Boruto Hints at Sasuke’s Powerful New Form After a Four-Year Wait

Sasuke Uchiha is widely regarded as one of the most formidable fighters in the Boruto and Naruto universes. As the story’s long-term co-lead, he spent years trading blows on near-equal terms with Naruto Uzumaki, and by the end of the original run he was formally recognized as one of the two strongest shinobi in the world. In the Boruto era, though, his path has felt harsher—something fans often point to as a “creator nerf” that limited what Sasuke could realistically do.

That dynamic may be shifting. In the newest phase following the Mamushi arc—an arc that started on June 18, 2026 in V-Jump Issue #8—Sasuke Uchiha’s return is being actively set up, and the narrative is already hinting at a fresh transformation fans will be eager to see.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Has Powered Up Sasuke During The 3-Year Timeskip

Boruto noticeably reduced Sasuke’s combat options in several different ways. The first hit landed on his Rinnegan, with most of its capabilities taken away. Even though Sasuke had access to Six Paths abilities, he never applied them in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex when it mattered. That limitation showed up repeatedly in major fights, including:

Quick facts: where Sasuke didn’t use Six Paths

• Sasuke vs Momoshiki Otsutsuki — Boruto Chapter 8, released December 12, 2016, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #2
• Sasuke vs Jigen — Boruto Chapter 38, released September 20, 2019, in V-Jump Issue #11
• Sasuke vs Ishiki Otsutsuki — Boruto Chapter 51, released October 20, 2020, in V-Jump Issue #12

In each of those matchups, Sasuke didn’t once tap into the Six Paths toolkit tied to his Rinnegan. The only exception was Amenotejikara, his signature Rinnegan-based teleportation technique. The second major reduction came later: in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter 53, released December 20, 2020, Momoshiki Otsutsuki stabbed Sasuke’s Rinnegan and removed it permanently.

After that point, Sasuke was left severely weakened. However, the author Mikio Ikemoto is said to have addressed that problem during the three-year timeskip. During this gap, Sasuke trained alongside Boruto Uzumaki. While the main purpose of the period was to strengthen Boruto, Sasuke also put in work to rebuild his own fighting power.

“Code: Uchiha, you!!! How dare you take my eye?”

“Listen closely, Boruto! There’s no way we can win against him right now. So escape. Survive at all costs and build on the skills that I’ve hammered into you. Then nobody will be able to stop you.”

— Sasuke demonstrates his new strength in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #5

On December 20, 2023, in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 5, it was officially confirmed that Sasuke could still hold his own in a fight against a Code variant that had no limiter. More importantly, he managed to take one of Code’s eyes—an outcome that lands as a major contrast to Sasuke’s inability to even scratch Jigen in Boruto Chapter 38, despite still having the Rinnegan at the time.

Further confirmation arrives with the release of Boruto Volume 8 on June 4, 2026, which points to Sasuke getting stronger during the timeskip through that shared training with Boruto Uzumaki.

“During their training together to get stronger, Boruto and Sasuke’s main food sources were fish and wild birds, which they hunted using Raiton and Shuriken, along with wild plants and mushrooms.” — Mikio Ikemoto, Boruto Volume #8

Taken together, the Sasuke we have now is far more capable than the version that entered the early parts of Two Blue Vortex. That’s why many readers are expecting a new transformation to accompany his return at the end of the post-Mamushi arc. That arc began in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 35 on June 18, 2026.

Naruto is expected to come back in the series eventually, but the story also makes room for other characters to step into the Hokage role instead of him.

Sasuke’s New Transformation Could Be Linked To Lightning Release Chakra Mode

At the moment, Sasuke doesn’t seem to have a huge number of “ready answers,” which makes his timeskip growth harder to justify using only what’s already on the table. His primary offensive tool is the Mangekyo Sharingan, allowing use of Amaterasu, Kagutsuchi, and the ultimate technique Susanoo. Even with those assets, the results against Code—especially taking one of Code’s eyes—suggest Sasuke must have received a meaningful upgrade in some form.

“Forgive me, Boruto. Stopping Momoshiki’s rampage was my responsibility as your teacher, but I couldn’t be there for you when you needed me. The village doesn’t need to hate anyone else besides me.” — Sasuke Uchiha, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #69

The deadliest transformation Sasuke could be given, based on the hints, may be Lightning Release Chakra Mode. That idea was first teased during Sasuke’s fight against Momoshiki Otsutsuki in Boruto Episode #65. In that battle, Sasuke was shown covering himself in lightning to boost both speed and defensive performance. If, during the timeskip, he trained that technique further and pushed it to a higher level, it could explain how he managed to steal one of Code’s eyes despite being outmatched in the numbers game.

Another possibility is that Sasuke can still pull off fragments of his Six Paths abilities even after losing the Rinnegan. In principle, that shouldn’t be impossible: Madara Uchiha used Rinnegan powers during the Fourth Ninja War even without his eyes, as shown in Naruto Chapter #658. If Madara could do it, then Sasuke potentially could as well—but readers will need the author to confirm whether this is the direction the plot is taking.

Sasuke Could Potentially Also Tap Into Senjutsu

Lightning-based improvements aren’t the only theory floating around for how Sasuke got stronger. It’s also possible that he found a way to access Senjutsu. Sasuke isn’t a Sage Mode user, but he’s not completely unfamiliar with Senjutsu either. One reason is the Curse Mark—at one point in the series, Sasuke used it to draw on Senjutsu energy.

“After I injected Sasuke’s body with Jugo’s chakra, his body adapted quite nicely to it, and he made this power his own. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Sasuke’s Susanoo is able to merge with Jugo’s chakra. What stands before you is the Senjutsu version of Susanoo.” — Orochimaru, Naruto Chapter #648

During the confrontation with Obito Uchiha in the Fourth Great Ninja War—specifically in Naruto Chapter 648—Sasuke again accessed Senjutsu through the curse mark that Jugo had transferred into his Susanoo. If, during the timeskip, Sasuke managed to surpass Orochimaru’s earlier explanation or rediscover the method, he could potentially use Senjutsu energy once more. That would provide the kind of power spike needed to explain how he could hurt Code.

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Looking ahead in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Hidari is positioned as the main threat of the post-Mamushi arc. Once Hidari is defeated by Boruto and Sarada, his Thorn Soul Bulb can be obtained officially.

After the Thorn Soul Bulb is acquired, Sasuke Uchiha can finally be brought back by placing the bulb inside his tree. When he returns, Sasuke will get the chance to showcase the skills he developed during the three-year timeskip.

All chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex by Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.