Summary
Since being sealed away in another dimension, fans have been wondering ifNarutowill ever return to the story inBoruto: Two Blue Vortex. While a return of the Seventh Hokage would certainly be an interesting twist to the current storyline, the emergence of his daughter,Himawari, as Kurama’s alter ego means he’s no longer the center of power in Konoha Village.
BeforeBoruto: Two Blue VortexChapter #9, the last time fans saw Kurama – the Nine-Tailed Beast – was inBoruto: Naruto Next GenerationsChapter #55. There, in a moving conversation with Naruto,Kurama explains that he sacrificed himselfto help Naruto defeat Isshiki Otsutsuki. For most fans – and Naruto – the overwhelming conclusion was that we’d seen Kurama for the last time.
However, the beliefs of Kurama’s demise were greatly exaggerated. As explained inTwo Blue VortexChapter #9, Kurama didn’t die per se. Rather, his essence continued until it was reborn in the future. As it turns out,Kurama was reborn in Naruto’s daughter Himawari. While there’s some mystery as to why the powers that be chose Naruto’s daughter, what is known is thatHimawari is not Kurama’s jinchuriki– like her father. Instead, as explained inTwo Blue VortexChapter #10, she shares the same body and soul as Kurama. That is, she’s not just hosting Kurama – she is Kurama.
Kurama And Himawari Are One
Naruto’s Daughter Has Surpassed His Connection With the Nine Tails
The Kurama-Himawari relationshiphas several implications for the story. One that may not immediately come to mind, but is no less important, is how Himawari’s new status will affect Naruto’s return. The first implication concerns Naruto’s role as Hokage. One of the major responsibilities of the Hokage is village protection and security. In carrying out that duty, the Hokage is not only tasked with decision-making and the coordination of the village’s forces, but also actively taking part in defensive measures.
Naruto was particularly well-suited for this element of the Hokage’s responsibilities due to his relationship with Kurama and the powers it granted him. Perhaps the best example of the benefits Kurama provides Naruto was demonstrated duringNaruto’s Baryon Mode power transformationin the fight against Isshiki Otsutsuki. The Baryon Mode allowed Naruto to combine his chakra with Kurama’s to create an unstoppable force that simply overwhelmed Isshiki. Accordingly, Naruto’s connection with Kurama made him the village’s most overpowered protective force for the village.
However, using the Baryon Mode extinguished the link between Naruto and Kurama. But that didn’t mean Naruto was rendered powerless. On the contrary, Naruto can still be considered one of the best shinobi in Konoha. He will still be a key element of the village’s defense. However, his role as a frontline force will certainly be reduced, if not eliminated. Indeed, with the new Kurama-Himawari relationship,Himawari is a far better choiceto take on the village’s most powerful opponents - including Jura and his crew or an Otsutsuki.
Himawari Is Now The Most Dangerous Uzumaki
Himawari is now one of the most powerful people in the Naruto-Verse. While she has a long way to go to master her powers and achieve the level of comfort with Kurama that her father had, it’s clear she will be a major force to be reckoned with going forward. For instance, what made the Baryon Mode so powerful was that it fused the chakra of Naruto and Kurama into one. As it turned out, while maxing out Naruto’s power levels, the Baryon Mode was extremely risky for both Naruto and Kurama, which goes to show why it was only used once.
But Himawari’s circumstances are quite unusual. She is not a host for Kurama. Instead, she is, in essence, the same being. Considering her lineage, she might also be able to achieve Baryon Mode without the risk it had to Kurama and her father. If that is the case, she would certainly be the first choice of any Hokage for handling the most serious threats to the village. With Himawari, Naruto’s time as “commander in chief” might be best spent in decision-making rather than fighting, mirroringShikamaru’s current approach to the Hokage role, even if this would be difficult for someone like Naruto to accept.
Himawari’s New Status Affects Naruto’s Parental Role
Relying on Himawari would also be difficult for Naruto because he’d be sending his child into harm’s way. This brings up the second implication of the new Kurama-Himawari relationship, namely how it will affect Naruto’s role as a father and role model. While theBorutoseries has been billed as an exploration of the next generation of Konoha’s shinobi, the story initially struggled to get the younger cohort of ninjas out from under the shadow of the last generation. Nowhere has this been more evident than inNaruto’s presence as the Hokage. Regardless of the situation, Naruto was somewhere in the background ready to clean up the pieces when the next-gen failed.
This is especially the case concerning Naruto’s relationship with his children. Fans can’t begrudge Naruto, a man who grew up as an orphan, for wanting to use everything in his power and influence to protect his children. However, his kids have grown and matured significantly over the three years of the time skip. This is especially true of Himawari, as her new powers significantly readjusts their whole father-daughter dynamic.Himawari will not need her father’s protectionanymore. Instead, Himawari will need Naruto’s counsel and guidance on how to deal with Kurama.
What Will Naruto’s Role in Konoha Be After His Return?
Naruto Has Been Replaced Both As a Protector and As a Leader
If Konoha needs protectors, both Boruto and Himawari are now stronger than their father. If it needs an administrator, Shikamaru can surely handle that role better.
The most important implication, however, is the fact that Naruto has always been defined by his status as a jinchuriki and his relationship with Kurama. While he succeeded in life thanks to his own determination, without Kurama’s powers, he would never have reached those same heights. Now that there is someone else with those powers, what is Naruto’s specialty? If Konoha needs protectors, both Boruto and Himawari are now stronger than their father. If it needs an administrator, Shikamaru can surely handle that role better.
So, while a return of Naruto to theBorutostoryline would certainly be a welcome fan service, it would not come without its complications. Naruto will have to come to terms with the fact that his role, both professionally and personally, is diminished. When considering all the blood, sweat, and tears that he spent finally achieving his dreams of having a family and becoming Hokage,Naruto’s new status will take some time to normalize, which could be an interesting storyline for the future ofBoruto: Two Blue Vortex.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex
Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.
