The Boruto series has been steadily progressing, especially since the start of the Two Blue Vortex manga. This installment has showcased significant growth in the strength of the shinobi characters, providing fans with plenty to enjoy.
However, given the monthly release schedule of each chapter, fans often revisit older chapters, sparking discussions on social media and forums. One recurring topic is how Masashi Kishimoto might have shifted the anime’s focus more onto Naruto if he had taken a different approach during Naruto’s fight against Isshiki Otsutsuki.
The Seventh Hokage, Naruto, faced one of the toughest opponents in the series, leading to a critical moment where Naruto and Kurama used a technique that resulted in Kurama sacrificing himself.
Fans speculate that a different technique, like the Reaper Death Seal, could have yielded a similar result without such a significant sacrifice. This technique, used by Naruto’s father Minato, could have been poetic and effective in killing Isshiki, preventing his resurrection.
The Naruto vs. Isshiki Otsutsuki fight was crucial as it demonstrated Naruto and Kurama’s full potential and significantly raised the stakes in the series. Both were willing to risk their lives to protect the village, leading to Kurama’s sacrifice through the Baryon Mode transformation.
This technique was deemed necessary to defeat Isshiki, but fans noted that Naruto could have potentially used the Reaper Death Seal instead. As an Uzumaki, Naruto had a natural talent for sealing jutsu, and using the technique his father used could have been a powerful and poetic moment.
However, Kishimoto’s decision to avoid this route allowed the plot of Boruto to progress as intended. The goal was to make Naruto and Sasuke weaker, thereby giving Boruto room to grow.
Killing Naruto at that stage would have been too much for Boruto to handle and could have negatively impacted the series, which relied on characters like Naruto to carry the plot. The loss of Kurama, while emotionally impactful, weakened Naruto without completely derailing the series’ progress.
Sacrificing Kurama struck a balance. It weakened Naruto, creating a significant emotional impact on the audience, but didn’t overwhelm the protagonist with loss.
This decision ensured that Naruto’s character development continued without compromising Boruto’s growth. Therefore, the Reaper Death Seal was not used against Isshiki, preserving the series’ trajectory and maintaining the emotional and narrative balance necessary for the story’s progression.
Kishimoto’s decision to sacrifice Kurama instead of using the Reaper Death Seal during the fight against Isshiki Otsutsuki was a strategic one.
It allowed the series to continue developing Boruto while ensuring that Naruto remained a central and evolving character without undermining the emotional stakes or narrative integrity of the series.
