Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are two of the main characters throughout Naruto franchise and in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. The two are the core of the franchise, beloved by fans of all ages. That said, despite their immense importance, the two were cut from the plot to allow the next generation of shinobi to flourish around the timeskip.
IN Boruto Chapter 77, Naruto Uzumaki was officially sealed by Kawaki with the Daikokuten, while Sasuke was turned into a tree by a Claw Grime during the time jump. After three long years of waiting, it is now time for Naruto and Sasuke to make their comeback, which has been officially facilitated in the post-Mamushi arc, which officially began on June 18, 2026. With Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 36 is expected on July 20, 2026, it's time for the story to move towards the official return of these two Konoha legends.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex's Post-Mamushi Arc Makes Way for Sasuke and Naruto's Official Return
After the death of Shinju Mamushi in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 33, officially released on April 20, 2026, in V-Jump Issue #6, the return of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha is now much closer than ever before. The current arc, that is the Post-Mamushi arc of Boruto: Two Blue Vortexofficially began in Chapter 35, was released in V-jump Issue #8 on June 18, 2026. This arc marked the beginning of a new confrontation with the last two remaining Shinju, with Code in the mix as well. On the protagonists side, it seems to focus on three individuals in particular, namely Boruto Uzumaki, Sarada Uchiha, and Kawaki.
Boruto: Sarada, I want you to let them capture you. He will probably take you straight to their base. But don't worry, I'll fly right to you using the symbols I just gave you.
Sarada: I see, a reverse trap.
— Boruto and Sarada star in the new Hidari arc, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #35
When Boruto: Two Blue Vortex series began, it seemed that both Naruto and Sasuke's return would have to wait for their return as there was the threat of Shinju. Now, however, the vast majority of them are already dead, and Shinju Hidari will likely be targeted in this new arc. With the threat of Shinju slowly dying one by one, it's the perfect time for Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto to officially bring back both Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
The main reason these two were shut out of history was for the new generation to become stronger and achieve greater powers. Now it can be argued that the new generation is even stronger than Naruto and Sasuke, especially when it comes to Boruto, Sarada and Kawaki. As such, there is no longer the need for these characters to stay on the sidelines. They can be brought back and have their own struggles to stand by the new generation and help them with their experiences. This is precisely why Boruto's post-Mamushi arc, which officially began on June 18, 2026, pushes the story towards the eventual return of both Naruto and Sasuke, starting with the latter.
Boruto officially releases a Kekkei Genkai stronger than the Rinnegan
The Rinnegan is a divine power that has unfortunately been nerfed and surpassed by a new Kekkei Genkai in the Boruto series.
Why Sasuke Uchiha is destined to return after the next battle against Hidari
The first of the two to return will be Sasuke Uchiha, and this is because Hidari is the one to fall in the post-Mamushi arc. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. IN Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 35, Hidari and Jura started discussing the concept of love again. For the very first time, Jura explained to the former that he would feel immense sadness if he were to live in a world without him. This puts a huge death flag on Hidari's head and gives way to a massive power-up for Jura himself, resulting from the loss of love. As such, it is very likely that in this new arc, Hidari will be targeted and officially killed in one way or another.
Hidari: You could have collected their Thorn Soul Bulb if you wanted to, so why didn't you? Or rather, why did you take me back?
Jura: Good question. I never thought about the question, but right now, trying to imagine a world without you in it, I experienced feelings of sadness.
— Foreshadowing of Hidari's death, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #35
Once Hidari is killed, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex will have officially paved the way for Sasuke to return. Taking Hidari's Thorn Soul Bulb and pushing it into the tree that Sasuke is locked in, the Uchiha will officially make a comeback after three long years of waiting, and we will finally have one of the two legends back. Meanwhile, Jura will be greatly empowered, giving Sasuke a huge role to play in the subsequent arcs to facilitate a return for Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha's Seventh Hokage.
“Sorry, you'll have to wait a little longer, Master Sasuke.” — Boruto Uzumaki fails to save Sasuke, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #4
Naruto's return will be tied to Jura and Kawaki
With Sasuke officially set to return at the end of the Post-Mamushi arc, we have to take a look at Naruto's fall, which is quite strange. Technically, Naruto likely won't return until the end of the Boruto series, until after the battle between Kawaki and Boruto. This was teased in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #1, released on May 9, 2016, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #23. However, Jura, the strongest of the Shinju, is already aware of Naruto's location as well as the fact that he is alive.
“A while ago I visited Konoha and was shocked to learn that the Seventh Hokage had died. But looking into your eyes, I'm convinced that Naruto Uzumaki is still alive, right?” — Jura confirms Naruto's fate, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #24
After Jura's power-up caused by Hidari's death, a confrontation between him and the Seventh Hokage is very likely. It's even possible that Jura will free Naruto Uzumaki in an attempt to consume him, and that could be where Naruto returns. In other words, Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto have opened the room for Naruto Uzumaki to make a comeback in the arc after Hidari's fall.
Although the implication is that Naruto will not return until the end of Boruto vs Kawaki, the wording used by the latter is not clear. Kawaki only says that he will send Boruto to the same location as the Seventh, but does not explicitly say whether the Seventh is still there or not. As such, it could simply mean that Kawaki intends to send Boruto to the Daikokuten dimension, where the Seventh Hokage once was. All we can do is sit back patiently and wait, but with each passing chapter the return of these two legends gets closer. Sasuke's return will likely happen before the end of this ongoing arc, and Naruto's return will likely follow in the arc after, finally giving us back our two most beloved Shinobi.
The latest chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex by Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
