The following contains spoilers for Chapter 80 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, "What Dad Would Do!," by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, Mari Morimoto and Snir Aharon, now available in English from Viz Media.
Boruto, the sequel to the massively popular Naruto series, has been met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. However, the latest chapter of the Boruto manga has left readers with high expectations for the future of the series. The chapter announced a four-month hiatus, leaving fans wondering what this could mean for the story and its characters.
One of the most anticipated events in the series is the match-up between Boruto and Kawaki, which has been foreshadowed since the beginning of the series. With the announcement of the hiatus, it is reasonable to expect that the series is already gearing up for the promised timeskip. After all, it has already managed to interchange Boruto and Kawaki's fates. The question now is what the series could possibly be cooking up for its loyal fanbase.
Like Naruto, Boruto Sets Out for Some Training
Kawaki has taken it upon himself to save Naruto at any cost. He is fully aware of the dangers of harboring an Otsutsuki, so he has set his sights on Boruto. He wants to rid Momoshiki by eliminating Boruto, but he also knows that the entirety of Konoha will stop him. After all, Boruto is Naruto's son. That's where Eida comes into play. After Kawaki confides in her, Eida's shinjutsu Omnipotence subconsciously activates. She accidentally interchanges Kawaki and Boruto's identities, so instead of Kawaki being hunted, Boruto is labeled as the traitor of Konoha.
Eida's Omnipotence holds up to its name, affecting the entire world save for a few individuals. Fortunately, that includes Sarada. Sarada knows about the lie that has overwritten everybody's memories, and she manages to convince Sasuke to support Boruto instead. She knows how bad the situation is -- so much so that she has awakened her Mangekyo Sharingan. Sasuke therefore comes to the young shinobi's aid. He tells him how he trusts Sarada, as well as his doubts about his memories, as he has observed that certain facts don't align with what he remembers. Eida also arrives to make up for her mistake. She tells Boruto that she won't snitch on his location until he returns to Konoha, no matter what the others inquire. And so, Sasuke and Boruto set out for some training.
The Foreshadowed Match-Up Between Boruto and Kawaki Is Drawing Near
Just as the original Naruto has a timeskip for training, it is likely that Boruto is entering this period as well. The only question now is when Boruto and Sasuke will make their return. A good possibility is that the next time readers see Boruto and Sasuke, it will be during Konoha's fated destruction. After all, Boruto already sports the iconic right eye scar, and his training with Sasuke is when he will likely learn how to use a sword.
The four-month hiatus announced for the manga has the potential to serve as an opportunity for the author to tie up loose ends, provide more character development and create a more cohesive narrative. It could also allow for the series to return to its former glory, appealing more to Naruto fans who may have felt alienated by the series' initial direction.