Boruto: Two Blue Vortex

Overview

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the second part of the Boruto manga, written by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and drawn by his former assistant Mikio Ikemoto. It has run in Shueisha's monthly magazine V Jump since 21 August 2023, after the first part, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, wrapped up in April of that year. The story opens three years after the events that closed part one: Boruto is branded a traitor by the whole village, while Kawaki has taken his place beside the Uzumaki family.

OtaHub's take

Compared with the school-days atmosphere of the first part, Two Blue Vortex adopts a much darker, tenser tone. Boruto returns as a grown ninja, carrying a sword and fighting in a style clearly shaped by his teacher Sasuke. The main threat is Code and the self-aware clones of the Divine Tree (Shinju), forcing him to fight from the shadows while dodging the former comrades who are hunting him.

Sarada also gets a far bigger role. According to recent OtaHub news, chapter 37, which arrived after a two-month break, keeps developing her Mangekyo Sharingan ability Ohirume, while reminding readers that her eyesight is fading, the familiar price of those eyes. Thanks to a stronger lead and fights that Ikemoto stages clearly, the second part has been received more positively than the first. Studio Pierrot's Boruto anime (2017-2023) stopped before Two Blue Vortex.

Verdict

Suited to readers who grew up with Naruto and want to see the next generation told in a more serious voice, with a brisk pace and plenty of large-scale fights. Newcomers should get the gist of part one, especially the relationship between Boruto, Kawaki and Code, before diving in; the monthly release pace also calls for some patience.