Warning: Spoilers for Boruto chapter 77The official explanation as to why Boruto and Kawaki fight in the spinoff series' first scene has just been dropped while also revealing what Kawaki meant when he threatened his brother that he'd send him where he'd sent Naruto.

In chapter 77 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Kawaki informs Naruto that he will have no choice but to kill Boruto since he's a member of Ōtsutsuki to prevent Naruto's death, as anyone who stands up to the Ōtsutsuki are destined to die. Then, he uses his Karma's Space-Time Ninjutsu ability to transport Naruto and Hinata away, most likely to another realm, which has been done before.

Kawaki Fights Boruto Because He Wants to Kill all Ōtsutsuki

Kawaki says he'll kill all Ohtsutsuki including Boruto in Boruto chapter 77

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This is a massive moment in the series by creator and supervisor Masashi Kishimoto, artist Mikio Ikemoto and scriptwriter Ukyo Kodachi. Fans have been waiting for the answer ever since the manga's debut chapter and anime's first episode dropped quite some time ago. Although there have been some subtle hints throughout its duration, the spinoff's only and first direct reference to Boruto's opening scene came two months ago when chapter 75 ended with Boruto suddenly seeing a vision of what looked to be the future where he and Kawaki had some major falling out. But just like their future fight, everything was kept ambiguous as to who did what. There was no definitive answer as to who the perpetrator actually was.

It's also possible that Boruto could actually be the villain, not Kawaki. The only clue in the opening scene that suggested that Kawaki could be in the wrong was his comment about ending the shinobi and because he had supposedly sent Naruto somewhere. But there was always a chance that the shinobi could have done some great wrong that called for their extermination. And since there was nothing suggesting that Kawaki actually killed Naruto, the fact that he sent him somewhere could have meant that he was protecting him. In the end, that appears to be the only thing that these ambitious theories got right. Kawaki is obviously protecting Naruto by having likely transported him to another dimension, which the series has already proven Karma can achieve. But at the same time, Kawaki is physically removing Naruto so that he can't stop him from killing his son.

Kawaki is Boruto's Most Tragic Villain

Hinata tells Kawaki that only a crazy person could kill their brother in Boruto chapter 77

While all of this is heart-wrenching, another shocking development was that Kawaki revealed his true intentions to Naruto by making a stunning confession. He admits that he actually felt guilt and that he'd failed upon his discovery that he didn't kill Boruto because it meant that Boruto's "parasite" Momoshiki Ohtsutsuki was still alive. But what's devastating is that Kawaki is doing this for Naruto. Moreover, Kawaki also considers Boruto his brother, and yet, because of his obsession with Naruto, he has no choice but to kill him.

Kawaki's obsession with Naruto and Boruto was always clear, which only befuddled fans more as to how Kawaki could possibly betray them. It was also understandable. Naruto was the first man in his life who actually respected and even loved him, so Kawaki's attachment is understandable. That's why Naruto's words felt so oddly right when Kawaki began his confession in Boruto: "It's getting creepy."

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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 77 is available on Viz.com.