Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki

Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki (大筒木モモシキ, Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki) was a member of the Ōtsutsuki clan’s main family, sent to investigate the whereabouts of Kaguya and her God Tree and then attempting to cultivate a new one out of the chakra of the Seventh Hokage. In the process of being killed by Boruto Uzumaki, Momoshiki placed a Kāma on him, allowing his spirit to remain intact through the mark.

Personality

Momoshiki is typically calm, collected, and calculating. However, he has been prone to demonstrate sadistic tendencies, which was shown during his and Kinshiki’s attack on Konohagakure, where he laughed after seeing distressed citizens while firing his elemental attacks. Momoshiki also has a severe superiority complex and thought very lowly of people other than himself, calling humans “lowly beings”. Likewise, he is also even unsociable amongst his fellow clansmen such as Isshiki,^[3] Urashiki, and even his own foster father Kinshiki. Despite his callous attitude, he is staunchly committed to the Ōtsutsuki Will and his clan’s goal of attaining godhood; while he laments Naruto’s inability to pass along his massive chakra to his son in his future, he absorbs Kinshiki’s without a second thought as per his wish. As with Isshiki, Momoshiki is determined to harvest a chakra fruit at all cost, as he decided to use Kawaki as a sacrifice for the Ten-Tails to bloom into a God Tree, even though this would result in the fruit’s decreased quality, to the point that he would absorb chakra to prevent Kawaki from committing suicide even if risking Boruto regaining control of his body.

Momoshiki is also uninterested in hard-work, preferring to absorb and use the techniques of others instead of relying on his own personal strength. Due to this, he has very limited skill in taijutsu, becoming one of his main crippling weaknesses. Any effort on his part disgusted Momoshiki, and grows visibly annoyed at anything not going smoothly for him, as he was angered by his clothes being ripped by Boruto. As such, he is very arrogant and reckless in battle, never implementing any attempts with strategy or attempting to conserve chakra, but simply flaunting his self-perceived superior power in the vain belief that his powers alone secure him victories. He always convinced himself he can simply replenish his chakra with what he gains from his Chakra Fruit and pills, or by whatever samples he obtained by absorbing others’ attacks.

Fitting of his lazy personality, he is also rather cowardly when faced with an actual challenge, as he became visibly nervous when his opponent proved powerful enough to threaten him and even more exploit his weakness. Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki both agreed Momoshiki’s personality is a mirror image of Sasuke’s when he was bent on killing Itachi Uchiha.^[4] However, upon seeing Momoshiki coldheartedly consume his own foster father and brutalise his fellow Kage, Naruto remarked that Momoshiki wasn’t a man at all, or Sasuke’s mirror image, but a simple monster with no redeeming qualities.^[5]

Although believing himself to be superior to everybody, Momoshiki is not completely unable to accept defeat, as after death, his spirit lingered enough to leave Boruto a foreshadow of his future, showing no outward anger nor hatred otherwise. Additionally, when controlling Boruto for the first time, Momoshiki only targeted Boro, but did not kill Boruto’s friends even though he could easily have done it and only absorbed the necessary chakra to keep fighting from Naruto rather than just absorbing all of it, noting that Boruto still had a long way to go before he lost everything, showing his lack of grudge towards Boruto for defeating him.

Appearance

Momoshiki had pale skin, and pale-blue hair which he kept in a long ponytail. His hair was parted down the middle in a zig-zag pattern, and his head was adorned with a pair of flat, curved horns which resembled bulls horns. He had delicate facial features and his eyebrows were cut very short as a symbol of nobility. He dressed in traditional nobleman’s attire consisting of a white kariginu hunting robe, baggy pants, a pair of tengu-geta, and a single black glove on his left hand, with a hole cut into the palm for his Rinnegan, which was red in colour (purple in some depictions). He also wore a transparent hagoromo veil over his head.

