Warning: This article contains spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter 55

With the death of Kurama being confirmed, fans noticed the absence of Naruto's major feature in the latest chapter of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto has had a long run in Weekly Shonen Jump. It has published weekly updates from 1999 to 2014. When it has ended in 2014, Kishimoto starts serializing Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru. Meanwhile, the series has been picked up by Ukyou Kodachi, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is born. Unlike its predecessor, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is published in V Jump alongside Dragon Ball Super and only releases one long chapter a month.

In the beginning, Naruto starts off as a loner. Being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, he has been outcasted both by his classmates and society. They look at him with fear after the tragic event that has almost destroyed the entire Konoha. With Naruto's stubbornness and perseverance, he manages to befriend a lot of people. He even becomes Konoha's hero countless times. His greatest feat, however, is when he finally befriends Kurama, the Nine-Tails. Kurama has always been a threat to the world of shinobi, as well as to Naruto. If not for the Fourth Hokage's seal, Kurama has already run rampant and wreak as much havoc as he can. So when Naruto finally tames Kurama, he manages not only to eliminate a grave threat but also to control his immense chakra. But with Kurama's death, he also takes away Naruto's most distinguishing feature.

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Naruto's whisker-like marks on his face have been there since time immemorial, and there's actually a symbolic meaning behind it. When Kushina was conceiving Naruto, Naruto has already been exposed to the Nine-Tails' chakra. This may have been a factor in forming the whisker-like marks on his face in addition to being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki. Furthermore, the whiskers tend to also change during Naruto's various transformations. But with Kurama's death, fans have noticed that this trademark has also vanished.

Naruto Boruto Whiskers

Kurama's life has become the sacrifice in order to use the Nine-Tails' ultimate form, the Baryon Mode. He has intentionally misled Naruto into thinking that both of them will die upon its use to ensure that Naruto won't hesitate to use it. That said, his death has caused an uproar, as the sounds of weeping echo within the fandom. After all, Kurama's the only one who has always been with Naruto (albeit forced) through thick and thin.

Now that Naruto's whiskers are officially non-existent, his image feels like it's missing something. On the other hand, it may also be a strong message that Naruto will no longer be playing major roles during the series' upcoming battles, and perhaps, he is no longer any more than a supporting character in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

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