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Kawaki’s Training and Himawari’s Otsutsuki Power Reveal

Has Kawaki trained in the Timeless Dimension for a thousand years? Did we just get a glimpse of Himawari’s rumored Otsutsuki power? After seven years of impatient waiting, the Boruto time skips finally debuted under the title Boruto: Two Blue Vortex on August 20, 2023, with the release of the very first chapter. We are now a big step closer to the prologue fight from episode 1. Boruto and the others have grown, and most people are still under the effects of Omnipotence. Due to their Otsutsuki modifications, Cyborgs did not age, adding another layer of mystery.

Chapter 1 Boruto Manga Overview and Sarada’s New Design

The chapter opens with the reveal of Sarada’s new design, first seen in promotional art. This time, we see her full look: she wears an outfit that gives Akatsuki vibes. When only one side of her face was shown in promotional artwork, I thought she might have gone rogue to find Boruto—much like Naruto left the village to find Sasuke back in Shippuden. However, with the full look now visible, she wears a Konoha badge on her jacket, which suggests she hasn’t gone rogue.

Nevertheless, Sarada hints later in the chapter that she might still take drastic measures, perhaps similar to Naruto’s. In her initial appearance, she is seen in the Hokage office, looking dissatisfied.

Next, we see the double-spread cover of Chapter 1, featuring Boruto in his new outfit and accessories. Fans wanted the time skip to kick off with a powerful double-spread cover, and it didn’t disappoint. It seems like Ikemoto, the artist, plans to include more double-spread panels in future chapters. This could be due to the announcement that the online Boruto manga will include special features.

Boruto’s accessories include a pin that originally belonged to Himawari, a bold symbol on his jacket, and a Uzumaki necklace. I’m curious about how he acquired these items—could he have found them by chance, or did he meet an Uzumaki Clan member who gifted them to him? With Momoshiki’s forced plot twists, we might soon uncover details about the Uzumaki Clan Massacre.

Shikamaru’s Conversation with Sarada

The chapter then shifts to a conversation between Shikamaru, now the 8th Hokage, and Sarada. Sarada advocates for Boruto, pleading with Shikamaru to retract Boruto’s death warrant. This isn’t the first time they’ve had this discussion. Throughout the time skip, Sarada tries to sway Shikamaru, hoping Boruto will get a chance to prove his innocence. However, Shikamaru firmly believes Boruto crossed a line by allegedly killing Naruto.

We also see an older Konohamaru, who backs up Shikamaru by mentioning Eida’s clairvoyance as evidence. They both seem thoroughly convinced of Boruto’s guilt, as their minds have been altered by Omnipotence, leading them to believe that Kawaki is Naruto’s real son and that an ungrateful outsider killed Naruto.

Shikamaru tries to make Sarada understand that even if the death order were retracted, the people of Konoha would never forgive Boruto. He advises her to continue her mission, angering Sarada and leading her to call him a “blockhead.” Konohamaru immediately scolds her, reminding her she’s speaking to the Hokage. Shikamaru then warns her that this attitude will prevent her from achieving her goal of becoming Hokage, saying she will remain a Genin if she doesn’t change.

This single line reveals something significant: Naruto has already promoted Sarada to Chunin in the anime, so Shikamaru’s remark here suggests the manga and anime timelines are not aligned. This disconnect raises questions about the Jougan’s fate, as it has yet to appear in the Boruto manga. However, it was shown in an anime canon episode with Himawari, hinting at a possible manga debut.

Sarada responds to Shikamaru by asking if his opinion has anything to do with her father being a “traitor.” Shikamaru denies this, saying it’s about her future as a Leaf Shinobi. This exchange might confirm that Sasuke is viewed as a rogue Shinobi due to his assistance to Boruto, or Sarada could be referencing his past crimes.

In the following panels, Sarada reflects on the events of Shippuden—how Naruto left the village to bring Sasuke back and still achieved his dream of becoming Hokage. She even tells Shikamaru that her role model is Naruto, not him. This statement reveals her rebellious spirit and hints that she may consider leaving the village to bring Boruto back, much like Naruto did for Sasuke. Considering her family’s history, Shikamaru should perhaps be more alarmed by Sarada’s strong-willed nature. If she does go down a rogue path, it could spell serious trouble for Konoha.

