Naruto Loves a Redemption Story, But Honestly - He Can't Forgive His New Enemy
The titular protagonist of the Naruto franchise is known for being one of the kindest and most forgiving characters in anime. No matter the enemy he faces, the Seventh Hokage has always found a way to empathize with them and understand their pain. His capacity for compassion is such that the community has turned it into the beloved Talk no Jutsu meme.
Yet, there is a villain who could force Naruto to break his compassionate streak, as his crimes go far beyond what he can forgive: Kawaki. The fated final antagonist of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga has brought so much pain to the Uzumaki family that it is hard to imagine that the patriarch will turn the other cheek. This might be the first time in a long time that Naruto’s anger will overcome his kind nature.
Kawaki Might Join Naruto’s No Mercy List
The Boy Has Caused More Suffering Than Most for the Uzumaki Family
One of the Naruto franchise's biggest and saddest twists was Kawaki suddenly betraying the Uzumaki family. His unhealthy obsession with the Seventh Hokage led him to imagine the worst scenario possible, in which Code and his minions managed to kill him. He traps Naruto and Hinata inside a pocket dimension to prevent this from happening. While his original plan was to escape from the Hidden Leaf as a criminal, a fortuitous encounter with Eida helped him change places with Boruto, thanks to the most powerful ability in the series, Omnipotence.
Thanks to Kawaki, Naruto and his wife were taken from her children, losing years of their lives, while one of them was forced to leave his home and branded as a traitor. Boruto and Himawari have grown since then, suffering the effects of the betrayal of a man they once called a brother. Their parents had missed a large portion of their childhoods and were incapable of helping them when they needed their support the most. Kawaki’s actions led to one of the most horrifying and traumatic futures for Naruto’s family, and they cannot go unpunished.
If the cyborg manages to survive until after the Seventh Hokage is freed from his prison, the possibility of him pardoning his crimes is minimal. Despite Kawaki’s plan not directly endangering the world, like other major villains like Madara or Pain, it did cause lasting harm to the Uzumaki Family. Letting Kawaki walk free without receiving any consequences for his actions would make for a disappointing finale and would rob Naruto of the opportunity to get closure from this tragedy.
Naruto Has Already Shown Signs of Resentment Against Kawaki
Kawaki Already Crossed the Line in the Past
Although the idea of Naruto not showing mercy to Kawaki might seem out of character for the Seventh Hokage, the Boruto series had already proven that the man had grown resentful of his adoptive son. The biggest evidence of this comes from chapter #67 of the manga, which takes place only moments after Kawaki kills the Seventh’s son. As Naruto holds his dead child in his arms, Shikamaru asks what they will do with Kawaki, who was the sole responsible for the crime.
Although the Hokage tried to hide his feelings, his right-hand man’s insistence on punishing the boy caused him to explode in anger, revealing what he was truly feeling now. The main reason why Naruto did not act on his feelings was because Boruto considered Kawaki a brother, and he wanted to honor the memory of his son. During chapter #77, moments before being imprisoned, Naruto and Hinata told Kawaki that they would fight him if he ever tried to kill Boruto. The Seventh Hokage no longer has the patience to deal with Kawaki, and their next encounter could turn violent.
Kawaki Is Destined to Do Much Worse
The Flashforward of Chapter #1 Proves He Is Still Not Done
Despite the pain and suffering that Kawaki has brought to the Uzumaki family, fans could still argue that Naruto will be able to forgive him. All things considered, the cyborg did what he thought was the best for the world, and his actions have not yet caused major damage to anyone but his adoptive brother. Still, the manga series has already proven that his crimes will not stop there, and Kawaki will become a true threat to the entire Shinobi World. Chapter #1 of the manga shows Boruto facing his former comrade on the remains of the Hidden Leaf.
These events are still far off in the future, so the complete context of how Konoha will be destroyed cannot be yet ascertained. Yet, judging by Boruto’s words, Kawaki is the most likely responsible for the devastation and death depicted in the chapter. Even if Naruto could have forgiven him for using his abilities to separate his family, there is no doubt that he would not tolerate the destruction of his home. The fact that Kawaki did not appear remorseful even after Boruto confronted him only adds fuel to the theory that he is unforgivable.
Boruto Could Be Kawaki’s Only Hope
Naruto Might Not Forgive Him, but His Son Could
Even though he has a plethora of reasons to hate him, Boruto has proven time and time again that he is truly like his father, as he has forgiven Kawaki at every turn. Due to Kawaki, the boy has lost his family, his home, and his mentor. He is also being actively chased by every major village in the world, due to his status as Naruto’s killer. And yet, Boruto refuses to consider Kawaki an enemy, as proven by their conversation in chapter #15 of the Two Blue Vortex manga.
When talking about the Divine Trees and the danger their existence poses to the world, Naruto’s son addresses the cyborg as his brother, showing no signs of anger or hatred. Boruto went as far as to tell Kawaki about Amado altering his body’s limitations, leading to the latter receiving a massive powerup. Naruto might be reluctant to see the good in Kawaki after being freed from his prison, but his son might convince him to give him a last chance. This might be the only way in which the cyborg can be forgiven, as the Seventh Hokage is unlikely to feel any mercy once they meet again.
No matter how forgiving the titular protagonist of the Naruto franchise might be, he is still a human who can only endure so much. Kawaki has truly hurt his family and will continue to do so. Once Naruto is freed, fans might see one of the few times in history when he decides not to show mercy to an enemy.
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