Title: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Vol. 18
Author: Masahi Kishimoto (Creator), Mikio Ikemoto (Art), Ukyo Kodachi (Story)
Publisher: Viz Media
Language: English
Format: Digital
Pages: 176
Genre: Shonen, Battle
Publication Date: December 5, 2023
The Story
The fight with Code is over. Kawaki is recovering while Shikamaru is having a conversation with Amado. Meanwhile, Sasuke returns with intel about Code’s secret hideout. While he’s there, he pays a visit to Boruto, Mitsuki, and Sarada. While this is happening, Code reinfiltrates the village and corners Shikamaru and Amado! He hid a claw mark on Shikamaru and used that to get back inside the village. Despite this threat, Shikamaru orders Ino to change the code on the doors and prevent Naruto and Sasuke from entering the room. He has an ace up his sleeve.
He reawakens Delta. After her defeat, Konoha took her and reprogrammed her to serve them instead; however, Code had an ace up his sleeve, too, and summons Eida who puts them all under her control! This is when Shikamaru makes Eida a very enticing offer; however, Kawaki is alerted to Code being back in the village and heads to their location. Knowing that Kawaki can destroy Code’s claw marks, they kidnap Amado and escape.
Back at the hideout, Code forces Amado to release the limiter on his powers; however, now that his goal is fulfilled, Eida has no use for him anymore! Dissention reigns supreme with Amado stuck in the middle of it!
Characters
There wasn’t too much in the way of character development this time around. Most of it was focused on Amado.
Amado may be sniveling but he’s not stupid. All I will say is that we were right to suspect him from the beginning as he confirms that he has his own plan that he wishes to execute. What that plan is, though, is something still hidden. What can be determined is that Amado is not acting on Kara’s behalf. My guess is that he was sick of being used by Jigen and the organization so he’s hatching his own plan for his personal benefit. Still, we don’t know what that plan is but it has become clear that he’s doing everything for himself. Code and Eida both think he’s spineless and they would be correct. He’s all brain and no spine doing and saying whatever he can to ensure his survival in a land of ninjas who can kill him at any moment.
Code now has his limiters removed; however, his goals remain the same… to feed Boruto to the ten tails and become a full Otsutsuki, just like Jigen entrusted him to do. It’s kind of funny because here is something that now has more power than Jigen; however, he’s still obeying a dead guy’s wishes. He could do so many things with his newly released powers but still remains subservient to a person who’s not alive to see him fail or succeed. Eida’s feeling manipulation jutsu can’t hold a candle to the bromance Code has for Jigen… which is odd in and of itself because he will devoutly carry out Jigen’s wishes but still resents him for choosing Kawaki as his vessel over himself. It doesn’t make any sense. One thing is for sure… Code is just a nutjob and, I suppose, in that regard… it does make sense.
Final Thoughts
Despite the advancement of the plot, this seemed like a transitional volume from one arc to the next. Yes, we did get a lot of things set up but nothing was truly carried out except for Code’s limiters being dispelled. I feel that this was a necessary step before the next major arc begins which seems to be Code looking to capture Boruto and/or kill Kawaki; however, Eida still stands in the way of that happening. There are only two volumes left before we go into the time skip and the new series so whatever is going to happen should happen pretty quickly.
Interesting to note is that Sarada will neither confirm nor deny her feelings for Boruto but she does agree with Mitsuki that the two of them need to grow stronger as they both felt helpless during Code’s invasion. What a perfect little nugget to drop right before a time skip! With Code’s plans, I highly doubt that we’ll see the results of their determination until after the time skip which makes me very curious as to what new powers they will awaken… especially Mitsuki. We can all predict that Sarada will awaken new levels of her Sharingan, probably get some new fire techniques, or even learn Chidori from Sasuke; however, Mitsuki can already undergo a form of sage mode. It makes me wonder if he’ll get a higher form of that or something new. Maybe he’ll go back and visit Orochimaru for some power-ups.
There are a lot of possibilities there so I’m interested in seeing how they play out. Of course, Boruto will get some power-ups, too but I’m thinking we’ll see those in action before the time skip. After all, he himself said that he can control Momoshiki’s power on his own now. With Boruto being a full Otsutsuki, that alone is a MASSIVE power-up. Learning to control those powers, though, that’s another story. I can see them going awry during the next fight with Code but he would have mastered them after the time skip.
My own theories aside, I’m able to make them due to the way things were set up in this volume. We’re heading to the first part’s conclusion and setting things up for the future. So far, it’s well done!
You can also check out other The Outerhaven reviews on your favorite social media networks:
Subscribe to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theouterhaven
Subscribe to us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOuterHaven
Subscribe to us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/theouterhavennet
This item was provided for review by VIZ Media.