Sarada’s Knowledge of Konoha’s History and Naruto’s Journey

How does Sarada know about the story of Naruto and Sasuke? Could she have asked Eida to tell her about Konoha, Naruto, and her father’s history? If so, it would explain her maturity following the time skip. After Sarada’s honorable mention of Naruto, the chapter transitions to Kawaki’s Timeless Dimension, where Naruto is seen sleeping.

We get a new design for Kawaki, distinct from the prologue scene—he now has long hair and watches over his beloved parents in his Daikokugan Dimension. The fact that Kawaki can freely move around this realm hints at his exceptional power. This Timeless Dimension is free from time, meaning he could spend decades training there without a single second passing in the real world. This unique advantage could give Kawaki infinite time to grow stronger, similar to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber from Dragon Ball Z. By the time of Chapter 1, Kawaki may have spent years training, explaining how he unlocked the Eight-Triangle Dharma in his Dojutsu.

As the series progresses, Boruto could eventually reach a similar level of power scaling, possibly even approaching Dragon Ball levels. However, I hope the series balances power scaling by incorporating reasonable limitations on these immense powers so the characters don’t become overpowered.

Boruto’s Potential Entry to the Timeless Dimension

Kawaki’s ability to maintain a Timeless Dimension makes me wonder if Boruto can also enter it. If Boruto learns of this, he might allow Kawaki to send him there after a long struggle, potentially leading to a moment where he can save his parents. Naruto and Hinata are unaffected by time in this realm, which might mean they’re also immune to Omnipotence’s memory-altering effects. Imagine a point in the series where Kawaki achieves everything he wanted—except Naruto’s fatherly love, which remains exclusively for Boruto. Ironically, his desire to protect Naruto separates them in a timeless realm.

Moving forward, we see Sumire’s time-skip design, which has a schoolgirl look created by Ikemoto. This was my first disappointment in the chapter, considering her backstory and significant battle role in the anime. I expected her outfit to have a similar impact as Sarada’s. Sarada’s Akatsuki-inspired look reflects her relentless drive to redeem Boruto. Hopefully, Sumire’s outfit will evolve as well—she is the class representative, so her current outfit could simply be a school uniform. When the time comes, she may don a more battle-ready outfit that matches her character.

Back to the story: Sarada explains that this isn’t her first time clashing with Shikamaru, admitting that Omnipotence makes them look insane because everyone shares the same false memories. The chapter also reveals that the power of Omnipotence has intensified over time. Initially, people questioned Momoshiki’s fate and Kawaki’s Kara-enhanced body, but gradually, they accepted these realities as normal, showing how deeply Omnipotence can manipulate perception.

Sarada and Sumire’s desperation to break free from Omnipotence takes them to Eida again. Many wondered why it took them three years to consult Eida about Omnipotence. Still, they’ve been checking in with her periodically to see if she’s discovered any way to reverse its effects. Eida, however, advises them to give up, saying she has no control over Omnipotence or her charm ability.

Eida’s Misinterpretation of Omnipotence and Charm

Eida repeats Momoshiki’s definition of Omnipotence, explaining that memories and identities have been swapped, making it pointless to try and convince anyone otherwise. Instead of reversing everything, Eida suggests that the only plausible option is to create new memories, though this carries significant risks. She then becomes suspicious of Sarada and Sumire’s immunity to Omnipotence and asks if they’re also resistant to her charm.

Sumire recalls Shikamaru’s warning and pretends to adore Eida. This reveals Eida’s limited insight; Boruto had already told her that her charm power is part of Omnipotence. By failing to see her charm and Omnipotence as linked, Eida unknowingly exposes herself to danger by allowing Sarada and Sumire close since they are the only ones who could potentially defeat her. Eida remains oblivious to this vulnerability despite several warnings.

The chapter introduces a grown-up Mitsuki, obsessed with Kawaki, much to Kawaki’s annoyance. Mitsuki’s design exceeded my expectations—Ikemoto has turned this sequel into a fashion show, showcasing striking designs. Mitsuki’s intense gaze shows his bloodlust as he desperately wants to confront Boruto.

