The Real Problem With Boruto’s Karma – Shibai Otsutsuki VS Momoshiki

The first official arc of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has ended. In today’s article, I will share my predictions for Chapter 16 and discuss the direction each character is heading. Why hasn’t Momoshiki spoken to Boruto for the past three years? What could the real reason be, and how is Shibai Otsutsuki involved in this story? Will Isshiki ever be able to return, and why do I believe that the real fight is between Shibai Otsutsuki and Momoshiki?

I want to address the topic of Code because, in my opinion, he will play a crucial role in the conclusion of this manga. If we recall, even though Code’s Karma is empty, it originates from Isshiki. Just like Boruto said, he has been shown to worship the entire Otsutsuki culture. In this scene from the manga, Code says that the Otsutsuki is like his religion, equal to divinity. He believes that continuing Isshiki’s will is the path to becoming a complete Otsutsuki, even if it means serving others by venerating them. He would be willing to work for an Otsutsuki.

That’s why I think someone else will intervene in the story at some point—specifically, the missing Otsutsuki from the tablets, the only one we still don’t know. The current battle is between Code and Shinju against Boruto and Kawaki. However, I believe that to create a drastic twist, another Otsutsuki will intervene. Let’s not forget that this Shinju intends to cultivate the Divine Tree at some point, and since Boruto and Kawaki won’t die, someone else needs to be devoured. Code says that if the Divine Tree is planted, the planet will be destroyed, but I don’t necessarily believe that will happen.

We’ve seen how the tree has been planted and bloomed multiple times, yet the planet wasn’t destroyed. This is because there is one more step before the destruction: the one who cultivates the tree needs to drain the planet of its chakra and life force. At one point, Code says something interesting that could foreshadow the future. He mentioned that the tree would devour all chakra on the planet, and the only way to escape is to flee to another dimension.

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, things have advanced significantly, and we are already discussing different timelines, with the author gradually introducing these new concepts. If the Divine Tree is planted—something Kashin Koji has seen in most possible futures—the only escape will be to another dimension. If we remember, I previously talked about Sarada and one of her abilities. I then discussed the shield that is part of Japan’s sacred treasures. The symbol on the shield resembles Sarada’s Mangekyou and is said to reveal one’s true identity. We could draw a parallel to Naruto when he confronted his dark side within the waterfall or in other anime.

Perhaps Sarada will have a dimension that reflects the entire reality, or she could draw someone in, making them believe everything they do is real when it is just within Sarada’s ability. The likelihood of Boruto and Sarada teleporting everyone to another dimension is very slim, so if Code’s prediction is true, there will need to be another solution.

I think that Karma is the most important topic since it affects Boruto and will also determine his destiny. We learn from the manga that this Karma grants the user all the combat experience that the Otsutsuki had. Not only that, but they also gain all the Otsutsuki’s knowledge. I’m starting to understand why Boruto said he feels like losing his mind when he activates it. Code says that all the information accumulated by the Otsutsuki over millions of years is overlaid onto your body and mind. That’s why you become more powerful when you use it.

But here lies Boruto’s main issue. Before the time skips, Momoshiki took control a few times, but only when Boruto ran out of chakra and was exhausted. This way, Momoshiki could take control for a short while, though Boruto would eventually regain consciousness after absorbing chakra from another source. We even saw him using Karma in combat a few times without losing control. Now, after the time skip, he is much stronger than when he was younger, yet he can’t use the Karma like he used to.

This is also related to why Momoshiki no longer speaks to him. When Boruto’s Karma is activated, he receives not only Momoshiki’s information but also that of Shibai Otsutsuki. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be an issue for him. Receiving information from the ultimate deity is too overwhelming for him, besides the genetic information from Momoshiki, who lived for thousands of years.

 Shibai Otsutsuki is an ancient Otsutsuki god. This means his DNA contains millions of years of experience and information, all concentrated into a single vessel: Boruto. The same applies to Code, who has received Isshiki’s experience, which brings us to the following conclusion: Jura was created from the chakra of the Ten-Tails, Code’s chakra, which includes Shibai’s teleportation abilities, and Isshiki’s chakra.

Continuing with Boruto, in the last chapter, he mentioned that this feeling of being overtaken was very similar to what he felt when Momoshiki took control. The information Boruto shares is missing many details. He specifies that he used Karma two years ago during the battle with Code, but we don’t know exactly what context it was in—whether it was when Sasuke was sealed or another time. By saying he felt something similar, he confirms that it’s something different or someone else. Even though he already knows what it feels like to be controlled, this time, it was different. Even though he was conscious, he felt like he was gradually dying.

Not even at that moment did Momoshiki speak to him, and we all know how vocal Momoshiki used to be, stepping in whenever he had a chance to influence Boruto’s mind. But this time, he has been completely silent for three years. I think that something happened to him. There are multiple possibilities, and it’s odd for Boruto to say that he doesn’t know what happened to Momoshiki, especially since he has Kashin Koji. Maybe he didn’t have the time to tell him, but he surely saw Momoshiki in the future, or maybe he chose not to tell him for a reason. We’ll find out later in the Boruto manga series (online).

