Warning: Spoilers ahead for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #10

Summary

• Inojin Yamanaka's potential death in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex signals a shift towards more significant losses.
• Himawari's connection with Kurama is stronger than Naruto's, setting the stage for more intense battles.
• Inojin's death might follow a pattern of untimely deaths, potentially involving other ing characters.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has proven to be a high-stakes ride in its first ten chapters following the time skip and possibly its first major death. Boruto has returned to Konoha and even reconnected with some key former allies like Shikamaru, but it seems he's not the only target around. In the latest chapter, it looks like Jūra may claim the first major victim in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, with Inojin Yamanaka's death, which could signal other potential deaths to follow.

The Naruto franchise is no stranger to death, with various major characters heroically sacrificing themselves or being utterly destroyed in battle.

At their core, the bulk of the Naruto and Boruto characters are ninjas, so the danger is always close by. But Boruto seemingly breaks tradition by killing off one of Konoha's brightest recruits, suggesting nobody is safe.

Inojin Yamanaka Takes a Fatal Blow in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex

But Given the Series' Handling of Death, It May Not Be Permanent

In the final pages of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #10, Jūra and Hidari attack Konoha, pursuing the Nine-Tails chakra, not realizing Himawari is the source. With Himawari being defended by the new generation's Team 10, all seemed well, as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is historically one of the best team compositions in the Naruto franchise. But all the tactics in the world didn't prepare Team 10 for a major casualty when Inojin, directly after Jūra downed his bird construct, lashes out, resulting in his possible death in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

The Ino-Shika-Chō formation is a Konoha staple, with Team Moegi, containing Inojin, Shikadai, and Chōchō, serving as the seventeenth generation of the team. Empowered by mind, shadow, and body alteration techniques, it is a tried-and-true synergy based on this three-ninja cell's cooperative bond. If Inojin is indeed dead, this is a devastating loss for the village.

While Inojin's demise seems inevitable given the severity of his impalement, death has a history of not sticking in Boruto and Naruto, perhaps most famously in the Pain Arc. However, until otherwise stated, Inojin's impulsiveness yet irable dedication to protecting Himawari results in his apparent death, one of the most significant losses since Ōnoki. One element remains, though, which connects these events to a parallel from the first major arc in Naruto.

Inojin's Death Leads to a Parallel to the Land of Waves Arc

This Moment Deceived Readers About Another ing Character

The events of Naruto chapter #27, where Sasuke is heavily implied to die in front of Naruto, prompts Naruto to fly into a frenzy, unleashing his Nine-Tailed Fox chakra for the first time. In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the loss of Inojin causes Himawari to snap similarly after she first shows nothing but hesitation when the two link consciousness. Much like Naruto against Haku, this scrap with Jūra is likely to be equally unhinged, this time with Kurama's direct encouragement. The days of Kurama locked in a cage are over, after all.

What's noteworthy about Himawari's case is just how much Kurama has changed since the beginning of the franchise. He opens up a dialogue with her instead of taunting his host like he did with her father, Naruto; he has changed his ways yet remains in character. Kurama may have turned over a new leaf, but much like other residents of the Hidden Leaf, he's got an edge. Kurama still wants Himawari to unleash the beast, seeing how strong her affinity with his chakra is. As it stands, this could be the most potent bond yet between Kurama and the Uzumaki clan.

Kurama is more than the Tailed Beast identity, with him getting a first-name basis with Naruto, and now Himawari too. A lot of this is influenced by Killer Bee's bond with his Tailed Beast from Naruto, and it reflects Kurama's character development and highlights Naruto's forgiving nature.

This development follows the ending of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #9, where Kurama reveals himself to Himawari. For those who have been following so far, Kurama previously died after igniting Baryon Mode to help Naruto fight Isshiki in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #52. It dramatically affects Naruto's future output as a defender of Konoha. Still, as confirmed in chapter #10, the Tailed Beasts don't die permanently, with a kernel of their strength growing in a new host over time.

This Boruto Death, While Shocking, Sets Up a Grim Pattern

Can Death Skip a Generation?

Inojin Yamanaka's death is sudden in the series, far more sudden than his grandfather, Inoichi, who died in the Fourth Great Ninja War alongside Shikaku Nara. It's a reminder that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio has had casualties before. Still, Inojin is a mere teen, younger than Neji, whose death was possibly the most tragic of the previous era's shinobi. Whether it implies the Yamanaka clan's male are practically predetermined, that or untimely death skips a generation, with Ino still marked safe.

Still, Inojin is a mere teen, younger than Neji, whose death was possibly the most tragic of the previous era's shinobi.

It's reassuring that ChoCho and Shikadai haven't been injured similarly and could survive this encounter, unlike their comrade. With Jūra able to handle even tougher opponents like Kawaki, encasing characters like Himawari (at first) easily using his wood release, ChoCho and Shikadai may have to sit this round out. Fortunately, as shown by Himawari easily breaking out of her confinement, her chakra link with Kurama could be potent enough to handle the God Tree spawn alone.

Still, the fight isn't over, and the story of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex may indicate how it will end, but it seems ing character deaths aren't being held back until later stories this time. Whether some Deus Ex Machina rescues Inojin will be determined in June or the following months is immaterial, and as it stands, it means no character is truly safe. Aside from plot armor tropes likely protecting Himawari, Boruto, and Kawaki for the next couple of months, it might be good not to get too attached in case of other untimely deaths.

Himawari's Connection to Kurama Is Stronger Than Her Predecessors

The Nine-Tailed Fox's Latent Connection in Naruto's Daughter Is Truly Unique

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #10, Kurama tells Himawari that her connection and chakra affinity with him is stronger than Naruto's. Given how integral Kurama's partnership is with the Seventh Hokage and how devastatingly potent the two become, this is a fascinating premise. This is especially appealing, given the promise of more old-school Naruto action ahead. Himawari will have a basic understanding of controlling the beast's chakra, but she should be able to handle Jūra at least.

The fact that this is prompted by the apparent death of one of Himawari's protectors in Boruto is unfortunate, but it's a sign of greater things to come. Kurama appears before her in a juvenile form, looking far smaller and younger than for Naruto, yet even his boost at this stage is enough to handle Jūra's imprisonment. The first genuinely explosive battle to take place in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex seems poised to shake up the status quo, and if a character's death sets it off, expect more to come throughout the series.