Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 4, titled “Perfect Preparation”, delivers one of the most intense and emotionally charged episodes in the series so far. This episode centers on Maki Zenin’s long-awaited confrontation with her abusive family, the prestigious Zenin Clan, culminating in her single-handedly wiping out much of the clan. It’s a pivotal moment that reshapes jujutsu society and propels the story into the high-stakes Culling Game arc.
If you’re wondering why Maki went to such extremes and massacred her own clan, here’s a breakdown of the events and everything you need to know.
Maki’s Traumatic Backstory and the Zenin Clan’s Toxicity
The Zenin Clan is one of the three major jujutsu families (alongside Gojo and Kamo), obsessed with bloodline, cursed energy strength, and traditional hierarchy. Women and those with low cursed energy are treated as inferior or tools.
Maki was born with very little cursed energy, making her an outcast from childhood. She faced constant abuse, belittlement, and physical/emotional torment from her family—including her father Ogi Zenin, who saw her as a disgrace and even tried to kill her and her twin sister Mai multiple times.
- Her goal from day one at Jujutsu High was to prove herself and eventually destroy the Zenin Clan from within, freeing herself and others from its toxic legacy.
- Mai, her twin, bore the brunt of the clan’s expectations because Maki’s “weakness” forced Mai to compensate with her own cursed energy.
This deep-seated resentment built over years, making the clan not just rivals—but personal abusers who shaped Maki’s life into one of suffering.
What Triggers the Massacre in Episode 4?
The tipping point comes during the chaos after Satoru Gojo’s sealing (from earlier arcs). The Zenin Clan plots to seize power and eliminate threats:
- With Gojo out, they conspire to execute Megumi Fushiguro (Toji’s son and potential heir), Maki, and Mai to solidify control.
- Maki returns to the clan estate (with permission as part of preparations) to access the cursed tool vault, but finds it emptied.
- Her father Ogi ambushes her, having already severely wounded Mai.
- In a brutal fight, Ogi nearly kills Maki, but Mai sacrifices herself—using her final cursed technique to take away Maki’s remaining cursed energy. This fully awakens Maki’s Heavenly Restriction (similar to Toji Fushiguro’s), granting her superhuman physical strength, speed, and senses in exchange for zero cursed energy.
Mai’s dying wish: “Destroy it all… everything!” She urges Maki to end the clan’s cycle of abuse forever.
With her new power level (now comparable to Toji, who once decimated the clan and even overpowered young Gojo), Maki becomes unstoppable. She kills her father Ogi first—slicing through him without hesitation—then systematically takes down the rest.
The Rampage: Who Does Maki Kill?
Maki doesn’t hold back. She wipes out the clan’s combat forces and key members:
- Ogi Zenin (her father) — decapitated.
- Elite units like the Hei (top sorcerers), Kukuru, and others — entire groups slaughtered.
- Naoya Zenin — the arrogant would-be heir who always belittled Maki and women in general. His defeat is particularly satisfying, as he refuses to accept her strength until the end.
- Reports in the story mention dozens killed: e.g., 6 from Hei, 9 from Akashi, 21 from Kukuru (all military/combat branches).
The episode portrays it as a bloody, cathartic vengeance sequence (with clear Kill Bill influences in style and intensity). While debates exist about whether she killed literally everyone (including non-combatants like servants or children), the narrative emphasizes she eradicated the clan’s power structure and those complicit in its abuses. Mai’s words (“destroy them all”) and the aftermath confirm the clan is effectively finished as a major force.
