Review of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1 - "Boruto"
Boruto is back in manga form after a three-month sabbatical, with a new series named Two Blue Vortex. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex will begin with a time jump, as the Naruto: Shippuden anime did. This is especially intriguing since it brings us one step closer to the flash-forward scenario that launched the Boruto series, which depicted Boruto and Kawaki squaring off in a battle to destroy Konohagakure with Naruto Uzumaki supposed to be absent. Let's see how the time jump begins with Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1.
SYNOPSIS
Three years after Boruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha fled Konohagakure, Sarada Uchiha (who still holds the Genin rank) had another disagreement with the Eighth Hokage Shikamaru Nara concerning Boruto's innocence. When this fails, Sarada informs Shikamaru that her idol was Naruto Uzumaki, not him.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Kawaki is still keeping an eye on Naruto and Hinata in the dimension where they are in stasis.
Back at Konohagakure, Sarada, and Sumire Kakei talk about how, at initially, Shikamaru and others thought something was wrong because of the paradoxes caused by Ada's Omnipotence, but that bewilderment has faded over the previous three years.
Sarada and Sumire go to Ada and Daemon to try to find out more information. Ada claims she doesn't know whether there is a method to undo the consequences of Omnipotence because of how it operates. Ada then asks why Sarada and Sumire still remember the previous timeline. Sarada and Sumire play it off, but Daemon isn't persuaded.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1's color cover. Credit: Viz Media Elsewhere, Kawaki does his hardest to soothe Mitsuki and his murderous intentions towards Boruto. Mitsuki is also asked by Kawaki to quit following him around like a pervert.
Himawari Uzumaki is practicing in the wilderness with Choco Akimichi. Himawari discloses to Chocho, Shikadai Nara, and Inojin Yamanaka after an amazing training session that she doesn't think Boruto killed her parents and that something tells her they are still alive.
Kawaki is also working on reducing all of Code's Claw Marks. Kawaki spots a Konoha shinobi with a Claw Mark on their neck. Kawaki quickly contacts Shikamaru and requests that he assemble all of the ninjas who have been examining the Claw Mark so that he may shrink them.
Suddenly, Claw Grimes appears all around Konohagakure. Shikamaru promptly orders the evacuation of the community.
Code appears somewhere in the town and instantly approaches Sarada in order to bring out Boruto. This works because Boruto appears by walking on Code's face.
Sensor shinobi Ada, Kawaki, and Konoha detect Boruto's arrival. Shikamaru instructs everyone to focus on battling Code and the Claw Grimes but to be on the lookout for Boruto.
Meanwhile, Boruto prepares to face Code with Sarada by his side. The chapter has come to an end.
REVIEW
When it comes to the plot aspects, the first chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex isn't all that shocking. Everything is predictable, yet that does not diminish the effect. This was all required setup to get us into the mood of the world having gone on with Ada's Omnipotence's reality.
One immediate difference between Two Blue Vortex and its Boruto precursor is that more of the characters have more defined roles. One of the most serious issues with the Boruto manga was that it was entirely centered on Boruto and Kawaki. As Code and the other villains were being developed, there was limited room for other characters to grow. Naruto was very fortunate to have the growth time he did.
That's why the opening chapter of Two Blue Vortex focuses on the status of Konohagakure after the time jump. Boruto and Kawaki are definitely still the series' driving forces, but it was wonderful to see Sarada Uchiha, Sumire Kakei, Shikamaru Nara, Himawari Uzumaki, and others shine. Shikamaru becoming the Eighth Hokage in Naruto's absence is a significant change in the status quo. Masashi Kishimoto has always envisioned Shikamaru as someone who can take on the role of Hokage. Even while Shikamaru likes to work in a support role, he has definitely evolved as a leader and someone in whom people have faith.