Mitsuki reminds Kawaki that Boruto is an Otsutsuki, to which Kawaki responds that Boruto won’t escape his Daikokugan’s detection even if he erases his chakra signature. Mitsuki expresses his desire to kill Boruto, and Kawaki tells him not to “simp” around him, as it makes him uncomfortable. Suddenly, Kawaki is alerted to Code’s claw marks on the village’s outskirts and quickly heads there.

Kawaki’s Influence on Mitsuki’s Destiny

Mitsuki questions if Kawaki is truly the “sun” meant to “enlighten his moon,” a prophecy linking him to Boruto. This moment proves how deeply Kawaki has influenced Mitsuki, leading him down a darker path. Under Boruto’s guidance, Mitsuki would never have turned into a vengeful avenger. Kawaki’s impact on Mitsuki is unsettling and may lead to further conflict.

Upon finding Code’s claw marks, Kawaki shrinks them with Sukunahikona, revealing his Eight-Triangle Dojutsu, indicating that he has grown much stronger during the time skip.

Kawaki’s Instincts and Code’s Plan

In the next panel, it becomes clear that Kawaki has also become more perceptive. He immediately realizes that something is off with one of the guards, and his instincts prove correct—he finds a claw mark hidden on the guard’s neck. Code has implanted hidden claw marks on several people, giving him an easy way to infiltrate the Leaf Village. Soon, Code’s claw grunts appear and attack the villagers, leading Sarada to intervene.

Meanwhile, we see Himawari with her new design: long hair and a refined combat style, training with Chocho in a forest. Shortly after, Shikadai and Inojin join them, praising Himawari’s sharp combat techniques. Inojin asks why she’s so determined to get stronger. Her response is intriguing—she wants to help Boruto, as her memory of him portrays him as the “good guy.” She believes he could be in serious trouble, even holding out hope that her father, Naruto, is alive somewhere (which, surprisingly, is true). This could indicate that her strong bond with Boruto or an innate sense stemming from her connection to Daemon or Eida will play a significant role in the future. I’ll cover the potential of Otsutsuki in Himawari in a future discussion.

Sarada Confronts Code

Returning to Sarada, after witnessing the regeneration abilities of the claw grunts, Code appears before her, greeting her in an unsettling way. It’s curious how Code knows about Sarada, given he’s never met her. This could mean he has spent years gathering intelligence on Konoha’s people or asking Eida for details during their alliance. Some theories suggest that Code’s familiarity with Sarada may tie into a missing panel from Boruto’s glimpse of the future. This indicates that Code might have attacked Konoha two years before encountering Boruto. That could also be when he received his scar, possibly from Kawaki.

The iconic scar on Code’s left eye indicates he previously faced Boruto, possibly two years back, and the one who gave him the scar may have been Sasuke. Code mentions he’s been searching for Boruto for nearly two years, meaning their last encounter happened about a year after Boruto went rogue. Code’s inability to find Boruto could be due to Boruto masking his chakra signature or even hiding in a different dimension, possibly on the moon. Omnipotence has affected Code, making him pursue Boruto like Kawaki. This raises the possibility that Kawaki may one day return to rescue his friends in this altered reality—or at least, that’s what Code believes.

Boruto’s Epic Entry

Just as Code taunts Sarada, asking her to scream for help, Boruto appears and lands a powerful strike on Code’s face. He even taunts Code, saying, “Your race is so fragile,” making it one of the series’ most iconic entrances. It’ll be fascinating to see how the anime handles this moment—it’s sure to be one of the most thrilling episodes in Boruto.

Meanwhile, Kawaki senses Boruto’s presence thanks to their karma resonance. Shikamaru quickly informs the village that Code is moving and orders everyone to watch Boruto to figure out his intentions. Chapter 1 of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga ends with the phrase, “The Vortex of Fate Collides Again,” clearly hinting at the three karma bearers’ confrontation.

Sasuke’s absence from this chapter has sparked concern among fans about his fate. It’s unlikely that such a central character would be killed off by someone as formidable as Code, who has faced countless obstacles in the series. Sasuke could be waiting for Boruto somewhere, possibly transformed into a weapon (reflecting the events with Isshiki) or on standby in another realm, perhaps even the moon.

Chapter 1 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex leaves us on edge, with Boruto’s epic return, Sarada’s defiance, and looming battles. To see how the action escalates, check out Chapter 2!