I need to know what’s going to happen to Kawaki. So invested in this boy’s wellbeing and his relationship with his adoptive father. To the point that it feels like he’s my own son and I only want the very best for him in life.
I just want this poor boy to be happy and get to live life normally. Finally be free of pain and suffering.
If he was my son, taken from me and gone through all those things he went through - the abuse, torture, experimentation- of course I’d be so livid on his behalf and would want justice be done, would want to hunt down whoever caused him such pain. That’s why Naruto’s anger on behalf of Kawaki, Naruto’s care and love for him is so valid, so powerful, so healing.
Even after Kawaki goes to extremes - this is something that happens in reality too. Don’t need to call them children, because grown adults do such things too. They are all acting out of fear and love. To think people would abandon Kawaki or hurt him after that, after all we know about Kawaki, it pains me.
Even though there are so many characters in the Naruto series you could have this feeling for, I have never felt the depth of it like this for any of the other Naruto characters. What is it about this angsty boy that resonates so?
Maybe it’s only because after Naruto concluded, that the the relief settled in - Naruto and Sasuke were always going to be okay no matter what madness they got put through. They are strong and they grew up to be even stronger. Even though fate and destiny were at play, their motivations and dreams were their strength. Most of all, they had each other. They are (were) the main characters of the Naruto series after all. Throughout the story of Naruto, Sasuke was in the most danger emotionally and psychologically, consumed by pain and revenge. But Naruto actually did achieve his goal of saving his friend, and brought him back to the light.
Meanwhile, Kawaki has just gotten out of the unique brand of madness that was forced on him from his father, Jigen/Isshiki, everyone in Kara - Delta, Code, Amado, Boro… and the 3 years where he watched over Konoha, making Boruto the enemy for the convenience of eliminating Momoshiki inside him, did no favours for him to all. Living in fear and vengeance, all the while faced with people around him treating him undue sympathy, so far from the truth. It’s true that the effects Omnipotence is the hardest on those immune to it.
The issue is I don’t know if Kawaki is really going to turn out alright or not. He only just found someone in his life to live for and find his purpose, a hyperfocused one.
Boruto is strong, and has always been strong. He has his family and friend’s love as his strength and armour.
It’s different with Kawaki.
Kawaki’s circumstances, all the good and bad, has struck a chord within me that I can’t shake.
For all his tough exterior, he’s fragile inside. Inside he’s just hanging together by a thread. The thread is his love for Naruto. But what happens when Naruto is threatened or hurt? If Naruto dies, it can’t really aly be said that Boruto, Himawari or least of all Hinata could fill that void in Kawaki.
Worse is, if for whatever circumstances, Naruto were to betray Kawaki or hurt him, I think it truly would break Kawaki.
I just want my boy to be alright. Please let him be alright.