Shikamaru as Hokage also serves as a good contrast to Sarada's position as one of the only persons who is aware of the previous chronology. Sarada is, in more ways than one, following in Naruto's footsteps. For one thing, Kishimoto emphasizes that Sarada is still a Genin, and her faith in Boruto, like Naruto did in Sasuke, was a fun way to keep this element of her character alive. Even though she has not interacted with Naruto in the same manner that Boruto or Kawaki have, Sarada now feels like she has her own storyline rather than being a mere supporting character like she was in the original Boruto manga.
Sarada's significance is enhanced by Kishimoto's positioning of her and Sumire as crucial in destroying the Omnipotence or defeating Ada if she takes an evil turn. This subplot has a lot of tension because, although Sarada and Sumire explain why they know about the past timeline, Daemon demonstrates he is dubious of them. This instantly elevates Sarada and Sumire's subplot with Ada and Daemon to the level of a story arc to rival Boruto vs. Kawaki and Code.
It also makes sense because, after three years, all remains of anybody other than Sarada and Sumire who questioned Ada's Omnipotence had disappeared. This is a clever use of a time skip to explain why there aren't more people criticizing features of this timeline that don't make sense. Except for Boruto, Sarada, Sumire, and Sasuke, this is the new normal.
The one component of the plot that Kishimoto fails to capture is Sarada's portrayal as a badass warrior. Sarada's conclusion to Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1 is evocative of her mother, Sakura. Sarada is similarly saved by Boruto, making it look like she couldn't hold her own even for a second against Code and Claw Grimes, just like Naruto and Sasuke usually do. Sarada is a character that should be a fierce combatant, and this harmed her.
Boruto Uzumaki and Sarada Uchiha's post-time-skip designs from Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1. Viz Media is responsible for this image.
Hopefully, Kishimoto intends to depict Sarada and others as capable of battling on the same level as Boruto, Kawaki, and Code. Otherwise, we'll witness a replay of what made the original Boruto plotline predictable and dull.
On the Kawaki front, we can see that, while he maintains his composure, he is also concerned about the reality generated by Ada's Omnipotence. This ties up with Kawaki's solitary mindset, which, unlike Boruto, remains. He did not grow up with buddies or on a team like Boruto. Ada's Omnipotence could not cure this since Kawaki retains all of his memories. This is especially noticeable in how Kawaki continues to check in on Naruto and Hinata in the realm they are locked in.
The fact that Kawaki tells Mitsuki to quit pursuing him is an intriguing development. While dealing with other Konoha shinobi, Kawaki takes it upon himself to halt Code. He is also shown to understand what Boruto's appearance at this time may signify. Mikio Ikemoto does an excellent job of portraying Kawaki's mood in all of these scenes with his facial responses.
Having said that, Mitsuki remains a character that Kishimoto is swinging and missing on making a good member of the cast. Kawaki's description of Mitsuki as a pervert due to his stalking inclinations does not assist his character. Kishimoto must exercise caution in portraying Mitsuki's character since he may play a vital role in the paradoxes caused by Ada's Omnipotence. But Kishimoto might easily slip down the rabbit hole of making Mitsuki's stalking inclinations his thing.
Himawari Uzumaki is a major wild card in this portion of the narrative. While she, like Sarada and Sumire, is unaware of the alterations, it is implied that Himawari is one of the few characters who can sense the paradoxes generated by this new history. Her conviction that Boruto did not murder Naruto and Hinata is evidence of this. This might strengthen the link between the Byakugan and Otsutsuki's Tenseigan. Hopefully, Kishimoto and Ikemoto will have enough time to make Himawari an important element of the series.
Boruto's presence towards the conclusion of the chapter was also extremely well handled. Boruto has certainly changed a lot in the three years since we last saw him. The happy-go-lucky prodigy has vanished. We now have a badass shinobi who has learned a great deal from Sasuke. It's not just his abilities, but also the way he carries himself. Ikemoto does an excellent job of portraying Boruto as having a similar aura to Sasuke in the time skip. It will be fascinating to observe how this affects his relationships throughout the course of the series.