Kurama’s Return in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is Exactly What the Series Needed

The ninth chapter of Boruto Two Blue Vortex, titled “Nine Tails,”was released on April 19, 2024. It revealed a surprising twist to readers: the return of the tailed beast, Kurama. Long-time fans of the series will remember that Kurama was thought to have perished during Naruto’s intense battle against Isshiki Otsutsuki in his Baryon Mode, where he used up all of his chakra. This turn of events left many readers feeling a mix of emotions, including disappointment and frustration.

Despite being a common point of criticism among manga readers, many popular shounen series have a tendency to avoid character deaths and often fake them, even in situations where death seems inevitable. However, this is not the case for Kurama as death and resurrection of tailed beasts is not an entirely new concept. In fact, Isobu, also known as Three-Tails, had previously died alongside its jinchuriki, Rin Nohara, only to be revived at a later point.

The unexpected return of Kurama in the manga has left many unanswered questions. It begs us to ponder about Kurama’s motives for leaving Naruto and selecting Himawari as his new vessel. The possibility of this happening is also a mystery. Nevertheless, this surprising turn of events can be viewed as a crucial step in Himawari’s character development.

Please note: This article contains significant spoilers.

Kurama’s reappearance in the Boruto Two Blue Vortex benefits Himawari

An annoyed Kurama as seen in the Boruto anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The readers of Boruto were led to believe that the seventh Hokage, Naruto, had been sealed away by Kawaki. Despite this, it was revealed in chapter 9 of Boruto Two Blue Vortex that the Shinju, Jura, and Hidari were actually drawn to Kurama’s chakra. As a result, they unexpectedly find Himawari and Jura becomes determined to devour her.

As the chapter comes to a close, Himawari successfully breaks away from her pursuers with the help of her companions. In the midst of her escape, Kurama makes his first appearance to her on the Mental Plane. However, this time he appears as a diminutive tailed beast, irritated by the Ten-Tails’ detection of him. He proceeds to inquire if Himawari recognizes him, to which she responds affirmatively.

One of the most remarkable highlights of Boruto Two Blue Vortex is its capability to incorporate old elements in innovative ways. It is not simply a matter of repackaging familiar concepts, but instead, utilizing them to produce a completely unique product that still resonates with loyal followers.

Boruto’s clever refinement of the Rasengan serves as a perfect illustration of balancing continuity with Naruto while also introducing fresh and pertinent elements to the story. Likewise, the reappearance of Kurama is a highly anticipated development. As seen in the ninth chapter of Boruto Two Blue Vortex, this is not simply a smaller incarnation of Kurama, but one whose dynamic with Himawari is sure to diverge from his previous bond with Naruto.

Despite being a character with great potential, Himawari has largely been kept in the background in the manga, possibly due to her young age. The writer, Kishimoto, has openly acknowledged his struggles with creating strong female characters, which has led to some unusual character progressions in Naruto. Nevertheless, there is optimism that Kishimoto will handle Himawari’s growth with the same level of thoughtfulness as he has for Naruto and Boruto.

Himawari as seen in the Boruto anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The discovery that Kurama now dwells within Himawari presents numerous potential outcomes. This could potentially lead to a recreation of the Fourth Great Ninja War, during which Naruto, along with the rest of the Ninja world, fought against Kaguya Otsutsuki, who had merged with the God Tree to become Ten-Tails.

Himawari joins forces with Kurama and the rest of the Ninja world in Boruto Two Blue Vortex to combat the Ten-Tails beings. Code’s use of his claw marks on the juvenile Ten-Tails, which was held by the organization Kara, resulted in the unintentional creation of these beings. The Shinju, now self-aware and no longer driven by their instinct to consume chakra, possess a diverse range of powers that pose a major threat to the Ninja world.

Kishimoto’s recent revelation of the final showdown between Kawaki and Boruto in the manga’s opening pages, coupled with the hint of another Great War, is sure to ignite excitement among fans. Many are now eagerly anticipating the unfolding of this journey, rather than solely focusing on the ultimate conclusion, similar to the anticipation sparked when Momoshiki foretold Boruto’s future.