiromasa “Nine” Tsukumo, who is trying to establish his own Yakuza group. His goal is to create a place that is safe for its residents to live, in by monitoring the thin line that separates the Front and Back of this world. Wait, wait, what is Front and Back supposed to mean? That is exactly what went through Megumi’s mind.

Living as the one who enforces the rules of the Back on all those who break them, Nine is an individual who controls Iri, the opposite of Humans, similar to the concept of dual governing notions such as Good and Bad, Life and Death, Create and Destroy, etc. He is the one who governs the world of Front and Back, safeguarding individuals on both ends. He decides to help Megumi out, swearing to make Rakkachou a place where people can live in peace.

Confronting the mysterious individual, it is revealed that that person could also control Iri. However, nothing fazes Nine as he brute strengths through his opponent. Using his ability called Cubicle: Jackout Fugue, he wields numerous weapons that are summoned through his Iri.

Is it worth reading?

The one-shot is super satisfying in everything it does. The art is fresh and crisp, as expected of Gege-sensei. The story is engaging with humor ingrained in it, making it almost reminiscent of Jujutsu Kaisen. The supernatural element has been brilliantly portrayed with how well the abilities have been shown to carry out.

If you love Jujutsu Kaisen, you are sure to fall in love with this One-shot. The story has many elements that went on to become a part of the popular story and is one of the many foundations that led to Jujutsu Kaisen. Another amazing thing about this one-shot is that besides the dog that we were never introduced to, nobody dies. A trait that has always been paired with Gege-sensei is his inexplicable desire to kill off characters, something that this story is missing and instead has a happy ending.

Conclusion

Overall, Akutami Gege has done a wonderful job in No. 9 manga. As one of his early works, it is a testament to the fact that his incredible storytelling was not a fluke and is something that has always been there. It is a must-read for all fans of Jujutsu Kaisen, letting them take a stroll down the route that led to Jujutsu Kaisen.