10 Things That Make Kurama’s Death Hit Hard In Boruto

Kurama’s demise is one of the saddest moments in the Boruto anime, making both Naruto and the fan base sad over losing such a loyal and beloved character. The anime made sure to give Kurama a death scene that would break fans’ hearts and make them feel the same despair Naruto did. Kurama started out as an unknown monster until years later he touched fans’ hearts.

Fans sympathized with his backstory and were ecstatic when he finally embraced love and became Naruto’s friend. Lots of elements throughout Naruto’s history helped make Kurama’s demise a truly tragic and emotional scene. Thanks to the longevity of the franchise, the fan base felt the same as Naruto. They also felt like they lost a lifetime friend and family member.

10 The Anime Had A Longer Conversation

Surprisingly, lots of longtime Kurama fans weren’t affected by his death in the Boruto manga. Upon closer inspection, it’s obvious why: the manga didn’t devote much time to his impending demise, making it feel like another simple event in the plot.

The anime extended Kurama’s death scene, giving him and Naruto a longer conversation. Kurama and Naruto reminisced about the past and their thoughts over their impending doom. Despite sadness over the end, they both smiled over their friendship and even shared a good laugh. The fans saw that they had truly become friends, making their separation all the more heartbreaking.

9 The Audience Could Hear Their Pain

Naruto’s and Kurama’s voice actors, Junko Takeuchi and Tessho Ganda respectively, have voiced the characters for over a decade. Naruto and Kurama were both lonely individuals who harbored resentment against the world. However, they were also incredibly playful, happily teasing each other and forming a powerful bond.

Junko Takeuchi and Teesho Ganda truly captured the essence of their characters, bringing them to life for fans around the world. When Kurama was about to die, the audience could feel the actors’ chemistry and the characters’ sadness over what was coming. Takeuchi and Ganda’s fantastic acting really sold Naruto and Kurama’s emotions, making the hurt feel all the more real.

8 Kurama’s Death Was Also His Anniversary

“Partner” aired on October 3rd, 2021, which is the 19th anniversary of the Naruto anime’s first episode. However, October 3rd isn’t just the debut of Naruto — it’s also Kurama’s first anime appearance. In addition, Naruto’s opening shot actually had Kuruma attacking the Hidden Leaf Village, making him the earliest character to appear in the show.

Knowing these facts reminds viewers of how far Kuruma, Naruto, and the series have come since October 3rd, 2002. It’s like looking at a family scrapbook with photos spanning all the way from infancy to adulthood. It was already heartbreaking seeing Kuruma go, but the airdate makes it feel like having a family member who died on his birthday.

7 Naruto Kept Reaching Out To Him

Although he knew what was coming, Naruto wasn’t able to accept Kurama’s death. Even as the fox started fading away, Naruto said, “Please don’t go!” The ninja knew Kurama didn’t have a choice, but Naruto’s feelings clouded his rationality.

After Kurama finally disappeared in the air, poor Naruto broke down. He started crying and screaming Kurama’s name, begging him to come back. Naruto kept reaching out his hand, and someone finally grabbed it. However, it wasn’t Kurama — only Boruto, back in the real world. Naruto woke up, and that was when reality finally sunk in: Kurama was dead.

6 The Tailed Beasts Reacted To His Death

All the Tailed Beasts gathered around, sadly looking at Kurama about to pass into the afterlife. This was a touching but sad surprise for anime viewers, as the Tailed Beasts weren’t in the manga. The anime created an extra family component, having siblings watching their brother die, or perhaps family members watching the final nail go in their relative’s coffin.

On a more positive note, the audience got to see Shukaku’s sad reaction to Kurama dying. They had fought since the original Naruto, with Shukaku always expressing his disdain for the fox. However, “Partner” solidified the fact that no matter what happened, they were still family and truly cared for each other.

5 There Were Hints In The First ED

The previous episodes’ ED was a nostalgic look back on Naruto’s life. Fans got to see beautiful animation contrasting the ninja’s lonely childhood and his present life as the Hokage. However, the ED also showed glimpses of Kurama, differentiating the fox’s past and present as well.

The ED not only showed how Kurama and Naruto’s friendship evolved but also foreshadowed Kurama’s death. However, not all anime-only viewers caught on to that, and they were shocked by Kurama’s demise. When looking back at the first ED, there is extra sadness in knowing that they were warned but didn’t see it coming.

4 The Second ED Was A Slideshow

The ED in “Partner” was a slideshow that showed the gradual evolution of Naruto and Kurama’s bond. Using screenshots of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden episodes, Boruto reminds fans how Naruto and Kurama started and how the two eventually became comrades. The slideshow showed Naruto and Kurama’s initial antagonism through the years.

Neither of them was friendly with the other, and they mutually resented their forced connection. Kurama also tried to take control of Naruto, frequently corrupting Naruto’s mind with hatred. However, both eventually put their differences aside and acknowledged their unspoken bond. Fans took a trip down memory lane and appreciated the growth of Naruto and Kurama’s relationship.

3 Kurama Saw Naruto Through The Ages

Shortly before Kurama died, Naruto remarked how they had always been together since Naruto’s birth. Naruto even stated that “in a way, [they were] more than brothers.” The anime then focused on Kurama’s perspective, with him seeing all the different versions of Naruto through the years. From childhood to genin, to teenager, to young adult, and finally, to Hokage.

The anime added a strong sense of nostalgia and love from Kurama, who had watched Naruto grow up into a powerful man. The audience reminisced just as much as the fox did, happily looking at how far Naruto had come. Kuruma had a special relationship with Naruto, and the audience was truly able to feel Kurama’s love for his jinchuuriki.

2 Kurama Didn’t Tell Naruto The Truth

In “Sacrifice,” Isshiki almost killed Naruto, forcing Kurama to make a difficult choice. Kurama revealed a secret form called Baryon Mode that could help him and Naruto get stronger. Kurama said that it would drain both his own and Naruto’s lifespans, most likely killing them both. Naruto agreed to use it, but he didn’t know its true cost: Kurama’s life was at much greater risk.

Kurama withheld this info from Naruto, knowing that Naruto would protest. As sorrowful as Kurama’s demise is, there is also beauty in the fact that he was willing to die for Naruto. For generations, humans imprisoned Kurama because they feared his power. However, Kurama ended up sacrificing himself to save the first human who genuinely loved him.

1 Naruto Didn’t Get To Grieve

After Kurama’s death, Naruto was still busy dealing with the aftermath of Isshiki’s attack on Konoha. Then, Naruto had to ponder about killing his own son, who was going to be controlled by Momoshiki again.

Naruto had no time to properly grieve Kurama’s death; there was too much happening all at once. Kurama’s demise was a tragic thing for a beloved character, and fans want an episode where Naruto grieves over his friend. In truth, Naruto and Kurama have done so much for the village and deserve such an episode.