Boruto Returns a Legendary Kekkei Genkai After Six-Year Wait

Kekkei Genkai are rare genetic anomalies found within a ninja’s DNA that let them wield unusual abilities in the world of Naruto and Boruto. These extraordinary techniques have been part of ninja history for centuries, and in the modern era they feel more relevant—and more dangerous—than ever. Among the most famous Kekkei Genkai are the Sharingan, the Mangekyo Sharingan, the Byakugan, and, of course, the Rinnegan. Still, one power manages to be both exceptionally uncommon and exceptionally destructive: Wood Release, a technique that was famously used by Konoha’s First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Hashirama is the only true, natural wielder of Wood Release in the Naruto story, and while other characters could gain access to it through his DNA, none ever matched his level of control. In the Boruto era, though, Wood Release is officially returning in a new way—through three separate characters and a variety of circumstances. With Moegi Kazamatsuri, Naruto Uzumaki, and Boruto Uzumaki involved, the Kekkei Genkai is set up to be stronger, more accessible, and more central than it has been in a long time.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Lines Up The Official Reintroduction Of Wood Release Through Naruto Uzumaki, Moegi Kazamatsuri, And Boruto Uzumaki

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is aiming to correct several issues from the earlier series, and one of its priorities is giving ninjutsu the spotlight it deserves. By adding fresh, distinctive jutsu while also re-establishing older Kekkei Genkai—like Wood Release—the sequel is laying groundwork for new plot threads. In this case, the revival centers on Wood Release, which was one of Hashirama Senju’s signature Kekkei Genkai and remains one of the strongest kinds of power in the franchise. Natural access is the real bottleneck: outside of Hashirama, very few characters are known to have it by birth. In fact, across the entire Naruto universe, Hashirama Senju is treated as the only character who possessed Wood Release naturally.

“He was Senju “Wood Release” Hashirama. He was the man who stood atop the Ninja World, and the man that I respected the most.” — Madara Uchiha on Hashirama’s Wood Release, Naruto Chapter #398

In the Boruto timeline, the official comeback of Wood Release expands further thanks to published character information. With the release of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Volume #4 in Japan on November 2, 2017, it was confirmed that Moegi Kazamatsuri has access to Wood Release as well. She hasn’t used it on-panel yet, but if the official character details in Boruto Volume #4—written by Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto—are taken at face value, she should be able to apply it in the future. How skilled Moegi is with Wood Release remains uncertain, but she’s already positioned as one of Konoha’s strongest Jonin.

Moegi Kazamatsuri Attributes:

Ninja Arts: Wood Release: Green-Hued Jutsu, Wood Release: Vegetation Barrier, Sensory Perception.

— Moegi Kazamatsuri Attributes Box, Boruto Volume #4

Moegi isn’t the only possible entry point for Wood Release, either. Another major candidate is the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki. Near the end of the original story, Naruto received Hashirama cells in Chapter 699, which was published on November 24, 2014, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #50. With those cells—and his existing use of both Earth Release and Water Release—Naruto gains the potential to draw on Wood Release. For a long time, he simply never needed to, since his Six Paths abilities were more than enough. However, after Kurama is lost in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #55, Naruto becomes significantly weaker than he used to be. That change makes it much more plausible that Wood Release could become one of his strongest tools when he returns in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Then there’s Boruto Uzumaki, the series protagonist. Boruto doesn’t naturally have Wood Release on his own, but his Karma grants him access to the full set of abilities associated with Momoshiki Otsutsuki. In Boruto: Naruto Next Generation Chapter #8, officially released on December 12, 2016, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #2, Momoshiki demonstrates Wood Release through a technique known as Inukai Takeru no Mikoto. The move lets him manipulate the roots of the God Tree even within his own dimension, giving him access to a Wood Release jutsu that’s described as among the strongest shown throughout the series—stronger even than Hashirama Senju’s. Since Boruto effectively inherits Momoshiki’s powers through Karma, this technique is the kind of ability that could reasonably fall under Boruto’s own toolkit as well. That makes Boruto another viable character for Wood Release usage in the Two Blue Vortex storyline.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is also set to give the Five Kage a chance to sharpen and raise their skills, especially after their earlier showing in the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Why Wood Release Will Become Key In The Boruto Series

Wood Release stands out as one of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the Naruto franchise, but it’s often overlooked simply because it’s so rare. With Boruto: Two Blue Vortex now placing multiple dangerous prospects in position, Wood Release can finally get the focus it deserves. This Kekkei Genkai is described as incredibly potent and capable of challenging top-tier powers such as the Uchiha Mangekyo Sharingan—and, in certain situations, even rivaling the Rinnegan. Against the Shinju, which are essentially creations tied to the Ten-Tails, Wood Release could prove especially important by absorbing the enormous chakra those beings generate.

“My Wood Dragon will absorb all the chakra from you. Now, your chakra absorbing ninjutsu are nullified and meaningless.” — Hashirama Senju explaining his Wood Release Jutsu to Madara during the 4th Great Ninja War

Even versus the Otsutsuki, Wood Release may still offer both offensive utility and major defensive benefits—especially in terms of chakra absorption and control. No matter how you slice it, Wood Release is already among the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the setting, and it looks primed to gain even more room to grow in the Boruto era.

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Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Will Increase The Overall Importance Of Wood Release

Wood Release is undeniably one of the strongest Kekkei Genkai in the story, and it’s also one of the most coveted powers in the verse. The problem is that the series hasn’t explained nearly enough about it. There’s still no clear explanation for why Hashirama Senju was the only person in the world who could access it naturally, or why it never appeared in other members of the Senju line during the years that followed. It’s also notable that nobody is known to have had Wood Release before Hashirama either. That makes for deeply mysterious lore—exactly the kind of unanswered history fans have been hoping Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto would address, especially after nearly three decades of being invested in the franchise.

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With Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, this Kekkei Genkai is finally being put under the spotlight again. Hopefully, the series will expand on the lore questions and provide answers along the way. Boruto has already broadened the story around the Otsutsuki, and it would be great to see it handle Wood Release with a similar level of attention.

All the latest Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga chapters are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.