Here's everything known so far about Naruto's Baryon Mode, the unique transformation Kurama granted him in the fight with Isshiki Otsutsuki. Over the course of his ninja career, Naruto Uzumaki has unlocked a host of different forms and transformations relating to Kurama and the various stages their relationship has gone through. Baryon Mode is the latest form that Naruto has obtained in line with this, and there's a lot that goes into it.

During the fight with Isshiki Otsutsuki, Isshiki proved to be more than a match for anything Naruto and Sasuke could throw at him, with Isshiki now even stronger than he was before he fully awakened inside of Jigen. Thanks to that, it seemed to be an almost certainty that Isshiki would be able to possess Boruto: Naruto Next Generations' Kawaki before his death, at which point he would become virtually unstoppable. With no other options available to them and Naruto already expecting to die, Kurama proposes one final plan for defeating Isshiki.

Related: How Old Naruto Is In Naruto: Shippuden & Boruto

That plan ended up being Naruto's new form, Baryon Mode. Baryon Mode involves Naruto and Kurama's chakra coming together to create new kernels of power, a process that Kurama likens to nuclear fusion. By that same token, Baryon Mode naturally carries a lot of power with it, but at the same time, it also carries a lot of drawbacks to it that will be fully detailed here.

Naruto's Baryon Mode Power Level And Effects Explained

Naruto final form Baryon

Baryon Mode combines Naruto and Kurama's power to create something that far exceeds the sum of its parts, and the raw boost in power Naruto was given allowed him to far surpass Isshiki Otsutsuki, someone who should be around the same level as Naruto's Kaguya Otsutsuki. The biggest drawback to Baryon Mode is that it rapidly drains Naruto's strength and Kurama's lifeforce, but even that can be used to Naruto's advantage. Going off of the fact that all chakra is connected, Naruto is able to apply the same life-draining effects of Baryon Mode to anyone he touches; it doesn't erase the risk it poses to himself, but in most cases, it would help him end a fight well before the negative effects of Baryon Mode truly kicked in.

Is Baryon Mode Naruto's Strongest Form?

Naruto fighting Isshiki in Baryon Mode

Considering the context of Baryon Mode's usage, it's safe to say that it's the strongest form Naruto has used, even stronger than his Six Paths Mode. With Naruto's Baryon Mode, Naruto was able to overpower Isshiki Otsutsuki and nearly kill him, whereas even with Six Paths Mode, Naruto still needed assistance from other people to fight Kaguya, and even then, he and Sasuke were only able to seal Kaguya away, not kill her. However, with Baryon Mode having the drawback of rapidly draining Naruto's power and slowly killing Kurama, it ends up being a far riskier technique, which probably helps to even things out.

Is Boruto Canon? How The Anime Series Connects To The Manga

Naruto in Boruto Naruto Next Generations

It should be reaffirmed that regardless of whatever Boruto: Naruto Next Generations may do with Naruto's power level, it is still the definitive canon sequel to Naruto. Naruto's original creator, Masashi Kishimoto, has overseen the production of the series from its conception, and in January 2021, he even took over as the writer of the manga in place of Ukyo Kodachi. This sets it apart from properties like Dragon Ball GT, which didn't have Akira Toriyama involved beyond providing character designs and was made explicitly non-canon following Dragon Ball Super. As such, Boruto's canon relationship to Naruto shouldn't be called into question.

More: Jigen's Powers Explained - Why Naruto & Sasuke Lose

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations releases new episodes Saturdays on Crunchyroll.