The time-skip scene at the beginning of the Boruto series has left fans with the thought that Kawaki is the flash-forward villain. He is popularly known as the main protagonist’s rival, Boruto. So, what makes Kawaki the arch-antagonist in Boruto?
Kawaki is a shinobi who embodies unique genetic abilities. He possessed quite the same abilities as Boruto and is considered a ninja with high potential.
In the premier episode of Boruto, Kawaki, and Boruto were fighting at the destroyed Konoha’s stone faces. Fans were able to get a glimpse of the time-skip battle between the two rivals.
However, what left fans with the thought that he might be a villain is one of his lines. He tells Boruto during the time-skip scene that he has sent the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, somewhere, and that the age of the shinobi is over.
Kawaki’s Backstory
Kawaki was not part of a perfect household, just like most antagonists. His backstory in the series shows that the peace and modernization in Konoha are just a shallow part of what is truly going on behind. Not everyone experienced a stable life because many were still struggling to survive, including Kawaki.
In addition, he lived in an abusive household together with his drunkard father. His father forced Kawaki to make a living for his vices. In general, Kawaki didn’t get any love and care from his dad. Instead, his father’s selfishness led him to be a victim of child trafficking, leading him to Jigen and the Kara organization.
Kawaki was a member of the ruthless organization called Kara, led by Jigen. Jigen and his members raised him to be Isshiki Otsutsuki’s next vessel.
Kawaki suffered a lot under the care of Jigen, who prepared and painfully trained him to be the perfect vessel for Isshiki Otsutsuki. His body also underwent scientific modifications to make him more suitable as a vessel.
What makes Kawaki a potential villain?
Kawaki’s high respect and admiration towards the Seventh Hokage caused for several theories to rise. One fan tweeted that his connection with Naruto might lead him to destroy the village just to protect his adoptive father.
Although Kawaki had already lost his Karma seal when Isshiki got incinerated, it is evident that in the time-skip arc, Kawaki still has his Karma seal, just like his brother, Boruto. But the manga hasn’t revealed yet how he will bring it back.
SPOILER: Read at your own discretion. This part contains information regarding Boruto’s chapters 77 and 78 leaked spoilers.
Moreover, the recently released chapters of the manga revealed that their mother, Hinata Hyuga slapped Kawaki for expressing his thoughts about killing Boruto. Naruto’s children, including Kawaki, have formed a strong bond with one another.
In fact, the Himawari Arc gained praise from fans for doing better than the other arcs in the series. There are a lot of moments between Boruto and Kawaki shown all throughout the series. Hence, this arc was vital in showing the development of the relationship between his sibling, Himawari.
However, one cannot deny that Boruto, still being a Momoshiki-possessed, imposed a great threat on Konoha and its people. The recent chapter release wherein Hinata slapped Kawaki gained reactions among fans.
In this scene, he returns to the Uzumaki household after spending some time alone. He expressed his regrets in front of Naruto and Hinata for not killing Boruto the first time. He then reiterated his intention to kill Boruto if Momoshiki continues to control or eventually makes Boruto his vessel.
These statements of Kawaki caused Hinata to snap and slap him. She told him that he was crazy for thinking that way, to which he agreed; however, he admitted that he was still being reasonable.
Naruto also responded that he might have to go through him first before killing his son. But, it is believed that he anticipated this response from Naruto because Kawaki opened a portal and sent his adoptive parents to another dimension, which made a huge turning point in the story.
Kawaki’s overprotective love for the Seventh Hokage, Naruto, may actually be the reason for his fight with his brother, Boruto, in the time-skip arc.
So far, the manga hasn’t revealed yet if this is the true reason and if Kawaki is truly a villain in the story; however, we cannot deny that Kawaki’s role in the series is something to keep an eye on.
Read More: Three-Man Squads in Boruto: Teams, Names, and Jutsus
