Boruto’s big villain is much deeper than fans think, and an important detail proves it

Throughout the Boruto franchise, fans of Masashi Kishimoto’s Shinobi World were introduced to an entirely new side of this fascinating society. From ancient, world-ending alien civilizations to cyborgs with abilities that break the laws of nature, the series has no shortage of engaging antagonists, most of whom rely solely on raw power to win.

Still, one of the titular protagonist’s most important enemies has been slowly adapting to the new world in which he found himself trapped: Momoshiki. Despite beginning the series as a ruthless and confident member of the Otsutsuki clan, he has evolved into a capable ninja. His fight against the Hidden Leaf Shinobi in episode #218 proves that he is no longer the same fighter who arrived on Earth at the beginning of the story.

Momoshiki adapted to Boruto’s fighting style

He no longer relies on his Otsutsuki skills to win battles

When he was first introduced during chapter 2 of Boruto manga, Momoshiki was an arrogant warrior from another world who viewed humans as pests with no right to exist. His unique techniques, such as the ability to absorb Jutsu, fly and increase physical abilities, turned him into an imposing opponent that not even Naruto and Sasuke could face alone. However, for most of the fight, Momoshiki visibly depended on his race’s unique abilitiesbelieving that they would be enough to guarantee his victory. In the end, he was defeated thanks to the combined power of Boruto and Naruto.

Before his death, Momoshiki implanted a part of himself into the Seventh Hokage’s son as he hoped to one day take control of his body and be reborn. From that point on, the once-mighty warrior Otsutsuki was forced to silently witness his host’s adventures. Although this may seem like unbearable torture, it seems that Momoshiki took the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and study the fighting style of Earth’s ninjas. These lessons were invaluable for his brief but brutal encounter with Sasuke and Kawaki in episode #218.

Once he managed to take control of his host’s body, Momoshiki used one of Boruto’s kunai to stab Sasuke’s Rinnegan, one of the most powerful Dojutsu in the world. Rather than taking an offensive approach, the Otsutsuki studied their opponents, using everything from Shadow Clones to Rasengan to subdue their adversaries. His battle style was completely different from what he demonstrated in the past. If not for Kawaki utilizing one of his most powerful techniques to help Boruto regain control, Momoshiki might have defeated his opponents.

Momoshiki has a new appreciation for humans

Your feelings may mirror Kaguya’s

In episodes #460 and #461 of naruto anime, Kaguya Otsutsuki’s backstory is revealed, showing her life after landing on Earth. During these moments, fans were witness to her transformation from an arrogant alien to a caring person who wanted to avoid further human suffering. Her time among earthly beings helped her develop a bond with them, culminating in her desire to protect them from harm. These loving feelings were regrettably replaced by a hunger for power after she was forced to eat the Chakra Fruit to protect her children.

Momoshiki may be going through a similar process, as his time trapped inside Boruto has forced him to witness everything humans have to offer. He saw the protagonist fight for his friends, help strangers just because it was the right thing to do, and observed the many battle styles that Earth’s warriors created. Although begrudgingly, Momoshiki now understands humans better than most other Otsutsuki. The fact that he incorporated Boruto’s style into his own is proof that he no longer considers everything that concerns the species as inferior.

It’s ambitious to propose that Boruto’s host one day develops the same affection for humans that Kaguya did, as he has proven time and time again how ruthless he can be. However, there is a high probability that he has found a new respect for the warriors of the planet he once tried to feed on. If a major threat like Jura and his God Trees becomes an obstacle to his plans, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Momoshiki could ally with Naruto’s son, at least momentarily.

The Otsutsuki clan remains one of the Boruto the franchise’s most intriguing themes, and its lore will continue to expand as the series progresses. For having Momoshiki changing their attitude towards humans, the series could show that there is more to this alien family than their desire to become stronger.