The Hidden Powers of the Kokugan: Unraveling Kawaki’s Godly Potential in Boruto Manga

Ever wondered why Isshiki and Kawaki possess the Kokugan in opposite eyes, even though the Karma is supposed to imprint the same features of the Ōtsutsuki onto the vessel? Well, the answer to this question is huge! I’ve been thinking about it for almost two years now, but with reveals from Chapter 13 and Chapter 15, it has become apparent that this detail wasn’t a mistake; rather, it could be an intentional move by the authors to set up something really big. Now that Kawaki’s new powers are the talk of the town after the recent developments, it seems like the perfect time to solve this mystery.

In this article, we will not only dive into what could happen after Kawaki’s limits are removed but also explore the potential powers teased in Chapter 75. So, if you’re ready for a never-before-seen take and theories, let’s start with the very first beast—the Kokugan, the Shinjutsu of Isshiki, passed down to Kawaki from the very first chapter. Understanding this major reveal is crucial, as it literally means the “black eye” that can manifest the abilities of the Daikokugan and Sukunahikona—basically, the power to shrink objects or oneself, alongside sealing them in a timeless dimension.

While the Daikokuten part of this dōjutsu is interesting, there is something in its meaning that I believe could explain a key setup for Kawaki’s future role in the plot. Before the official name of this eye was revealed, I used to call it Dharmagan because it has a Dharma pattern, a prominent symbol in Buddhism. But that’s not all. There is literally a deity in Buddhist culture known as Daikokuten—one of the seven Lucky Gods, who are known to fulfill people’s wishes. Daikokuten, in particular, is the deity of fortune and wealth.

Connecting the dots back to Isshiki, the original wielder of this power, we see how he offered Amado a deal where his wish was supposed to be granted. Amado’s belief in Isshiki symbolizes the Lucky God Daikokuten and how he grants materialistic wishes to his devotees. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg, and after hearing what I reveal next, you’ll be able to connect this dōjutsu to Shibai Ōtsutsuki, the god of this verse.

Daikokuten, the Lucky God, is also known as the Great God of Blackness. His counterpart in Hinduism, Mahākāla, was also the deity of darkness. Wherever there is darkness, there must be light, too, which brings us to this sequence from the final Boruto episode. At first glance, it may seem like nothing special—just Boruto and Kawaki activating their signature abilities. But if you take a closer look at this image, you’ll notice something that connects all the dots.

This brings us to the second puzzle piece of today’s article—Shibai, the god of Ōtsutsuki. This frame of Boruto and Kawaki could be a clever Easter egg for Shibai since both of them are using his powers in exact parallels. Not to forget, the Kokugan is the symbol of darkness, and where there is darkness, there must be light too—enter the Jōgan, the Pure Eye.

What I believe is that there’s a deeper reason behind Shibai Ōtsutsuki representing both light and dark. This divine entity could be balancing good and evil, or rather, all opposite forces in the cosmos to keep the universe running. We know time and space are the two main components that ensure the smooth functioning of the universe. Daikokuten can manipulate space since it’s a Spacetime ninjutsu, allowing the user to store objects in a separate dimension. By this logic, the Jōgan, which is very likely the other ocular power of Shibai, must be able to manifest time-related powers. (I covered this in a recent article, so be sure to check that out after this one!)

Returning to our theory, it’s clear that Shibai is balancing the whole universe as an omnipotent deity. But what brings Kawaki into the scene is the placement of his Kokugan. Unlike Isshiki, Kawaki’s Kokugan is in the opposite eye. I refuse to believe this is simply because his Karma is on his left hand. Boruto and Kawaki are depicted as opposites—not because of any contrast between Momoshiki and Isshiki, but because they are both part of a whole—Shibai Ōtsutsuki. They each embody different powers of this deity, one symbolizing light and the other darkness.

The eye of Kawaki may not be an Isshiki dōjutsu after all, and an important revelation from Kashin Koji gives weight to this theory. Koji mentioned that all Kara members were modified with Shibai’s cells, and Kawaki might be no exception. He awakened Shinjutsu during a strong emotional moment, exactly as Koji unlocked prescience. The requirement of unlocking such divine power may be a profound experience—certainly no coincidence. Kawaki accessed this power in his left eye due to Shibai’s cells.

Now, before you argue the whole Karma theory and how Amado figured out a way to manifest Isshiki’s powers in Kawaki posthumously, consider this: what if he lied? Chapter 15 literally shows Amado spying on Kawaki through his eyes without his knowledge, which casts suspicion on everything Amado has told us so far. Before diving further into Kawaki’s story, Let me clarify the part about Isshiki’s Kokugan and how it differs from Kawaki’s.

First and foremost, we had never seen Kawaki use this power before receiving the Weaponized Karma from Amado. Secondly, the reason Isshiki wielded the same power associated with Shibai Ōtsutsuki might is that he was just a few chakra fruits away from attaining godhood, which allowed him to tap into this Shinjutsu. This would also explain why he fought the “Battle of Patience” for thousands of years to ensure his revival—Isshiki’s relentless grind as an Ōtsutsuki truly deserves some respect.

Now, let’s go back to Kawaki. This puzzle piece I’m about to discuss will change the entire Shibai-cells angle in Amado’s master plan. It could theoretically make Kawaki far too powerful for the plot, but we’ll address that possibility shortly. As I mentioned, Kawaki never used this Shinjutsu before the new Karma. It’s likely that the same intense emotion that activated the Kokugan also awakened Karma within him. However, there’s one plot point that makes me reconsider this sequence, and it brings us to the next puzzle piece: Akebi Sanzu, Amado’s infamous daughter. She appears to be the Queen’s Gambit in this chess game.

