Kawaki's powerup may turn him into Boruto's strongest enemy

Boruto and Kawaki first began their relationship on a rather hopeful note, despite the very first chapter of the series depicting a showdown between them. Although the protagonist has already surpassed Kawaki's power level and is arguably the strongest shinobi in action, Kawaki will still need to serve as his final opponent.

The narrative of this series is currently clear with the protagonist being the actual "hero" of the story. Both characters have a certain outcome that they pursue. While the protagonist's goal of undoing Eida's omnipotence while simultaneously "saving" Kawaki parallels Naruto's ideals, Kawaki's own ideal reflects that of a tyrant.

It is possible that Kawaki, being the spiritual reincarnation of Isshiki, ends up challenging the protagonists in terms of powers as well as ideals.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Boruto series.

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Kawaki's will be Boruto's most formidable opponent ever

Boruto and Kawaki as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Kawaki was introduced in the first chapter of the story, where he faced off against Boruto, the protagonist. Kawaki was later revealed as one of the few vessels that Isshiki had prepared. He was swiftly taken in by Naruto and eventually took on the role of the protagonist's brother.

Later events resulted in Kawaki trapping Naruto and Hinata in an alternate dimension, while simultaneously taking away the protagonist's identity as an Uzumaki. All of this was done in pursuit of "safety" for Naruto, a dream selfishly sought after by Kawaki.

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

While Kawaki has not done much since Eida's omnipotence was executed, he still remains an entity with potential great enough to rival Isshiki. Kawaki's potential has not yet been fully realized, leading to the recent events where he coerced Amado into drawing out all of his powers.

Given Kawaki's vision and the power he will later tap into, it is evident that he will end up becoming a tyrant, pursuing Naruto's safety at all costs.

Although these plot points seem fairly common in manga, such stories have been part of folklore for a long time, often serving as warnings against unchecked power. The protagonist has already expressed his desire to "not kill" Kawaki, reflecting Naruto's ethics while simultaneously solidifying his desire for a brotherly relationship with Kawaki.

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

Although this serves as an anchor for Boruto's morality, it also acts as an attachment and a seed of moral dilemma that will eventually be expanded upon. Kawaki's goals and the immense power he will awaken will indeed turn him into a true villain. This will force the protagonist to contemplate and reassess his ideals and goals regarding Kawaki.

The battle between ideals has been a recurring theme within the series and its numerous conflicts. Given that both Boruto and Kawaki currently lack a clear ideological opposition to one another, Kawaki's awakening with Isshiki's powers will change that. It will challenge the protagonist and elevate Kawaki into Boruto's strongest antagonist yet.

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Final Thoughts

Boruto Two Blue Vortex chapter 18 will be released on January 20, 2025, and will mainly focus on Konohamaru and Shikamaru's operation operation against Matsuri and Ryu. Although chapter 17 ended with Konohamaru and his team merging with the two Shinju, chapter 18 might begin with a fight between these two parties.

Kawaki's last appearance was him forcing Amado into unlocking his full potential, a Jura vs Kawaki battle may ensue in the next few chapters, especially since Kawaki is yet to receive a considerable power-up.

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