Honestly, if you’ve been keeping up with the Boruto manga, you know things just got incredibly dark. Like, "main character losing his mentor" dark. I’m talking about Boruto Two Blue Vortex Vol 2, which basically flips the table on everything we thought we knew about the timeskip.
It’s heavy.
While the first volume was all about Boruto’s flashy return to Konoha and showing off that terrifying new Uzuhiko Rasengan, Volume 2 is where the emotional bill comes due. We finally get the answer to the question everyone was screaming for three years: where on earth is Sasuke Uchiha?
The Sasuke Reveal Nobody Wanted
You’ve probably seen the leaks or the cover art by now. Sarada Uchiha is front and center on the cover of this volume, looking sharp but clearly carrying a lot of weight. But the real story inside is the flashback that explains why Boruto is wearing Sasuke’s cloak and carrying his sword.
It’s not because they had a falling out. It’s because Sasuke is gone. Sort of.
During their training period—specifically about a year into the timeskip—Sasuke and Boruto got cornered by Code and those nasty Claw Grimes. Sasuke, being the legendary shadow shinobi he is, realized they couldn’t both win. He told Boruto to run. He told him to live.
And then? He got turned into a tree.
Yeah, you read that right. Sasuke Uchiha, the man who fought gods, was bitten by a Claw Grime and transformed into one of those living "trees" (Shinju). It’s a gut punch. Boruto isn’t just a rogue ninja anymore; he’s a student carrying the gear of a master who sacrificed himself. He calls him "Master" now, and the respect he shows in this volume is a huge departure from the bratty kid we saw at the start of the original series.
Those New Villains Are Actually Creepy
The "God Tree Elite Four" (or the Sentient Shinju) are the main problem here. These aren't just mindless clones. They have personalities. Well, twisted versions of the people they were born from.
Since the Shinju are basically evolved forms of the Ten-Tails using the DNA of people they've "eaten," they’ve started developing identities. Jura is the leader, and he looks suspiciously like Jigen, but his target is Naruto. Why? Because his instincts tell him to.
Then you have Hidari. This is the one that hurts. Hidari is the Shinju born from Sasuke. In Boruto Two Blue Vortex Vol 2, Hidari declares his target: Sarada Uchiha.
Think about that for a second. A creature with Sasuke’s powers and a distorted version of his soul is actively hunting his own daughter. It’s messed up. Matsuri (born from Moegi) wants Konohamaru, and the Bug-inspired one is hunting Eida. These aren't just fights; they are psychological warfare for the Konoha 11.
Is Omnipotence Finally Breaking?
One of the coolest parts of this volume is watching the cracks form in Eida’s reality-warping jutsu. For a long time, it felt like Boruto was just doomed to be the villain forever. But humans are smart. Or at least, Shikamaru is.
Shikamaru Nara, the acting Eighth Hokage (because Naruto is still "dead" to the world), starts putting the pieces together. He’s listening to Sarada. He’s listening to Sumire. But mostly, he’s looking at the evidence.
Amado, the resident mad scientist, is the one who really blows it open. He looks at Kawaki’s body—a body he modified personally—and realizes his memories don’t match the physical data. He remembers Boruto being his project, but his eyes see Kawaki.
Shikamaru eventually opens a secret line of communication with Boruto. It’s a massive moment. It shows that while Eida’s power is "absolute," the human brain’s ability to notice logic gaps is a serious counter-play.
The Mitsuki Problem
We can't talk about Volume 2 without mentioning the fight with Mitsuki.
Mitsuki has been living in a world where Kawaki is his "Sun." He’s been blinded by rage because he thinks Boruto killed Naruto. When he finally catches up to Boruto, he goes full Sage Mode. It’s a beautiful, high-stakes fight, but the resolution is what matters.
Boruto doesn't want to fight him. He’s remarkably calm. He treats Mitsuki with a level of kindness that honestly reminds me of Naruto, but with a cooler, more mature edge. He eventually helps Mitsuki realize that his "Sun" shouldn't be someone who makes him feel this way. It’s the first step in Mitsuki finding his own identity again, separate from the brainwashing.
Why This Volume Matters for the Series
Look, sales figures in Japan have been a bit of a roller coaster. Some reports say physical sales are down, but then you look at Manga Plus and Boruto is consistently at the top of the charts with millions of views.
The shift to Two Blue Vortex has fundamentally changed the vibe of the story. It’s no longer a "kids playing ninja" show. It’s a survival horror story where the world is against the hero.
What you need to do next:
If you’ve been on the fence about the post-timeskip era, this volume is the one that will hook you. Here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
💡 You might also like: Mad Max 2 Film Streaming: Why You Can’t Find It and Where to Look
- Read the official translation: Don't just rely on social media summaries. The nuances in the dialogue between Shikamaru and Boruto are vital for understanding how they’re going to fix the world.
- Watch the Shinju targets: Pay close attention to who the villains are hunting. It’s setting up the matches for the next 10-15 chapters.
- Check the cover details: Mikio Ikemoto has been sneaking a lot of symbolism into the character designs lately. Boruto’s scars and Sasuke’s sword aren't just aesthetic; they’re reminders of the tragedy in this volume.
The series is moving fast. With the anime currently on hiatus, the manga is the only way to see how Boruto plans to get Sasuke back—if he even can.