A new era of Naruto was ushered in the world earlier today, and anime fans are still reeling from the return. Last month, Naruto Shippuden came to an end after more than ten years, but TV Tokyo was quick to restore the franchise. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations premiered today, introducing fans to the children of heroes like Naruto and Sasuke. The thrilling episode thrilled audiences with its sleek animation and cut aesthetic, but there was one dark moment that had others cowering.

Right now, it seems like the entire fandom is asking one tepid question: Is Naruto Uzumaki going to die? Eh, probably not.

If you have seen the first episode of Boruto, then you know the anime begins with a foreboding introduction. The premiere starts with a flashforward to a time where Boruto is much older and the modernized city of Konoha has been destroyed. With the village in ruins, a scarred and tattooed Boruto stands in rubble across from a boy named Kawaki. The other ninja is determined to destroy the ninja communities as the age of shinobi has passed – and Kawaki then drops a terrifying bomb.

Speaking to Boruto, the villain says, “I’ll send you where I sent the Seventh Hokage,” referencing Naruto. The ominous statement makes it sound as if Kawaki will send Boruto to the afterlife with his parents, and the fact that Boruto is also wielding Sasuke’s sword make the moment more tense. The Uchiha would not relinquish his weapon so easily and Boruto is even carrying the ninja’s marred headband.

If Sasuke and Naruto are implied to be dead, then the future of the franchise is looking bleak at best. Fans are worried the beloved legacy characters may not make it through the new anime, but it seems very unlikely that Naruto will die.

Time and again, Boruto has stressed that he is out to tell his own story, and it just so happens that his life intersects with Naruto. Killing off the elder ninja would not only sent fans into a riot, but it would shift the entire focus of Boruto’s desire to fulfill his own life.

Given how complex the franchise is, it would not be surprising to learn that Naruto was sent to an alternate dimension. Or, at the very least, Boruto may be under the impression that his father is dead to give him that push to fight Kawaki head-on. However, if the anime were to kill off the fabled hero, then Boruto would not be around for much longer. Anime fans have a long history with Naruto, and they would not take kindly to his death. Not at all.

For now, fans will have to wait through the anime to see just how the premiere’s introduction comes to fruition. Naruto Shippuden started with a flashforward in a similar way, and the introduction did not even begin to cover the anime’s full ending. Boruto may be doing the same as a way to make longtime fans invested in it, and yeah – it seems like the plan worked.

Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsSunday at on TV Tokyo

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