“What a Drag!” No matter how many times Shikamaru tried enjoying a laid-back life, disasters fell upon him again and again. From seeing Asuma die right before his eyes to losing his father in the fourth great shinobi world, life has always been harsh on him. He may not look like one, but he surely has the tendency for the greater good of the village.
Remember how he was ready to sacrifice himself for his friends when the Sand ninjas invaded Konoha? Or how he almost ended up dying in the Fourth Great Ninja? This makes us worry about him as the Boruto manga steps into another nail-biting arc. Boruto Chapter 64 revealed that Shikamaru is heading outside the village to face Code. Even with Kurama-less Naruto by his side, Shikamaru is no match before Code. Will he survive yet another near-death situation? Or will this be Shikamaru’s last mission?
Will Shikamaru Die in Boruto manga?
No, there’s no manga draft suggesting that Shikamaru will die any time soon. We don’t even know if he will manage to get there in time. The fact that he was in Chapter 64’s cover can hint over two things. Either he is heading towards a grand showcase of his powers or his tragic demise trying to save Boruto and Kawaki.
Seeing how Shikamaru insisted Hinata not accompany them, it seems that he is aware of the risks. In case something happens to them, someone should be there to take care of Himawari. So, leaving Hinata behind was the only logical option that Shikamaru had. Shikamaru knew that if they waited for Sasuke, it would be too late. Moreover, I don’t think if Sasuke stands a chance before Code without his Rinnegan.
Will Shikamaru Sacrifice Himself?
As you all must know, Shikamaru has been obsessed with Shogi right from his childhood days. Asuma taught him a move called ‘rising silver,’ where a pawn is sacrificed to win the game. Shikamaru never liked this strategy, but Asuma made him realize how important it is to protect the dear ones. I will certainly be heartbroken (but not surprised) if I see him resorting to rising silver.
Now don’t get sad already; it’s just too far-fetched a speculation. A strategic game against Shikamaru isn’t over until he says it himself. He always has a plan B for everything, so I don’t think he will make a sacrificial move unless he is out of all other options. At least, that’s what my timid heart wants to believe. 🙂Â
Also Read: How Can Boruto Prevent His Complete Otsutsuki Transformation?
Can Shikamaru Defeat Code?
Even if I consider Shikamaru’s ‘wisdom of age’ into considering, I don’t see any way in which he can defeat Code. He is an Otsutsuki level threat, and Shikamaru will surely die in a head-on fight. Moreover, Eida is helping Code from the dark, thereby making him an invincible opponent. So, the best thing he can do is to come up with a way so that no one dies. That won’t be an easy task to do with Naruto drastically nerfed.
Like old days, Naruto is back to relying on his shadow clones to use sage jutsu. This surely brings back memories from Naruto’s teenage days, but Shikamaru hardly has any time to feel nostalgic. He must track the children down before it’s too late. I doubt even if a suicidal move can help them in this situation.
Does Shikamaru Have a Plan?
Yes, knowing Shikamaru from my childhood days, he must already have a strategy in his mind. He isn’t someone who jumps into a fight aimlessly. Or someone who fights a hopeless battle without accomplishing anything. He must be seeing this crisis as an opportunity to capture Code, thereby nullifying the possibility of reviving the divine tree again.
The way the series has been nerfing Naruto lately, I doubt if he will be needing clones for Rasengan now. I have reasons to believe that Shikamaru will steal the limelight here. Who knows, he may have unlocked some new shadowy techniques of the Nara clan? So, I would ask you all to have faith in our lazy strategist one more time.
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