WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chapter #55, “Legacy,” of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, Mari Morimoto and Snir Aharon, now available in English from Viz Media.
Since the death of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, Boruto fans have been wondering when will the next wave of attacks from the aliens come. Isshiki's Ten Tails Beast is still hidden away, so it could still create the God Tree and invite other clan members from across the cosmos. Momoshiki also has a presence in Boruto's body, which means the fight's far from over.
Boruto Chapter #55 reveals that Isshiki's successor isn't an alien at all. It's actually one of Kara's members, Code, and he just got a gift from the boss that makes him equally terrifying.
While Naruto's team recovers from the fight, Code is resting in his secret dimension where the Ten Tails is asleep. However, Isshiki mentally projects himself to the teen, making it clear his soul is about to be extinguished. There, Code has a White Karma mark on his hand, unlike the black one Boruto and Kawaki had for the genetic rewrite.
Isshiki tells his loyal servant how much he loves and will miss him, and that he gave him the mark. As hinted at in the anime, it's confirmed that Code is a failed prototype for the Vessel. Now we know why Code was jealous of Kawaki -- he felt like a bootleg version that wasn't working. Isshiki reveals one more secret and it boosts his confidence.
Isshiki activates the mark, giving Code a gift that boosts his confidence. Now Code can upgrade himself and become a new Ōtsutsuki, a hybrid of human and alien. As for Isshiki's last will and testament, he wants Code to carry on his legacy via one job: go after Boruto or Kawaki, feed them to the beast and then use the God Tree's blooming fruit. Once Code eats that, he'll get all the chakra from everyone who ever lived, as well as their knowledge, becoming a god. He can then travel to various planets and repeat this process, which was Isshiki's mission in the first place.
While Code was kept in the dark, it wasn't because Isshiki mistreated him. He was merely protecting Code as a back-up, allowing him to bond with and possibly control the Ten Tails. Building off their bond in the anime, Code graciously accepts the deal from his master and starts reciting his targets as Isshiki fades away.
Code is obsessed with killing Naruto, Sasuke and the traitor in Amado, but Kawaki and Boruto top his kill list. He wants to make them pay, turning them into a chakra meal. The manga has yet to show Code's powers unravel fully, so fans are excited to see what this mark can do to ordinary humans and if he's really worthy of being the new Isshiki.
