the Naruto The franchise currently has fans shaken like never before! This is because the last chapter of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga revealed a jaw-dropping death – one that is arguably a game-changer for the entire series. In fact, Boruto’s latest death has fans so in disbelief that they can’t accept that it’s real – and they may have good instincts about it. Like so many other instances in the Naruto franchise, this “death” in Boruto will likely end up being a major red herring, and we already know that – now let’s explain why:
(WARNING: Boruto Manga Chapter 66 SPOILERS Follow!)
The last chapter of BorutoThe manga sees the epic showdown between HIdden Leaf and Kara’s second wave unfold. Boruto’s body was (re)possessed by Momoshiki Otsutsuki’s essence, which shoots Naruto; Kara cyborg Code holds Shikamaru in a mortal grasp, to keep Naruto in the crosshairs, while Boruto’s “brother” Kawaki has reactivated his Karma mark, to unleash a power that can defeat Momoshiki.
Long story short (manga), the battle between Momoshiki-Boruto and Kawaki culminates with Boruto managing to regain control of his body from the Otsutsuki parasite. Momoshiki threatening his loved ones for the third time causes Boruto to make a startling decision: there is only one option left to end this threat – a “last resort” option that he and Kawaki came up with. That’s when Kawaki punches a huge hole in Boruto’s chest!
Why Boruto Isn’t Really Dead
Many chapters ago – between the end of the Isshiki Arc and the beginning of the Code Arc – Boruto and Kawaki had an important conversation. The boys brainstormed ways to get rid of Boruto’s Karma Seal and get rid of the threat of Momoshiki for good, with Kawaki vowing to make it his personal mission. Well, a rule of the Otsutsuki clan resurrection system through karma is obviously that the target host body must be alive; if the host body dies, it would logically cause the Karma mark to be deactivated. Ergo, Boruto, and Kawaki’s plan apparently hinges on Boruto “dead” to the point of losing his mark of Karma and then being resurrected.
The series gave the clues to this twist: Boruto’s body is now mostly made up of Otsutsuki, and Karma allows a user to access the entire vast history of Otsutsuki’s knowledge and skills. Advanced durability and healing are certainly possible – and with some extra tinkering from Kara’s fallen scientist Amado (like those mysterious pills), Boruto might have enough of a hold on his Otsutsuki side to return from that mortal wound. There’s also a lot of questioning about what kind of “download” process Boruto’s Karma will have when he dies, which could provide him with another avenue to cheat death.
Key moment: the “rebirth” of Boruto
Either way, we know Boruto is going to survive this. As always, the Boruto series opening flash-forward makes the outcome somewhat inevitable, as we know Boruto and Kawaki will reach their teenage years, with increasingly emerging context suggesting that their pivotal battle will use the powers of their respective Karmas. – without any Otsutsuki influence.
Boruto’s “death” may prove to be one of the final key moments that sets us on the path to that fate.
Borutothe last manga chapter of is free to read online.