Isshiki Otsutsuki's absence in Boruto may be Kaguya and Momoshiki's faults

Modified Jan 01, 2025 11:00 GMT

Isshiki Otsutsuki's absence in Boruto may be Kaguya and Momoshiki's faults (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The overarching presence of the Otsutsuki clan in Boruto's narrative has been widely discussed within the fandom. Among the prominent Otsutsuki characters, Isshiki and his betrayal by Kaguya remain among the most mysterious plot points despite being introduced early in the series.

While Kaguya might have betrayed Isshiki on her own, the appearance of Momoshiki in Boruto's earliest arcs might explain why Kaguya chose to betray Isshiki Otsutsuki despite her survival being ensured.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Boruto series.

Boruto: Isshiki's death might've been a result of both Kaguya and Momoshiki

Kaguya as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kaguya and Momoshiki are two of the few Otsutsuki deeply involved in the lore of Naruto and its successor series. Kaguya was the main antagonist of the former, and Momoshiki is one of the secondary antagonists in the Boruto series, despite essentially being sealed inside Boruto.

Isshiki and Kaguya were two-man cells from the Otsutsuki clan sent to cultivate a Chakra fruit on Earth. Kaguya was evidently from a branch family of the Otsutsuki and was thus assigned to be consumed by a growing Ten-Tails to create the Chakra fruit. Isshiki would have ultimately consumed the Chakra fruit. However, Isshiki was betrayed and mortally wounded by Kaguya, leading to his absence from the narrative for several centuries.

Isshiki, as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

While being a sacrifice serves as enough reason for the betrayal, Otsutsuki members consumed by the Ten-Tails are eventually revived via their seals. This entire mechanism makes Kaguya's actions a point of intrigue that has remained mysterious since the early days of Boruto.

While it is known that Kaguya was the sole individual responsible for Isshiki being incapacitated, Sasuke's earliest encounter with Momoshiki might subtly hint at Kaguya and Momoshiki plotting against Isshiki. The Versus Momoshiki arc began when Sasuke arrived at Kaguya's castle, where he retrieved a scroll and subsequently encountered Momoshiki and Kinshiki.

While this may not seem like a detail-heavy sequence, it confirms that Momoshiki Otsutsuki was in contact with Kaguya. He even knew the location of Kaguya's castle, evidently hidden in an alternate dimension.

Momoshiki as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Since it is still unknown why Kaguya betrayed Isshiki, it is possible that Momoshiki manipulated her. Momoshiki and Isshiki are high-ranking Otsutsuki clan members, but their relative standing remains uncertain. It is possible that Isshiki held a greater rank, leading Momoshiki to plot against him by using Kaguya.

The reason Kaguya might have complied with Momoshiki remains speculative. However, given his higher standing, it is plausible that he coerced Kaguya to do his bidding. Momoshiki and Kinshiki monitoring Kaguya's castle also suggest the possibility that Kaguya was supposed to hand over the Chakra fruit to Momoshiki.

Kaguya eventually betrayed Momoshiki by consuming the fruit herself, which may have led Momoshiki to issue a warning via the scroll left in Kaguya's castle. While the entire theory is based on speculation, with many events coincidentally aligning, the involvement of Shibai Otsutsuki and Amado suggests that the entire sequence of events could be part of a larger scheme.

Final thoughts

The entire ordeal with the Otsutsuki and the extent of their involvement remains a lingering plot point within the story's narrative. Given the possibility of an Otsutsuki invasion and the foreshadowing of another Otsutsuki two-man cell having visited Earth, the secret behind why Kaguya betrayed Isshiki may come to light in future Boruto chapters.

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Edited by Shreya Das