Naruto's Return in Boruto: A Closer Look

The sequel to the beloved Boruto: Naruto Next Generations delves into the life of Naruto's son, Boruto Uzumaki. Shifting the focus from Naruto to his son, the series delves into the experiences and escapades of the new generation of Shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village.

From the beginning of the sequel series, fans have been puzzled by a scene featuring Boruto engaging in a heated battle with a mysterious boy named Kawaki, who threatens to send him to the same place where he had dispatched the 7th Hokage. The official explanation for this scene was revealed in chapter 77 of the manga.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating the comeback of their beloved character since then. However, considering the ongoing storyline, it is highly improbable that Naruto's return will happen anytime in the near future.

What happened to Naruto Uzumaki in the Boruto manga?

In the follow-up series, Naruto Uzumaki achieves his lifelong dream of becoming the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. However, his journey is not without hardships, including the devastating loss of Kurama in his battle against Isshiki. This event significantly diminishes his power and resilience.

Naruto, having rescued Kawaki from the clutches of Isshiki Otsutsuki, embraces him as a member of his own family, caring for him as his own son. He desires nothing more than for Kawaki to lead a fulfilling life and offers him the chance to steer away from the path that Isshiki had planned for him.

As a result of the overwhelming love he received, Kawaki developed an intense loyalty towards Naruto, regarding him as his savior. Recognizing Naruto's vulnerability after losing Kurama, Kawaki made a solemn promise to protect him at all costs.

Hence, it is difficult to fathom that Kawaki would ever engage in any action with the potential to jeopardize Naruto's well-being. Nevertheless, the prologue of the anime seemed to suggest otherwise, causing confusion among the fans. Fortunately, this matter was eventually clarified in the manga, providing readers with much-needed closure regarding Naruto's destiny.

In the latest installment of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, devoted fans were granted a glimpse into the fate of Naruto and his beloved spouse, Hinata. Fiercely determined to safeguard Naruto's well-being, Kawaki made a solemn vow to obliterate every single member of the formidable Otsutsuki clan, effectively neutralizing any potential danger they might pose to his own family.

However, Kawaki found himself in a difficult situation as his brother Boruto was currently under the control of the Otsutsuki member, Momoshiki. Recognizing the danger that his possessed brother posed to their family, Kawaki came to the realization that he had no choice but to eliminate him.

Anticipating that Naruto, his father, would strongly object to his decision and would attempt to prevent him from carrying out his plan, Kawaki resorted to employing the Space-Time Ninjutsu to swiftly transport Naruto and his wife, Hinata, to an alternate dimension.

When will Naruto return in Boruto?

- The content fragment is tied closely to the series' prologue, where Kawaki poses a threat of sending Boruto to the same place he sent the 7th Hokage. While this indicates that Naruto is not currently deceased, he will probably remain inactive for a significant period.

Naruto Uzumaki is seen engaging in a fierce battle against Isshiki Otsutsuki(image via Studio Pierrot)

Driven by an unwavering loyalty towards Naruto, Kawaki goes to the extent of transporting both Naruto and his wife, Hinata, to an alternate dimension, claiming it as a necessary measure for their safety. Determined to completely eradicate the Otsutsuki clan, including his possessed brother, Momoshiki, Kawaki is ready to take any drastic measures to ensure Naruto's protection, even if it means ending his own brother's life.

Currently, it is highly unlikely for Naruto to make a comeback in the series in the near future. Given that Boruto was mentioned as the sole surviving shinobi in the series' future, it is definite that Naruto will not reappear until after the time-skip, when the anticipated showdown between the two main characters unfolds.

In the event that Kawaki is defeated and persuaded to return Naruto to their dimension, that would be the only circumstance in which he could be reintroduced.

To conclude

Considering the circumstances, Naruto's future in the story appears bleak. Fans may have to wait for a few more years before their beloved character makes a comeback, likely after the resolution of the conflict between Boruto and Kawaki.

The particularly tragic aspect is that Kawaki sealed Naruto and Hinata due to his love for them. His unwavering determination to protect Naruto compels him to try to kill Boruto, whom he sees as his own brother. Despite this, fans can find solace in the fact that their favorite character is still alive, even if they have to wait for several years for his eventual return.

Editor's P/S

As a long-time fan of the Naruto series, I was thrilled to hear about the sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. I was eager to see what would happen to Naruto and his friends after the events of the original series. However, I was also a little bit worried that the sequel might not live up to the original.

After reading the first few chapters of Boruto, I was pleasantly surprised. The story is well-written and the characters are interesting. I especially enjoyed seeing Naruto as a father. He is still the same old Naruto, but he is also more mature and responsible.

However, I was also a little bit disappointed by the fact that Naruto is not the main character of the sequel. Instead, the focus is on his son, Boruto. I understand why the author made this decision, but I still miss Naruto being the main character.

Overall, I am enjoying Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. It is a well-written and entertaining sequel to the original series. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.