Originally in the movie, after absorbing Kinshiki, Momoshiki’s appearance took a drastic change including; black sclerae, white irides, dark-red skin, a pointy chin, fangs, claws on his hands and feet which were exposed, white hair, ponytail enlarged and became much spikier, larger, sharpened bull horns, white markings under his eyes and a massive increase in size. His Rinnegan on his palms turned purple and he awakened a third one on his forehead. In the novelisation he doesn’t awaken a third eye, but upon devouring the last of the pills he created from Kinshiki his skin turns from red to black, giving him the appearance of a black demon.

However, in the manga and its anime adaptation, Momoshiki’s appearance is radically different upon absorbing Kinshiki. His body becomes lithe and covered with radiating black markings that resemble sunburst patterns, his horns greatly enlarge and curve back, he grows short claws on his fingers and toes, his canines extend and resemble fangs, and all his dōjutsu turn golden, including a third Rinnegan on his forehead.^[6]

Abilities

Because of the lengths that Kaguya went to prepare against Momoshiki and Kinshiki (and Urashiki in the anime), Sasuke speculated that they were a threat greater than her, confirmed in scrolls found in one of Kaguya’s dimensions.^[7][8] Momoshiki also claims that he could have defeated Kaguya himself.^[2] He demonstrated the power to effortlessly destroy a world and its entire population on at least one occasion, though he deemed the level of their civilisation as low.^[9] He was capable of holding his own against multiple Kage-level opponents simultaneously, as well as defeating a perfect jinchūriki. After absorbing Kinshiki, he was able to defeat four Kage at the same time with extreme ease and he could fight near evenly with Sasuke and Naruto, who both utilised Six Paths Chakra.

Chakra and Physical Prowess

Momoshiki showed noticeable proficiency in taijutsu. He was fast and strong enough to be able to surprise and effortlessly kick Naruto through a wall and clear out of the Chūnin Exams arena with a single kick. He was also skilled enough with his black staff to hold his own against both Darui and Sasuke, although he was still at a disadvantage.

Upon consuming Kinshiki, Momoshiki’s physical prowess skyrocketed. He was able to effortlessly defeat Gaara, Darui, Chōjūrō, and Kurotsuchi in a single blow each before the planet’s God Tree finished falling and was able to quickly out-manoeuvre Naruto in hand-to-hand combat. In the anime, he displayed taijutsu like that of the Gentle Fist but much more brutal, targeting Naruto’s tenketsu and internal organs, and his skill with his weapons also greatly increased. Both using his bare hands and weapons, he was able to contend against Naruto in his Six Paths Sage Mode and Sasuke using both his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan as well as wielding his sword to their full effect. Even being trapped in a Chibaku Tensei didn’t damage him, and he was able to bore his way through it.

As an Ōtsutsuki, Momoshiki had the ability to fly and his chakra was extremely powerful. His reserves were considerable, as he was able to fight for a significant amount of time against multiple Kage-level opponents. After absorbing Kinshiki, Momoshiki’s chakra became strong enough to create shock waves capable of cutting a God Tree in half.

Momoshiki’s spirit is remarkably powerful, as it was able to continue interacting with the living world for a period of time even after dying, giving him the opportunity to make Boruto into his vessel.

Dōjutsu

Byakugan

Momoshiki wielded the Byakugan in both eyes, granting him telescopic vision, x-ray vision, a near 360° field of visual perception,(with the presumed exception of a small blind spot at the upper thoracic vertebrae), and the ability to see the chakra pathway system and its tenketsu. Using it, he could see Kurama’s chakra that was sealed within Naruto. In the manga and anime, Momoshiki could use his Byakugan to read the fate of other people, though it didn’t allow him to see his own fate.^[10]

Rinnegan

Uniquely, Momoshiki wielded a pair of Rinnegan in the palms of his hands, and also initially red in colour instead of light purple. With his right one, he could use to absorb any chakra-based technique he came in contact with, and utilise afterwards unleash the said technique with augmented power and scale through his left, which he proclaimed to be capable of making a limitless number of. Also with his right Rinnegan, he could turn a target into pills, which when eaten, grants him extended youth along with their chakra and technique arsenal. It would also cause a metamorphosis to his being, increases his size and muscular tissue. Noticeably, after transforming from his absorption of Kinshiki, the Rinnegan in Momoshiki’s palms turned yellow and he gained an additional yellow Rinnegan on his forehead (purple in the movie). He could create black receivers as well, which he used to either fight with, or fire at an individual to impale and restrain them.

