Boruto Chapter 52 – Baryon Mode
Summary
Chapter 52 of the Boruto manga, ‘Baryon Mode’, showed what Naruto is willing to sacrifice to protect his loved ones.
We saw how Naruto unleashed a new mode in the previous manga chapter. We already knew this mode could kill him. The latest manga chapter shared how his new state, called Baryon Mode, worked and what the cost was.
Baryon Mode is apparently unleashed as Naruto and Kurama’s chakra undergoes nuclear fusion. It’s different from the usual KCM and Sage of Six Paths powerups because in those two modes, Naruto uses chakra from an external source. However, due to Baryon mode using Naruto’s chakra as well, the energy created shortened his lifespan. In addition, Kurama’s own lifespan was being consumed.
Additionally, due to nuclear fusion being able to both produce and absorb energy, Baryon Mode (while eating Naruto’s and Kurama’s chakra) also shaved off the opponent’s lifespan until Naruto’s hits landed.
This is an incredibly OP ability for Naruto. Therefore, I liked how it came with a number of disadvantages. Naruto had to stay still during the fight to conserve as much chakra as possible. Even overthinking hastened the shortening of his life span. He had to count on every action.
Since Kishimoto took over writing duties in Boruto manga issue 52, I think he offered a great fight sequence. It wasn’t a big spectacle with massive attacks and destruction of the landscape. Naruto and Isshiki’s confrontation was mostly hand to hand. The way Naruto (due to his incredible boost in strength and speed) treated Isshiki was amazing. It was refreshing to see Isshiki having a hard time after dealing with Naruto and Sasuke in the previous chapters.
The chapter ended with Isshiki having less than 30 minutes to live due to Naruto’s attacks drastically reducing Isshiki’s time limit from 20 hours. Not dying easily, Isshiki teleported Kawaki to the battlefield by drawing Naruto’s chakra from Kawaki’s prosthetic arm.
Of course, with where this chapter left us, I have a few predictions to share. I think Momoshiki will take over Boruto’s body again. There is no way Momoshiki will allow Isshiki to use Kawaki as a vessel and become powerful.
Also, with what I understand about Baryon Mode, I wouldn’t be surprised if Naruto manages to stay alive after the current battle. Kurama’s explanation made me remember how the Byakugo seal worked. While a particular Seal is activated, the user is essentially immortal if their cells have the ability to regenerate. When Sakura stops using the Byakugo seal, she is still able to live even after many cells undergo accelerated regeneration to heal her injuries.
I think something similar will happen to Naruto. If he stops baryonic mode before all of his chakra is depleted, he will be able to live, but his lifespan would be shortened. So instead of having a few decades left to live, he may only have a few years or months to make the most of it.
Again, this is just speculation on my part. Maybe once Baryon mode is activated it cannot be stopped and Naruto will have to die. Let’s see what happens. And yes, Naruto emitting energy like the sun (nuclear fusion occurs inside the sun) and the narrative connection to the Sun-shaped seal given to him by the Sage of the Six Paths during the Fourth Great Ninja War was not lost on some readers. .
With Naruto getting such a massive performance, I hope Sasuke gets something good too. In the current chapter, he felt like Vegeta from the Dragon Ball Z franchise.
Naruto also can’t rest after being kind to someone right? He allowed Boruto to kill Momoshiki because he wanted to bond with his son. However, this led to Momoshiki putting his Karma Brand on our young hero.
Feeling bad for Kawaki, Naruto gave him a prosthetic arm powered by Naruto’s chakra. And in chapter 52, Isshiki decided to use the same arm to summon Kawaki.