Kawaki’s struggle to fit into Naruto’s family is rooted in years of abuse, isolation, and being treated as a tool rather than a person. Before arriving in Konoha, Kawaki was sold by his father and eventually taken by Jigen, who turned him into a test subject for the Kāma. He spent much of his childhood being trained and modified for the purpose of becoming an Ōtsutsuki vessel.
As a result, ordinary family life is almost completely foreign to him. When Naruto takes custody of Kawaki, he suddenly enters a home where people care about his feelings, expect him to participate in everyday activities, and refuse to treat him as an object. That kindness initially makes him uncomfortable rather than immediately making him feel safe.
Why Kawaki Finds the Uzumaki Household Difficult to Accept
Kawaki initially struggles to trust Naruto because his previous experiences taught him that adults usually want something from him. Naruto, however, offers him protection without demanding that he repay the favor. The official story describes Kawaki as guarded when he first begins living with the Uzumaki family, while the peaceful atmosphere gradually helps him open up.
His relationship with Boruto creates another obstacle. The two boys both possess Kāma, but their personalities and backgrounds are completely different, causing them to clash almost immediately. Their arguments eventually become less hostile as they discover that they can understand each other’s struggles, eventually developing a brother like relationship.
Himawari also becomes important to Kawaki’s adjustment. A seemingly small incident involving a vase belonging to Himawari leads to conflict between Kawaki and Boruto, but Kawaki later demonstrates that he genuinely regrets breaking it. His willingness to repair the damage becomes one of the early signs that he is beginning to understand what it means to care about another person’s feelings.
Naruto’s role is particularly significant because he understands what it means to grow up isolated. Instead of judging Kawaki for his anger and distrust, Naruto gives him patience and affection, gradually helping him experience the family life he never had. Kawaki eventually develops an extremely strong attachment to Naruto, viewing the Seventh Hokage as someone who gave his life meaning.
That attachment eventually becomes both Kawaki’s greatest strength and his biggest weakness. His determination to protect Naruto becomes so intense that he is willing to make extreme choices, including turning against Boruto to eliminate the Ōtsutsuki threat. His difficulty adjusting to the Uzumaki family therefore comes from more than unfamiliarity with domestic life. Kawaki is learning how to receive love while simultaneously struggling with the fear that he could lose the first family he has ever truly valued.