With Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #30 on the way, the chaos has begun to unfold in the Hidden Leaf village. Mamushi’s attack is crescendoing into a rampage of increasingly feral clones as the humanoid Divine Tree runs unchecked in pursuit of Eida. But in the efforts to shut down Mamushi and the Divine Trees, another Boruto character is at serious risk.
Introduced in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #23, Kawaki has since become inextricably linked to the Uzumaki family and overarching Ōtsutsuki threat. Granted a Kāma much like Boruto’s, but with its corresponding Ōtsutsuki clan member, Isshiki, extinguished, Kawaki faces a greater external threat, with Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki stating direct plans to kill the boy.
Momoshiki Wants Kawaki Dead (And May Get His Chance Soon)
Reiterated most recently in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #29, Momoshiki has plans to swiftly kill Kawaki should he get control of Boruto’s body as promised in exchange for defeating Jura. Momoshiki may not have the same designs he once did to germinate the Divine Tree and harvest the planet’s chakra, merely wishing to kill Kawaki for self-preservation.
While unlikely that Boruto’s promise is a guarantee, with him almost certainly hatching a scheme using Koji Kashin’s Prescience for clues, there are infinite dark futures in which Momoshiki takes full control. Knowing Kawaki likely intends to neutralize Boruto and his inner Ōtsutsuki after defeating the Divine Trees, Momoshiki doesn’t wish to squander his potential freedom.
Furthermore, Boruto’s array of skills, alongside Momoshiki’s being at his disposal should he get what’s promised, spells bad news for Kawaki, despite having powerful Kāma techniques of his own.
Kawaki’s Fate in Boruto Rests on Jura’s Defeat
Boruto and Kawaki shown over images of Shibai Otsutsuki and the Prescience shinjutsu in Boruto: Two Blue VortexCustom image by J.R. Waugh
With the current threat-at-large being Mamushi rampaging in Konoha, and Jura confirmed by Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #27 to not wish to attack the village, Boruto appears ready to cooperate with Momoshiki, and surrender control specifically against Jura. While he’s shown easily dispatching Mamushi, the manga has already confirmed Jura’s strength as next-level.
After all, chapter #11 proved that Jura was able to mimic and match the raw power of a revived Kurama inside his new host, Himawari Uzumaki. Should Boruto hope to contend with that kind of might, he’ll need to tap into the otherworldly resource that has permanently altered his DNA with Ōtsutsuki traits.
The moment Jura, Mamushi, and Hidari are defeated, provided no other Divine Trees are created, the primary threat to the shinobi world will be gone, pushing Boruto to hold up his end of the bargain. Momoshiki may be at this point more like Kurama was to Naruto in the original series, but his malice likely won’t stop at killing Kawaki.
2026 May Be Do-or-Die Time for Kawaki
Kawaki’s Karma as seen in the series, colored black like Boruto’s
Given the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga’s tendency to run four chapters-per-volume much like its predecessor, fans will almost certainly see enough chapters to meet 30 overall volumes. Initially hoped by Mikio Ikemoto to be that exact length, it’s uncertain, but entirely possible, that this initially projected goal will be reached in the 2026 calendar year.
With collectively 120 Boruto chapters, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #40 would be a reasonable hypothetical place should the series creators decide they have nothing else to tell. At the very least, the current arc would reasonably come to a close, with the greatest current potential danger for Kawaki.
However, this projection is no longer likely. Multiple plot threads need to be resolved. Naruto is still trapped in the Daikokuten with Hinata. The probe of Shikamaru’s operations may soon be compromised, but isn’t gone. 2026 seems drastically unlikely to include a climactic battle with Jura, then the events leading to the flashforward from Boruto chapter #1.
At Least One Imminent Character Death Seems Possible
Koji Kashin with Boruto Uzumaki
Given Koji’s ruthless dedication to the plan resulting in allowing Yodo to die in the Land of Wind, yet knowingly helping Inojin learn a new jutsu to protect Himawari, at least one death has already been foretold to come soon. Kawaki’s death in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex for now seems unlikely anytime soon, but other Konoha ninjas aren’t so fortunate.
Whether this means a casualty for Team 10 such as Jura double-tapping Inojin this time, or other vulnerable characters, even dubious figures like Kobu are next, it seems likely one way or another. This is especially alarming as, should Momoshiki gain control over Boruto’s body, there’s also no guarantee the troubled Uzumaki missing-nin’s consciousness will be preserved.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex hasn’t devolved into a full-scale bloodbath just yet, but smaller individual departures are possible. Its lack of similar mass casualty events like Naruto’s Fourth Great Ninja War may seemingly show the series has plenty of steam yet, but don’t get too attached.
Don’t worry about classic legacy Naruto characters like Rock Lee though. They’re likely too overlooked by the storyline to be relevant enough to kill at this point. That is, unless the plot continues to trot out key characters like Kakashi once more.
First Film
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
Latest Film
Boruto: Naruto the Movie
First TV Show
Naruto
Latest TV Show
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
First Episode Air Date
October 3, 2002
Cast
Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.
Writer
Masashi Kishimoto
Writers
Masashi Kishimoto
Penciler(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Inker(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Colorist(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Publisher(s)
Viz Media
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.