In Naruto, many villains gave the Konoha shinobi and the free ninja world a run for their money. The Uchihas, such as Itachi, Obito and Madara, are prime examples, as are the Akatsuki and Kaguya. However, the would-be Hokage was always on hand to save the day, working with the likes of Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi to ensure the world wouldn't be destroyed. But, in the Boruto anime, Naruto admitted his dirtiest secret when it came to these endeavors -- and it's all due to Kurama's death.
The Nine-Tailed Fox died in the battle against Isshiki, with Naruto returning to the Hidden Leaf Village de-powered. His superhuman chakra no longer exists without Kurama, which led to Konoha's science team tending to him, as Sakura took charge.
Updated September 29, 2023 by Jennifer Melzer: As Naruto's world continues to evolve through the next generation of ninja, it only makes sense that the once most powerful ninjas of the titular character's time would face challenges they couldn't overcome. One of the major catalysts to this regretful evolution was the Kurama death scene in Boruto, Episode 218, "Partner," when Naruto was forced to say goodbye to his lifelong companion and greatest ally. The ramifications of this loss go deep, including forcing Naruto to take a hard look at what losing the Nine Tails really means for him.
Kurama's Death Was a Wake-Up Call for Naruto
It's not something they usually deal with, given that a separation should have resulted in the host's death. With this process being so different, Sarada is shocked Naruto is alive. However, as they discussed new threats to come, like Code, Naruto admitted that he felt like a cheat. It's a rare vulnerability as he realizes the village is as weak as ever, given that Momoshiki took out Sasuke's Rinnegan too.
Still, Naruto's counterparts didn't expect as much from him. His guilt over using so much of Kurama's power and life essence over the years is palpable, and combined with his grief, his vulnerability is maximized. Despite his regrets, Naruto needed the power of Kurama's chakra to stop villains and keep his village and family safe. After they actually bonded and began working together as a team, Kurama offered his chakra to Naruto freely. In the end, Kurama had no regrets, even sacrificing himself in such a way that Naruto could go on living.
One of the most telling things is Naruto's feelings of inadequacy and handicap without Kurama's essence to bolster his abilities. For most of his life, Kurama's added strength was a crutch he relied heavily on, and for good reason. That being said, it overpowered him in such a way that his abilities were almost god-like, as Baryon Mode showed. Even the Sage of the Six Paths was surprised by how powerful young Naruto was.
Naruto made powerful clones, creating more than 1000 clones at once during Shippuden. He transfered energy to the entire alliance, created WMD Rasengans and tapped into nuclear-level blasts that left a devastating mark on his foes and the landscape. Even others such as Momoshiki, Kinshiki and Isshiki felt the wave, so for him to come to terms with no longer having that type of power won't be an easy adjustment. Now that he's got a family of his own (the entire Hidden Leaf village, to be precise,) Naruto's almost certainly wracked with fear at what the future might bring and fretting over whether he can face it without Kurama.
Naruto's Bond With Kurama Made Him Feel Like a Cheater
This is somewhat ironic because Naruto chided Boruto in the ninja exams for cheating with scientific ninja tools and weapons. Little did audiences know that he himself felt like a cheat, which adds a touch of hypocrisy to the tale. Once Naruto recognized the empowerment the Nine Tails chakra lent to his abilities, he would stop at nothing to take advantage of it. At the time, he most likely never thought about the edge it gave him over his peers, or that without it, he would have gone on as little more than a silent cry in a void of people who feared him because of the beast trapped inside his body.
Granted, Boruto had a choice when it came to cheating. He could have taken the high road and put the time and energy into training the way everyone else was doing. Naruto wasn't given a choice, as Kurama had been placed inside him as a vessel when he was born. Even still, jutsu didn't come easy for him, and he often had to work even harder than his peers to reach his full potential. That in itself could shed light on the real reason he was so upset with his son for taking the easy road. Despite working so hard he nearly passed out to learn change in chakra nature from Kakashi, so he could improve his Rasengan, his use of Shadow Clones to process the information so he could learn and retain the information more easily no doubt made him feel like a cheat.
Not only was Boruto scoffing in the face of ninja traditions that went back generations, but he had no respect for the hard-earned responsibilities ninjas take on within the community and beyond. Seeing shades of his rebellious and arrogant former self in his own son wasn't an easy thing to recognize as a father, especially considering the differences in their upbringing. Boruto has a loving family to encourage and support him, but Naruto had no one. Being upset that his father is always too busy to pay attention to him is an understandable reason to act out, but Naruto was trying to get the attention of absolutely anyone who would listen.
Even if Naruto hadn't used Kurama's energy, once the fox disappeared, he would have died regardless. It made sense for them to bond, so they could become protectors and siblings together. Ultimately, it's a bittersweet moment. It's easy to brush off the willingness of Kurama's sacrifice, and maybe Naruto doesn't need to dwell on it, but he will. After all, he lost the one companion who was by his side from the moment of birth, and that's got to hurt. As the grief and guilt begin to fade, there is hope he can see how the two of them saved each other over the years. After all, had the likes of Obito stolen the Nine Tails the night Naruto was born, Kurama would have become a destroyer rather than a savior.
