In a surprising turn of events, theBorutoseries has revealed its endgame villain, hinting towards concluding the franchise with a dramatic battle. The move comes as a surprise since many were expecting the series to follow its previously setnarrative of the Otsutsuki Clanbeing the pinnacle of all evil, and their existence being the endgame threat to the shinobi world.
With this preset notion, the Otsutsuki were expected to take the center stage once more. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Kawaki has been deemed as the final antagonist, with a cataclysmic battle expected to follow. Kawaki’s hateful disposition had slowly dissipated over the course of the series, making this surprising revelation all the more laudable. WhileBorutonever received the same critical acclaim as its prequel, it may now have a chance at redeeming not just itself but alsoShippuden’sending.Naruto’scontroversial ending disappointed many, with fans now putting their faith in theBorutoseries to set things right.
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Kawaki’s Shocking Decision
Although it was already hinted that Kawaki couldpotentially become an antagonistin a flash-forward during the initial parts of the series, the events that preceded this outcome come as a surprise, as the premise seemed to be moving towards an entirely different direction, one where Kawaki would be loyal to Boruto. Moreover, the series’ continuous focus on the Otsutsuki Clan prompted speculations that the endgame villain would surely be one of the Otsutsuki, making Kawaki’s revelation all the more jarring.
With Kawakioriginally being from Kara, the possibility of him turning into an antagonist was already quite high, but as the series progressed, his hatred and disdain towards the shinobi system dissipated. Naruto serving as his father-figure and Boruto acting as a foster brother filled the void in Kawaki’s heart, as he eventually became loyal to Naruto and his cause. However, the very same loyalty towards Naruto is what has led to him becoming the series’ new endgame villain. Since Kawaki is Isshiki Otsutsuki’s vessel, he could sense that Boruto also bears the Karma seal of another Otsutsuki – Momoshiki. To repay Naruto’s kindness of taking him in as his own, Kawaki swore to destroy every single trace of the Otsutsuki, even going as far as plotting to kill Boruto to destroy his Karma seal.
Knowing that Naruto would never approve of such an extreme and inhumane measure, Kawaki seals him away with his Daikokuten technique, barring anyone from intervening in his plans. A battle to the deathbetween Boruto and Kawakiwill serve as the perfect concluding note for the series, especially since this element is exactly what was missing from theNarutoseries’ ending. Moreover, a final showdown will leave no room for redemption for the antagonist, a recurring theme in the prequel that left a negative impression on the series.
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How Boruto’s Ending Can Salvage Naruto’s Conclusion
TheNarutoseries’ global reputation and critical acclaim speaks volume of its impeccable story writing, novel world-building, and in-depth characters, yet it still failed to come up with a satisfying conclusion and negated the entire build-up with a last-minute character addition – Kaguya Otsutsuki. With no previous connection to the series,Kaguya’s sudden appearance stirred up controversy, and rightfully so, as it seemed that Kishimoto had forcefully inserted her character into the plot, in-turn negating the entire build-up of Obito and Madara’s Project Tsuki no Me.
Obito and Madara were two of the series most well-written antagonists, with clearly defined motives and a complementary backstory. Their connections with the rest of the characters further added a layer of intricacy, deeming their actions as morally ambiguous. However, as soon as Kaguya appeared, everything they had worked for suddenly vanished, and what was supposed to be a climactic battle turned into a confusing array of events.The power creeping that came aboutwas an entirely separate issue, as fans couldn’t wrap their heads around the events that unfolded. Suffice to say, the series ended on a distasteful note, tainting the entire franchise’s reputation and legacy.
TheBorutoseries now has a chance to make things right and salvage the prequel’s glaring mistake. Kawaki and Boruto’s battle being endgame can redeem the franchise in two ways; first, Kawaki isn’t some last-minute villain that was forcefully inserted into the series, and second, his role as the deuteragonist makes the final battle all the more compelling. Considering the events that lead up to the final moments,Kawaki’s position as the antagonistseemed extremely unlikely, making the revelation even more surprising. WhileBorutohas mostly been regarded by fans as a subpar series compared to its prequel, many now have high hopes from its ending.
