Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Arc proves Gojo saw Yuji, not Yuta, as his successor
Jujutsu Kaisen is a series that explores several themes, but one of the most underrated is that of legacy, which is perfectly depicted through Satoru Gojo's quest for a successor. He took over teaching as a way to develop Jujutsu sorcerers who could reach his level and mold society to a better state, which was evidenced by a discussion he had with Kenjaku in the Shibuya Incident arc.
As Gojo is being sealed in Shibuya by Kenjaku, the centuries-old sorcerer mentions how one of his students, Yuta Okkotsu, is strong enough to deal with him. However, Gojo points out how Yuta is not going to be his successor, which, considering the context of Jujutsu Kaisen at the time, highlights he had more faith in the other protagonist of the series, Yuji Itadori.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a publication.
The Shibuya Incident arc had a moment where Gojo viewed Yuji, not Yuja, as the one taking his place in Jujutsu Kaisen
Kenjaku's comments taunting Yuta Okkotsu as a lesser threat in the Shibuya Incident arc weren't denied by Satoru Gojo but rather how that student of his wasn't going to be his successor. This is interesting when considering how he was training Yuji Itadori at the time, to the point he saw in him the potential of eventually learning Ryomen Sukuna's abilities for being his vessel at the time.
Both Yuji and Yuta have shown a lot of promise from the get-go when they were introduced in the series, making Gojo's decision a lot more interesting. When considering how a sorcerer's mindset is so important for one to thrive, there is a very good chance that Satoru saw in Itadori a selfless yet determined individual who would eventually overcome the odds.
This draws a direct contrast between these characters and Gojo's other student, Megumi Fushiguro, who is known for struggling in terms of mentality. It is very likely that Satoru saw a lot of talent in Yuji, but there is a very good chance he noticed his ability to overcome bad moments, evidenced later on in Shibuya and the rest of the series.
Gojo's legacy as a teacher
Satoru Gojo has been canonically criticized for being a bad teacher in Jujutsu Kaisen, and it is known that he made mistakes along the way, but his legacy is mostly positive. That is because Gojo made a conscious effort to change things in Jujutsu society, which is shown by how the likes of Yuta Okkotsu, Yuji Itadori, and more represent a change in attitude and goals in the world of sorcery.
Perhaps the biggest question mark of Gojo's legacy as a teacher is the fact that author Gege Akutami ended the series right after the final battle. This is a problem because the story never shows if Jujutsu society changed after the defeats of Kenjaku and Sukuna and the fall of the Zen'in clan, which probably could have validated Satoru's decisions or not.
Final thoughts
It seems that Satoru Gojo didn't have a vision of Yuta Okkotsu being his successor in Jujutsu Kaisen, which isn't a bad thing but certainly an interesting perspective. Moreover, the events of the manga at the time highlight the degree of trust and belief he had in Yuji Itadori.
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