Is Kurama Really Dead? Exploring the Fate of the Beloved Nine-Tailed Fox

Ever since the Boruto manga kicked off, we’ve been on the edge of our seats, worrying about Naruto biting the dust. We totally overlooked the possibility of Kurama’s demise, and sadly that’s what happened.

From being responsible for taking out his parents to eventually sacrificing his own life to save Naruto, his character came full circle.

Kurama – the Nine-tailed fox, died during the intense battle against Isshiki Ohtsutsuki. The excessive use of chakra in their Baryon mode led to his death, leaving Naruto shocked. He also lost access to all of Kurama’s chakra and abilities.

He had intentionally misled Naruto into thinking that the Baryon Mode would result in both of their deaths. But after taking down Isshiki, Kurama admitted that he was risking his own life all along, not Naruto’s. 

The entire Naruto fandom has been worried about his potential death since the Boruto manga began, but we never stopped to think about Kurama’s, and that’s precisely what has happened.

Naruto’s partner, Kurama – the Nine-tailed fox, died in chapter 55 of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga due to the excessive use of chakra when Naruto and Kurama used Baryon mode against Isshiki Ohtsutsuki.

“The Baryon mode’s price is my life. Not yours, Naruto.”

“Just so you know, I never once lied to you. At no time did I ever say that you would die. If I’d told you at the get-go that power came in exchange for my life, you would’ve hesitated.”

It is true that if Naruto knew that his partner might die, he would’ve never used the Baryon mode, and in turn, everyone, including Sasuke, Boruto, Kawaki, and Kurama, might have died.

1. Will Kurama come back to life? Can he be reborn?

There are still so many fans who can’t accept Kurama’s death. They’re holding onto hope, thinking he will somehow make a triumphant comeback. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that isn’t happening.

Kurama will not come back to life, as during the Baryon mode, his chakra was drained until there was nothing left. Tailed beasts are made of pure chakra so they can’t die. However, Kurama’s chakra doesn’t exist anymore, so he cannot be reborn.

I know it’s a tough pill to swallow. He knew that emotional moment with Naruto was the end of the road. 

It’s no coincidence that his departure coincided with Sasuke losing his Rinnegan. Kurama’s sacrifice marks the end of an era. 

2. Will Naruto get a new tailed beast?

There’s a wild possibility that the Ten-tails soldiers created by Code could end up sealed inside Naruto, turning him into a jinchuriki once again. But it’s not about whether Naruto can do it; it’s about whether he actually will. 

Naruto will not get a new tailed beast as Kurama held a special place in his heart, and he wouldn’t just replace him for the sake of power. Plus, the spotlight has shifted to Boruto and Kawaki, so it’s unlikely for Naruto to become a jinchuriki. 

Kurama’s death and Sasuke losing his Rinnegan marked the beginning of their characters taking a backseat. It’s all about making the next generation shine brighter now.

3. Is Naruto weak without Kurama?

For the longest time, Naruto held the title of the strongest ninja ever due to his insane strength. But let’s face it, losing Kurama hit him hard, and there’s no denying he’s not as powerful as before. Losing his tailed beast doesn’t mean that he has lost all of his abilities, though. 

Naruto is far from weak without Kurama. He still possesses immense chakra reserves and can utilize Six Paths Sage Mode, Toad Sage Mode, Rasengan, and Rasenshuriken. However, when faced with the new enemies in Boruto, he might come up short.

Naruto is no longer the star of the show, and we can’t expect the sequel to revolve around making him stronger.

The series really puts the spotlight on how much Naruto’s power has plummeted after losing Kurama.  Even Shikamaru was freaking out about Naruto taking on Code without any backup.

But here’s the silver lining: Adult Naruto’s gotten weaker not just by losing Kurama, but also because he’s had a break from intense battles, these new conflicts in Boruto might just give him the push to start training again.

Yet, Boruto is still the main hero of the story, so don’t expect Naruto to suddenly reclaim his former power levels.

4. In which episode does Kurama die?

Kurama’s death is hands down one of the most heart-wrenching deaths we’ve witnessed so far. We saw him grow along with Naruto since the very first episode.

Kurama died in Chapter 55 of the manga and Episode 218 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. With emotions running high, the nine-tailed fox bid farewell to Naruto, urging him to embrace a long and joyful life.

During the Kawaki Arc battle, Naruto, Sasuke, Boruto, and Kawaki found themselves in a crazy otherworldly dimension where Isshiki had the home-field advantage. 

Naruto faced Isshiki head-on, and Kurama realized they couldn’t take him down with their usual fighting style. So, he made a pact with Naruto, unleashing Baryon Mode. 

They defeated Isshiki, and things took a dark turn when Baryon Mode ran out. Kurama started to fade away, and our hearts broke along with Naruto’s.

5. About Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is written and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto, and supervised by Masashi Kishimoto. It came into serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in June 2016.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is the series that follows the exploits of Naruto’s son, Boruto, during his academy days and further on.

The series follows the character development of Boruto and the looming evil that challenges the fate of him and his loved ones.