The following contains spoilers for Chapter 79 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, “Omnipotence,” by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, Mari Morimoto and Snir Aharon, now available in English from Viz Media.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Boruto series is how the teenaged Kawaki cuts a conflicted figure. It does draw sympathy because he just wants to protect Konoha after being preyed upon by Isshiki Ōtsutsuki and the Kara terrorist cell. Sadly, as the omnipotent Eida rewrites the entire world’s existence, Kawaki’s true colors are finally showing.
He’s revealed to be a villain, wanting the Hidden Leaf to think Boruto killed Naruto and Hinata; in reality, Kawaki exiled the Hokage into a pocket dimension. Still, Kawaki does have good intentions at heart. He wants Boruto dead so Momoshiki can’t ever possess the kid again — something he knows Naruto wouldn’t have sanctioned. Interestingly, Chapter 79’s big twist makes it clear that, based on the way Kawaki’s Omnipotence role-reversal is manipulating everyone, he’s very much the success story Darth Vader wished he was in Star Wars.
Boruto’s Kawaki Took Power From His Emperor
Anakin Skywalker and Boruto’s Kawaki have a huge common thread: they are both into breaking rules, willing to go to the extreme to create order and save their loved ones. Anakin wanted this for Senator Padme Amidala, hating the idea of his wife growing old in a galaxy filled with chaos and abuse — things he and his mother, Shmi, suffered on Tatooine. It’s why he didn’t mind killing to achieve this, which resulted in him being swayed to the Dark Side. However, when Anakin became Darth Vader, he failed repeatedly to take power from Emperor Palpatine.
The Star Wars comics expounded on this, with Vader scheming behind Palpatine’s back only for the Emperor to win, subjugate and keep torturing Vader. Kawaki flipped this in Boruto, however, when Isshiki died. The alien DNA remained in him and, thanks to Amado’s help, Kawaki got the power he needed. After unlocking it via the Karma mark, he basically had the equivalent of the Force flowing through him, with chakra and explosive energy inside.
This drives him to end Boruto and affirms he’s become corrupted by darkness, going on to become this perfect ‘Sith’ that Isshiki tried to be by using Kawaki as a vessel. In that sense, while Vader lost and died with the Emperor’s first form, Kawaki lives on with this recent twist, trying to rule with an iron fist as the new Emperor.
Boruto’s Kawaki Perfected a Dark, Obedient Empire
Notably, Kawaki turning to the Dark Side in Boruto goes beyond just his own power. Now, he literally has reality tendered to his will. It’s the kind of thing Vader would do, as Anakin always believed in that perfect vision where he could rule the galaxy. This is why Vader tried to entice Luke later on, hoping his son could partner up and do what he couldn’t achieve with Padme: forge an Empire that would bring forth peace, even if it’s a cold utopia originating from bloodshed.
But Vader didn’t get that dream in Star Wars — even after he died — as Palpatine returned with the First Order, even if temporarily. Kawaki, though, now has Konoha as his empire, bending to everything he says after Eida came off like Scarlet Witch. In fact, the rest of the free shinobi world (bar Sarada) may fall under his thumb, gifting Kawaki legions to set things right, according to his warped view.
After all, he just wants to create a better world, but this is what villains like Uchiha Madara, Obito, Sasuke and the Ataksuki all planned. Ultimately, Kawaki and Boruto’s life-swap leaves the former as a tyrant — but unlike Vader, he’s got an obedient ninja empire ready to do his bidding and shape paradise as he sees fit.
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