Every move Amado makes, whether by calculation or intuition, seems to lead toward a future where his daughter is revived. Kashin Koji said he didn’t foresee any future where Amado’s plans succeeded, but what if some new twist in the present timeline allowed Amado to play cards no one—perhaps not even the Shinjutsu of Prescience itself—anticipated?

Here’s what I think might be Amado’s next big-brain move, which could cause a drastic twist in the story. Remember how Akebi’s clones couldn’t retain her consciousness? We assumed only godly power could bring her back. Since Amado meticulously orchestrated events—like monitoring Kawaki and orchestrating Isshiki’s downfall—there’s no way he hasn’t thought about one key detail: Akebi could die again. It’s in her genes to succumb to fate and die, regardless of how many times she’s resurrected. Don’t you think Amado must have some plan to prevent Akebi from dying again? I doubt he’d just let fate take control, and there’s no way Kawaki would agree to revive her multiple times, especially after learning of Amado’s manipulations.

This led me to consider a possibility hinted at in Chapter 75. What if Amado infused Shibai’s DNA into this new Karma? Not only would this allow Kawaki to access this dōjutsu in the same eye as Isshiki, but it might also lay the groundwork for Akebi’s immortality. That’s right—I believe Amado may have modified this Karma with godly powers, including immortality. This could be why he limited Kawaki’s power, as Kawaki’s Karma might unlock Shibai’s full powers if unrestricted. Considering that it already manifested the dōjutsu in the same eye, this theory seems plausible: Amado wants to make Akebi immortal or, perhaps, an omnipotent goddess.

Daemon and Code could be test subjects for studying Shinjutsu awakening through Shibai’s cells. The real game lies within the Karma seal, which might be encoded with divine DNA. If this theory holds, Kawaki’s limiters could be restricting the powers of Shibai Ōtsutsuki—or some aspect of his Shinjutsu—that could let Kawaki live up to the title of Ōtsutsuki Destroyer. Think about it: Kawaki’s offensive powers have been hindered, and since this Karma has Shibai’s cells within it, the Kokugan may be one manifestation of those cells. This would mean Kawaki could unlock even more powers once his limiters are removed.

Another hint that we may be on the right track has to do with Boruto and how he may use the Jōgan to face Kawaki in the future. I’m awaiting the anime adaptation of Chapter 75, but the Jōgan appears to be Shibai Ōtsutsuki’s eye. Since Boruto will need a “godly card” to confront Kawaki, it implies the stakes are extremely high—Kawaki’s power is off the charts, possibly due to Shibai’s cells in his Karma seal. The removal of his limiters would grant him the power to devastate the entire village, and that’s why I believe both of them will wield godly powers in their future battle.

With all that said, we come to our final puzzle piece—Kawaki’s brand-new Shinjutsu. I was already skeptical about limitless Kawaki gaining some enhanced power of Isshiki, as we’ve never seen this Ōtsutsuki at his peak form. This also means we don’t truly know Isshiki’s full powers. So, Kawaki’s new Shinjutsu should make logical sense with Isshiki’s character and his potential abilities. However, if Kawaki’s Shinjutsu has little to do with Isshiki beyond combat experience, there could be much more waiting in the wings for Kawaki’s next big power-up.

Before predicting which divine power Shibai Ōtsutsuki Kawaki may have inherited through Amado’s experiments, Let’s explore the idea that this may not be the case at all. Perhaps there are additional powers within the Kokugan itself that Kawaki might unlock after his limiters are lifted. The reason Isshiki never manifested them could be that his temporary takeover of Jigen’s body significantly limited his abilities. However, Isshiki did possess his full powers when betrayed by Kaguya. Given that he could shrink himself to form a parasitic relationship with Jigen, what if Kawaki could do something similar once his limiters are removed?

If I remember correctly, we haven’t yet seen him shrink his body using Sukunahikona. So, after regaining his full powers, he might shrink himself to infiltrate an opponent’s brain through the air, weakening them or even taking full control of their body.

Let me know what other tricks you think Kawaki could play with the Kokugan after his limiters are removed.

Now, as for the divine abilities of Shibai that the Kokugan may manifest in the future, the author appears to have drawn inspiration from Siddhis, a concept in Tantric Buddhism that refers to yogic superpowers. The first Siddhi, Anima, enables one to become increasingly small, which directly references Sukunahikona’s shrinking power. Mahima allows for expansion to any size, which might relate to the enormous black cubes created by this dōjutsu. Laghima is another Siddhi that enables flight, a power that Kawaki possesses. Garima makes one infinitely large, potentially another reference to the black cubes.

So far, everything aligns with the abilities of the Kokugan. Now, the next three Siddhis may hint at a broken divine power. Prapti and Prakamya refer to manifestation, potentially hinting at an omnipotent attribute of the Kokugan, enabling the user to manifest their desires. This could also be the same power Jigen promised to use to fulfill Amado’s wish. To support this, the magic hammer wielded by Daikokuten is an object used to manifest anything the user desires. Thus, Kawaki gaining the power to manipulate reality is within the realm of possibility.

Finally, there is Vashitva, the power to control both living beings and objects, whether organic or inorganic. In Kawaki’s case, this might allow him to manipulate the chakra of any living being, except for Ōtsutsuki and Shinjutsu users, enabling him to control them without their awareness.

These godly abilities would make Kawaki the most formidable warrior of all. If you’re interested in more theories like this, check out Boruto Manga Online Blog.