Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto are making sure to keep readers on their toes as the latest chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex saw the return of Kurama. The return of Kurama is big as the way Naruto’s Tailed-Beast departed it truly seemed as though he was permanently dead. But now thanks to Jūra’s search for Naruto bringing him face-to-face with Himawari Uzumaki we found out this wasn’t the case. How did it happen? Find out with our breakdown of the big reveal in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 9.
KURAMA INSIDE HIMAWARI UZUMAKI
While discussing their individual goals with his fellow God Trees, Jūra revealed that his desire to eat Naruto Uzumaki. That goal seemed impossible at the moment as Naruto, along with Hinata Uzumaki, is trapped in a coma-like state inside a time-displaced dimension created by Kawaki. That is something that only Kawaki, Boruto, and Ada know about.
Which made it even more surprising that when Jūra and Hidari invade Konoha the former detected Kurama’s chakra. That was odd since Kurama appeared to permanently perish in Boruto: Naruto Next Generation Chapter 55 after Naruto finished using his Baryon Mode. It certainly felt definitive with how Kurama bid Naruto goodbye.
That is what made it even more surprising that when Jūra tracked down the source of Kurama’s chakra it led him to confront Himawari Uzumaki. While confused Jūra sought to understand this development by trying to devour Himawari. Thankfully the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho in Injin, Shikadai, and Chōchō were able to protect Himawari.
With how relentless Jūra was in capturing Himawari it was the end of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 9 that Himawari was surprised by going inside her own spirit. There the we got the biggest surprise as Kurama in a child-like form appeared in front of Himawari.
LONG-TERM BUILDING FOR KURAMA’S RETURN
As to how Kurama could still be alive after sacrificing its life so Naruto could utilize Baryon Mode there are multiple possibilities. The one that is most likely is that Kurama reincarnated after a certain period of time. This is something that Himawari’s grandmother, Kushina Uzumaki, stated would happen.
Kushina said this back during the flashback story in Naruto Chapter 503 where she was willing to sacrifice herself by taking the Nine Tails Demon Fox with her in order to protect a baby Naruto and Konoha as a whole. Kushina’s sacrifice would mean that it would take years for Kurama to return rather than just staying alive in another Jinchūriki host. While that didn’t happen as Naruto ended up becoming Kurama’s new Jinchūriki.
Based on Kurama’s child-like appearance it is likely that at some point during the timeskip it reincarnated and hid itself within Himawari. Himawari being the daughter of Naruto likely made her the best person to become the next Jinchūriki for him. Especially with Boruto on the run and being a Kāma user made him not be the right person to be a Jinchūriki. Hiding within Himawari also gave Kurama a chance to hide while regaining its power in secret and also protecting Naruto’s daughter.
There are also other possibilities such as at some point Kurama placed some of its own chakra within Himawari. While not exactly the same, we’ve seen this possible with the Tailed-Beast. Previously Minato was able to split Kurama’s Yin-Yang Chakra into two. Killer B and Gyūki the Eight Tails Beast placed part of their chakra in one of Gyūki’s cut off tails to trick to trick Sasuke and avoid being captured. Kurama could’ve seen how things were going against Kara organization to create a back-up of himself in Himawari that could grow overtime if the need arised.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BORUTO: TWO BLUE VORTEX
Whatever the case is, Kurama’s return changes a whole lot for the future of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Right away it makes Himawari Uzumaki one of the most important characters in the series. This is something needed as up to this point Himawari was a background character at best. But with this development Kishimoto and Ikemoto show that they are looking to elevate Himawari and other characters.
Himawari becoming a Jinchūriki also provides a way to explore her own potential alongside her brother, Boruto. We’ve seen instances from their childhood that Himawari possibly had greater potential than her brother. Afterall, unlike Boruto she did inherit their mother’s bloodline Byakugan ability. She was also able to, at the time for comedic effect, able knock out Naruto with one palm strike on the day he was to officially become Hokage.
This also plays into Himawari’s time-skip character design that does give her more of a similar look to her grandmother, Kushina Uzumaki. Particularly, Himawari’s long-hair does give her look that could see her become Kushina’s successor as not just a Jinchūriki but also the new Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. It would turn a previous comedic story beat of Himawari’s chakra scaring her brother into what makes her the perfect new Jinchūriki for Kurama in the new generation.
With Naruto and Sasuke out of commission having additional characters to battle Jura, Code, and the God Trees is certainly needed. Even with Boruto training to become an incredibly powerful ninja he can’t be everywhere at once. Kishimoto and Ikemoto seem to be aware of this as they are rectifying one of the biggest weaknesses of the original Boruto series to build up more characters in Two Blue Vortex. Hopefully this means Himawari will play an active role in the story who actively battles the villains rather than waiting for her big brother to save her.
