Summary
Himawari's connection to Kurama makes her a powerful force, surpassing even her father, Naruto, in power. Naruto's role as Hokage and protector of Konoha may change, as Himawari becomes the village's main line of defense against powerful threats. The appearance of Kurama in Himawari raises questions about Naruto's future role in the story, as he may need to redefine his purpose.
Since being sealed in another dimension, fans have wondered if Naruto will ever return to the story in Boruto: Two Blue TornadoesWhile the return of the Seventh Hokage would certainly be an interesting twist to the current storyline, the appearance of his daughter, HimawariBecause Kurama's alter ego means he is no longer the center of power in Konoha Village.
Prior to Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #9, the last time fans saw Kurama – the Nine-Tails – was in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #55. There, in a touching conversation with Naruto, Kurama explained that he sacrificed himself to help Naruto defeat Isshiki Otsutsuki. For most fans – and Naruto – the overwhelming conclusion was that we had seen the last of Kurama.
However, the belief in Kurama's demise is greatly exaggerated. As explained in Two Blue Vortex Chapter #9, Kurama did not die completely. Instead, his essence continued until he was reincarnated in the future. As it turns out, Kurama was reincarnated into Himawari, Naruto's daughter. While there is some mystery as to why those forces chose Naruto's daughter, what we do know is that Himawari is not Kurama's jinchuriki – like her father. Instead, as explained in Two Blue Vortex Chapter #10, she shares body and soul with Kurama. That is, she is not just Kurama's host – she is Kurama.
Kurama and Himawari Are One
Naruto's daughter has surpassed his bond with the Nine-Tails.
The Kurama-Himawari relationship has several implications for the story. One implication that may not be immediately apparent, but is no less important, is how Himawari's new status will affect Naruto's return. The first implication concerns Naruto's role as Hokage. One of the Hokage's primary responsibilities is to protect and secure the village. In carrying out that duty, the Hokage is not only tasked with making decisions and coordinating the village's forces, but is also actively involved in its defense.
Naruto is particularly suited to this element of his Hokage duties due to his connection to Kurama and the power it grants him. Perhaps the best example of the benefits Kurama provides Naruto was demonstrated during Naruto's Baryon Mode transformation during his battle with Isshiki Otsutsuki. Baryon Mode allows Naruto to combine his chakra with Kurama's to create an unstoppable force that simply overwhelms Isshiki. In this way, Naruto's connection to Kurama has made him the village's strongest defender.
However, using Baryon Mode has destroyed the bond between Naruto and Kurama. But that does not mean that Naruto is powerless. On the contrary, Naruto can still be considered one of the best shinobi in Konoha. He will still be a key element in the village's defense. However, his role as a frontline force will certainly be reduced, if not eliminated. Indeed, with the new Kurama-Himawari relationship, Himawari is a much better choice to face the village's strongest opponents – including Jura and his crew or an Otsutsuki.
Himawari is now the most dangerous Uzumaki
Himawari is currently one of the strongest in Naruto-Verse. While she still has a long way to go to master her powers and reach the same level of comfort with Kurama as her father, it's clear that she will be a great force to be reckoned with in the future. For example, what makes Baryon Mode so powerful is that it fuses Naruto and Kurama's chakra into one. It turns out that while it maximizes Naruto's power level, Baryon Mode is extremely risky for both Naruto and Kurama, which shows why it was only used once.
But Himawari's situation is quite unusual. She is not Kurama's host. Instead, she is essentially the same creature. Given her lineage, she could also attain Baryon Mode without risking Kurama and her father. If that were the case, she would certainly be any Hokage's first choice to handle the most serious threats to the village. With Himawari, Naruto's time as “commander-in-chief” could be best spent on decision-making rather than fighting, reflecting Shikamaru's Current Approach to the Role of HokageEven though this would be very difficult for someone like Naruto to accept.
Himawari's New Condition Affects Naruto's Role as a Father
Image created by Anna Williams
Relying on Himawari would also be difficult for Naruto, as he would be putting his own child in harm's way. This brings up the second implication of the new Kurama-Himawari relationship, namely how it will affect Naruto's role as a father and role model. While the Boruto series is meant to be an exploration of the next generation of Konoha shinobi, the story has initially struggled to bring the young ninja group out of the shadow of the previous generation. Nowhere is this more evident than in Naruto's Presence as HokageNo matter the situation, Naruto is always somewhere in the background, ready to clean up the mess when the next generation fails.
This is especially true of the relationship between Naruto and his children. Fans cannot blame Naruto, a man who grew up as an orphan, for wanting to use everything in his power and influence to protect his children. However, his children have grown and matured significantly in the three years of the time skip. This is especially true of Himawari, as her newfound power has significantly altered their entire father-daughter relationship. Himawari won't need her father's protection. no more. Instead, Himawari will need Naruto's advice and guidance on how to deal with Kurama.
What will Naruto's role be in Konoha after returning?
Naruto has been replaced as both protector and leader.
If Konoha needs a protector, both Boruto and Himawari are stronger than their father. If it needs a manager, Shikamaru can definitely fill that role better.
The most important implication, however, is the fact that Naruto has always been defined by his status as a jinchuriki and his relationship with Kurama. While he has succeeded in life through his own determination, without Kurama's power, he would never have reached those heights. Now that there is someone else with those powers, what is Naruto's specialty? If Konoha needs a protector, then both Boruto and Himawari are now stronger than their fathers. If a manager is needed, then Shikamaru is certainly better suited to that role.
So while Naruto's return to the Boruto storyline would certainly be a welcome bit of fan service, it wouldn't be without its complications. Naruto would have to come to terms with the fact that his role, both professionally and personally, would be diminished. Considering all the blood, sweat, and tears he put into finally achieving his dream of having a family and becoming Hokage, NarutoThe new state of affairs will take a while to normalize, which could be an interesting storyline for the future of Boruto: Two Blue Tornadoes.