Ninjutsu

After absorbing Kinshiki, Momoshiki could create glowing red weapons, which he used in the manga to sever his planet’s God Tree. He had some knowledge in fūinjutsu, evident from his attempts to extract Kurama from Naruto’s body. At the cost of much chakra, Momoshiki could use space–time ninjutsu to transport himself between dimensions.^[4]

Nature Transformation

With his Rinnegan, Momoshiki could use all five elemental nature transformations simultaneously. He could create enormous elemental creatures, such as a fire pheasant, dogs, and a golem, which was powerful enough to battle a Susanoo-clad Kurama. Momoshiki’s Fire Release was strong enough to overpower Sasuke’s Susanoo and severely burn him. He can unleash a burst of wind able to repel many of Sasuke’s Lightning Flash shuriken. Momoshiki could also use elemental techniques in the form of an absolute zero degree blizzard and meteorites.^[4]

Kāma

Upon being killed by Boruto, Momoshiki chose to turn the boy into a vessel for his chakra by transferring his Kāma to him.^[10] This grants Boruto access to various mysterious powers, and as the mark develops, also allows Momoshiki to manifest and take complete control of his body for short bursts, during which he can act freely.^[11] In time, it is possible that the Kāma will continue to progress and make Boruto into a complete vessel, causing him to awaken as a “perfect Ōtsutsuki”.^[12] Over time, Momoshiki’s genetic profile will completely overwrite Boruto’s, at which point the Kāma will disappear and Momoshiki will resurrect, taking over Boruto’s body and erasing his personality.^[13] Having the progress of the takeover accelerated due to Boruto’s contact with Kawaki, who bore Isshiki’s Kāma, Momoshiki is able to manifest when Boruto is weakened sufficiently. He is also revealed to retain access to Boruto’s knowledge and skills.

New Era

Academy Entrance Arc

Main article: Academy Entrance Arc

In the anime, while eating chakra fruit harvested from a God Tree on an unidentified planet he destroyed, Momoshiki was approached by Kinshiki, who had observed substantial tears in Kaguya’s world, with its space curvature exceeding 16. After Kinshiki noted that she violated their clan’s laws by failing to report the abnormal space curvature, Momoshiki wondered whether she had betrayed the clan, or had somehow been overthrown and destroyed by the “inferior lifeforms” inhabiting her world. Finding that possibility interesting, Momoshiki ordered Kinshiki to prepare to depart, hoping that Kaguya’s world would have an abundance of chakra worthy of being consumed.^[9]

Versus Momoshiki Arc

Main articles: Boruto: Naruto the Movie and Versus Momoshiki Arc

While seeking out Kaguya’s whereabouts at her former castle in the anime, Momoshiki and Kinshiki encountered Sasuke as he was seeking information on a threat greater than Kaguya. In a blizzard, Kinshiki fought against Sasuke, while Momoshiki watched from afar and was enticed by the power of Sasuke’s Rinnegan. After Sasuke escapes, Momoshiki and Kinshiki continued investigating at another of her dimensions before encountering Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, whom briefed the two about her former territory: the planet Earth and the fact the chakra of its God Tree was spread amongst humanity, including the Tailed Beasts.

Momoshiki and Kinshiki eventually made their way to the real world and began their quest to gather the chakra. They first encountered Killer B, and Momoshiki easily manages to defeat him by absorbing his attack and using it against him. He then absorbs Gyūki’s chakra from within Killer B and leaves him unconscious, despite the attack, Killer B survives. Unsatisfied with their chakra consumption, they then focused their attention on their next objective: capturing the Nine-Tails by kidnapping its current jinchūriki, Naruto.