It’s possible that Momoshiki was sealed, though that doesn’t entirely explain the loss of control. Perhaps Sasuke, before being sealed, did something regarding Momoshiki to leave Boruto in peace. Over those two years, he could have developed a more complex sealing Jutsu, saving Boruto but becoming the one who ended up sealed. The other possibility, which I believe is much more plausible and makes more sense regarding losing control, is the overlap with Shibai Otsutsuki’s genetic information.

Although Boruto is the perfect vessel with a perfect body capable of channeling Earth’s chakra and connecting with its forces, he still seems overwhelmed. Rightfully, Shibai Otsutsuki may be attempting to come back to life through Boruto’s Karma. We already have all the clues before us. Amado mentioned some time ago that Karma is a way to bring someone back to life, no matter how long they die. Now, we see Boruto’s loss of control. We know that someone who died can be brought back to life if the vessel has their DNA and Karma. In this case, Boruto has both.

Let’s not forget that Momoshiki knows much about Shibai, perhaps even more than Amado, and we could learn more if he speaks to Boruto again. There’s also a possibility that Shibai Otsutsuki has suppressed Momoshiki himself. If Shibai were to impose control over Boruto Uzumaki’s body, Momoshiki would immediately lose influence over his vessel. Shibai, with his power, could completely isolate and suppress Momoshiki’s consciousness, treating it as an inferior entity. However, considering Momoshiki’s stubbornness and strength, the internal battle for control of Boruto’s mind and willpower could follow, potentially leading to an intense mental struggle where Momoshiki tries to manipulate Boruto’s consciousness to regain influence.

 Shibai uses Shinjutsu techniques to completely block Momoshiki’s consciousness, attempting to absorb or destroy it. Such a battle would turn Boruto’s body into a mental battleground, testing his will and stability. If Shibai were to be resurrected and managed to destroy Momoshiki truly, it would shake the Otsutsuki hierarchy, proving that a god could return even after death. If the Otsutsuki clan discovered Shibai’s presence within Boruto, they might send their strongest members to eliminate him.

This brings us back to Amado, the scientist in Boruto, about whom we don’t know much but who will play a major role as the manga continues. He needs Kawaki’s Karma to surpass its current power, enhancing his regeneration and defense to ensure he never dies. Now, there are even greater threats than Code, as Boruto points out in Chapter 15. Thus, I expect Kawaki to go straight to Amado in Chapter 16 to eliminate his limits, as they don’t have much time left. The two have agreed to fight together until they get rid of the Shinju.

However, something else is revealed in Chapter 15: Amado can see through Kawaki’s eyes, just as he can see everything happening through Delta’s eyes. So, what is he planning? Does this mean he saw Naruto and Hinata being sealed? Could this be the proof he referred to when he told Sumire that, although his mind suggests one thing, the evidence in his computer reflects reality? He saw the conversation with Ada (Eida) and the effects of omnipotence, and he knew everything that happened. Can he see through all of his creations’ eyes? If so, he can also see through Kashin Koji’s eyes.

This manga is filled with mysteries, and besides Boruto, Amado is the only one who knows that Naruto and Hinata are sealed. He sees them through Kawaki’s eyes each time Kawaki enters that dimension. Everything is starting to connect. In the previous chapter, Code receives a mission from Jura to find Boruto and Kashin Koji and kill him. I think, in a one-on-one battle, Code could kill Kashin Koji. After all, Code is stronger than Jigen, though he doesn’t know where Koji is.

In the same chapter, we learn that Amado realizes Koji is still alive and might use the technology he implanted to locate him. I wondered how Code might learn this, but the answer is Amado. Code could find Kashin Koji’s location if Amado tells him. Technically, Amado could bring his daughter back to life anytime or someone else because I don’t think it’s his daughter he truly wants to bring back to life. He has a completely different plan.

To make this happen, Kawaki would have to transfer his Karma onto the vessel Amado created, thus losing his powers. Kawaki doesn’t want to do this until all the Otsutsuki are defeated, so all Amado can do is wait or continue working from the shadows toward his ultimate goal. Perhaps this way, an entirely different Otsutsuki might be revived.

What’s certain is that Boruto needs to gain at least some control over his Karma. The fact that he can do this easily in the future makes me think of a possible deal between him and Momoshiki or Shibai Otsutsuki. At the same time, Jura’s main target is still Himawari. I say this because he wants to absorb Kurama’s chakra to assimilate Kurama’s knowledge and experience in this world.

Let’s not forget that, like the Ten-Tails, Kurama was a beast filled with hatred and only wanted to destroy, even though he had consciousness back then. Jura is very curious about how a beast that was part of the Ten-Tails managed to use his consciousness to help other people. I think that in the future, the two will have a long conversation about this ideology.