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Official cover art of He's Bad News
Cover art © Masashi Kishimoto / Shueisha. Not an original work of Daddy Jim Headquarters. Displayed for editorial commentary and review purposes.

He's Bad News

Manga ChapterCh. 38

Boruto chapter 38 throws Naruto and Sasuke into a brutal, losing fight with Jigen, who outclasses both Kage before deciding to seal Naruto away rather than kill him, and ends with Kawaki's frozen hand at home.

Volume: 10
Japanese Release Date: November 2019
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Summary

Sasuke fills Naruto in on the Otsutsuki ruins he located, the fresh clan member behind them, and a still-immature Ten-Tails, guessing that Jigen means to bleed the planet of its chakra. The two answer with full power, Sasuke raising his Complete Body Susanoo and Naruto cloaking in Kurama. Jigen dismisses their speed, kicks Sasuke free of his armor, and skewers him with rods, then pins Kurama's tails and punches Naruto out of Tailed Beast Mode. Every counter the pair attempt, from a sword strike to Amaterasu, Jigen shrugs off or drinks in through his Karma.

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Key Events

A crack spreads across the darkened part of Jigen's body, and he frets that the vessel cannot hold his strength, reaffirming that he needs Kawaki next. Judging Naruto too costly to kill, he chooses to seal him and starts sealing the chamber shut, aiming to finish Sasuke on the spot since he can teleport. Naruto's shadow clones buy time, and Sasuke escapes to Konoha beside Sakura. Kurama surfaces to warn Naruto against giving Jigen a reason to kill him, and Jigen, revealing he already knows of Boruto's own Karma, promises to end Naruto at their next meeting.

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Notes

The seal shrinks around Naruto as Jigen's blackened flesh splinters further and he begins to weep; Isshiki Otsutsuki, judging the body unworthy, teleports away. In the village, Sarada visits Naruto's home and questions Kawaki, who drops a photo of Naruto when his hand stops working without the Hokage's chakra. A note flags an art error: Sasuke is shown casting Amaterasu from his right Mangekyo eye instead of his left Rinnegan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in "He's Bad News"?

In "He's Bad News," Naruto and Sasuke fight Jigen at full power, cloaking in Kurama and Complete Body Susanoo, but Jigen outclasses both of them at every turn. He ultimately decides to seal Naruto away rather than kill him, while Sasuke escapes to Konoha.

Why does Jigen decide not to kill Naruto in this chapter?

Jigen judges Naruto too costly to kill in "He's Bad News" and chooses to seal him instead. He reaffirms that he still needs Kawaki for his own plans, since the vessel he currently occupies cannot hold his strength much longer.

How do Naruto and Sasuke fare against Jigen in "He's Bad News"?

Naruto and Sasuke fare badly against Jigen in this chapter. Every counter they attempt, from a sword strike to Amaterasu, Jigen either shrugs off or absorbs through his Karma.

What happens to Kawaki at the end of "He's Bad News"?

At the end of "He's Bad News," Sarada visits Naruto's home and questions Kawaki, whose prosthetic hand stops working without the Hokage's chakra. Kawaki drops a photo of Naruto when this happens.

What does Kurama warn Naruto about in this chapter?

Kurama surfaces during the fight in "He's Bad News" to warn Naruto against giving Jigen a reason to kill him. Jigen also reveals he already knows of Boruto's Karma and promises to end Naruto at their next meeting.

Sources & Information

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This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

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Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

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  • Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

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