Momoshiki and Kinshiki appeared in Konoha during the Chūnin Exams and created massive chaos. Momoshiki kicked Naruto out of the arena and remained on the side while Kinshiki destroyed most of the arena and tried to attack Sasuke and his daughter. Momoshiki calmly walked past a frightened Boruto, who tried to use his Kote to attack him but all of his attacks were absorbed through Momoshiki’s Rinnegan. Sasuke related to Naruto their purpose based on what was deciphered from Kaguya’s scroll and they are a stronger threat than Kaguya. When asked by Naruto what they wanted, Momoshiki explains he and Kinshiki want to gather Kaguya’s scattered chakra into a new Chakra fruit and complete what Kaguya failed to do by cultivating it into a new ‘cinnabar panacea’, which he says will grant them eternal youth and supernatural powers. Because of Kurama’s powerful chakra, they desired to take Naruto and extract the beast’s chakra so they could use it for their own purposes. Momoshiki and Kinshiki attacked Naruto, Sasuke, and their children, leading Naruto and Sasuke to combine Kurama and Susanoo to shield themselves. All the while, Momoshiki laughed hysterically at their efforts. To end the battle, Momoshiki created a giant black ball that was amplified by the powers he stole from Boruto and launched it upon them. Ultimately, Naruto allowed himself to be captured by Momoshiki and Kinshiki while Sasuke protected Boruto and Sarada.

Momoshiki and Kinshiki took Naruto to another dimension and bound him to begin the ritual of extracting Kurama’s chakra from inside him. Upon absorbing half of Kurama’s chakra over a long period of time, Sasuke, Boruto, and the four other Kage arrived to rescue Naruto. Momoshiki fought Sasuke while the other Kage fought against Kinshiki and was defeated with ease. Wanting to finish everyone off once and for all, Momoshiki turned Kinshiki into a chakra fruit and devoured him, which increased his strength and his body underwent a drastic change. In the novelisation he instead transforms Kinshiki into a number of chakra pills, consuming them throughout the battle to increase his strength and further transform. Naruto and Sasuke fought against him and almost had the advantage until Momoshiki briefly imprisons Naruto in boulders and severally burns Sasuke. However, Momoshiki was severely weakened from the combined efforts of the pair.

When Katasuke used his Kote in an attempt to kill him for good, his attacks were absorbed by Momoshiki, restoring his strength. He captured the other Kage with the Shadow Paralysis Technique and was about to kill the other Kage, except for Naruto. With no other options, Sasuke decided to have Boruto use Rasengan to put an end to the threat. Boruto hit Momoshiki with his small Rasengan and freed his father and the other Kage. Enraged at Boruto for damaging his garments, Momoshiki absorbed more chakra pills and increased his strength. Naruto then lent Boruto his chakra to help his son create a Parent and Child Rasengan while Sasuke distracted Momoshiki long enough for Boruto to launch his attack on Momoshiki. First, Boruto ambushed Momoshiki with a shadow clone to take out his Rinnegan and then attacked him with his Rasengan, which collided with Momoshiki’s own Rasengan look-alike, destroying him for good.

Momoshiki’s spirit stayed intact for a while, noticing that Boruto could feel his presence thanks to his blood of the Byakugan users. He approached Boruto and told him that despite his inability to foresee his own fate, he could see Boruto’s fate clearly. Momoshiki warned him that someday his blue eyes would take everything from him and that he’s no longer an ordinary human after defeating a god. He also left a mark on Boruto’s right palm and added that he should continue to follow his own path before disappearing.

