Warning: SPOILERS for episode #289 of BorutoIt is well-known among fans that the sequel's new villain, Code.
Episode #289 of Boruto, "Qualification" sees the shinobi of Konohagakure preparing to face the next threat, Code, the last member of Kara's Inner Circle, who wants to get revenge for the death of his "god", Isshiki Otsutsuki, at the hands of Naruto and Sasuke. Kara's former scientist, Amado, has switched sides and gone to Konoha. Talking with Kawaki about the necessity to recover his Karma powers, Amado says that, if Naruto were to face Code now that he has lost Kurama's chakra, the Seventh Hokage would probably die.
Boruto Makes Code Stronger Than Naruto With Very Little Explanation
It is true that in order to defeat Isshiki, Kurama sacrificed his own life, and now Naruto is left without the powers of the Nine-Tails. Also, Amado is using this as an argument to convince Kawaki to accept an operation that will give him back his Karma, which will serve the scientist's still-mysterious purposes, so it's possible that Amado is consciously exaggerating. However, considering that both Amado and Kawaki are aware that Code's powers are currently reduced by limiters put in his body, that statement still sounds like a huge slight towards Naruto and his abilities.
This has been a recurring issue for Boruto. Naruto and Sasuke were simply too powerful at the end of the original series, so the sequel had to present even more powerful threats, in the form of the Otsutsuki. However, because this series in theory is about the shinobi of the new generation, they are the ones who need to defeat the villains, meaning that Boruto had to make Naruto and Sasuke look a lot less capable than they should be. In this case, the loss of Kurama should make Naruto weaker than Code, but that statement makes very little sense for fans who have followed the franchise since the beginning. Leaving aside the fact that Code's power is entirely based on assumptions, Naruto cannot be dismissed that easily only because he lost the Nine-Tails.
Losing Kurama Does Not Make Naruto Weak
Naruto's other famous Jinchuuriki, Gaara of the Sand, has already shown that, even after losing a Tailed Beast, its host maintains many of its abilities and can still be a formidable fighter. Naruto has a lot of weapons in his arsenal, including his mastery of Senjutsu (Sage Arts). Sure, losing Kurama's chakra hurts, but Naruto is also the reincarnation of Asura Otsutsuki and a relative of the Senju clan, meaning he has massive reserves of chakra on his own. However, Boruto's plot necessities needed Code to be stronger than the Seventh Hokage, which is an even bigger offense to the character, considering that Naruto's strong belief in hard work and perseverance made him detest shortcuts to gain power, like the Otsutsuki's Karma.
Boruto is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