Kawaki Arc

Main article: Kawaki Arc

While Team 7 and Kawaki fought Boro, the Kara member repeatedly struck Boruto, beating the boy into unconsciousness and allowing Momoshiki to manifest through his Kāma. Taking complete control of Boruto’s body, Momoshiki avoided Boro’s attack by flying into the air. Taunting Boro, Momoshiki proceeded to effortlessly overwhelm him with taijutsu before realising that Boruto’s body was nearly out of chakra. After absorbing chakra from a nearby unconscious Naruto, Momoshiki recalled his signature ninjutsu and unleashed a massive Rasengan, obliterating Boro. With the threat gone, Momoshiki remarked that it was not yet time for Boruto to lose everything and his persona subsided as the Kāma regressed. Upon regaining consciousness, Boruto was unable to clearly recall what had happened.

After Kara’s head researcher, Amado, defected to Konohagakure and explained the organisation’s plans, the mechanisms of Kāma, and his own intention to betray and kill its leader, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, and his vessel, Jigen, Boruto realised that his body had been taken over by Momoshiki. Describing the incident as like an out-of-body experience, Boruto confided in Sasuke that he feared losing control again and bringing ruin to the village. With Boruto resolving that he would rather die than hurt his comrades, Sasuke assured him that, as his master, he would do whatever it takes to prevent Momoshiki from taking control of him, even if it meant killing him.

During the ensuing battle against Isshiki, Isshiki revealed that Boruto’s Kāma was nearly complete and that, as Momoshiki’s vessel, he would make a suitable sacrifice to transform Kara’s Ten Tails into a God Tree, then incapacitated the boy by breaking his arm and crushing his back. Boruto was quickly rescued by Naruto and Sasuke, but soon fell unconscious. As the battle progressed, Naruto and Sasuke were pushed to their limits and Isshiki managed to summon Kawaki to their location in order to implant him with a new Kāma before his imminent death. At that moment Momoshiki manifested again.

Momoshiki chose to remain unseen while Kawaki used a shadow clone to deny Isshiki the possibility of reincarnation through Kāma as his body crumbled to dust. With Isshiki truly dead and Naruto and Sasuke seriously injured, Momoshiki launched a sudden surprise attack, plunging Boruto’s kunai into Sasuke’s left eye and destroying his Rinnegan before anyone could react. He then crouched in a battle stance and declared that he never thought they would be able to defeat Isshiki and that they were now the only obstacles left in his way. Momoshiki was glad to have neutralised Sasuke’s space-time ninjutsu, and began fighting him and Kawaki.

He noticed that Kawaki’s Kāma extraction had progressed significantly, making him a viable sacrifice for the cultivation of a God Tree, which he intended to do. Sasuke noticed that Momoshiki avoided absorbing any jutsu during the fight, and deduced that if Boruto’s chakra were to be replenished, his personality would resurface. Momoshiki used Boruto’s Vanishing Rasengan to incapacitate Sasuke, and made his way to Kawaki. Kawaki attempted to self-immolate, forcing Momoshiki to absorb the fire, which was enough for Boruto’s personality to resurface, break off Momoshiki’s horn, and regain control.

In Other Media

Video Games

Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki is a playable character in the following video games:

Trivia

• Like his cohorts Kinshiki and Urashiki, Momoshiki was named after a Japanese folk hero whose name includes “Tarō”, in this case the legendary hero Momotarō. The folktale has minor parallels to the folklore from which Kaguya was derived, with the boy arriving on Earth inside a giant peach and being raised by a family of commoners. Momoshiki’s ability to create a dog, monkey and pheasant is also influenced by the character, who befriends the three animals on his adventure.
• Momoshiki’s character design is based on Minamoto no Yoshitsune, born Ushiwakamaru,^[14] a famous warrior and military commander during the Heian period, and master of the warrior monk Benkei, whom Kinshiki was likewise inspired by.
  • According to folklore, the young Ushiwakamaru trained under Sōjōbō, king of the tengu, at a temple on Mount Kurama, to which the upbringing of Momoshiki’s vessel, Boruto, may be a reference.
• Shortly before and after absorbing Kinshiki, Momoshiki’s Byakugan are depicted without veins in the manga.

References