Boruto Says Goodbye to Ultimate Kekkei Genkai as Rinnegan Takes Over

Kekkei Genkai are rare anomalies in a shinobi’s DNA that can trigger the emergence of exceptional abilities. In Naruto and Boruto, these breakthroughs frequently show up as distinctive ninjutsu, though dojutsu (special eye powers) are also a major route for these power-ups. Among all Kekkei Genkai, the Rinnegan is often treated as the top-tier “final form” of dojutsu—an eye tied to godlike authority.

Rinnegan timeline: key manga chapters and where it shows up

Sasuke Uchiha was the last “true” Rinnegan user in Boruto

Sasuke Uchiha awakened the Rinnegan after meeting the Sage of Six Paths. The eye was formally shown to readers in Naruto Chapter 673, published May 5, 2014, as part of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #21. The next chapter demonstrated that Sasuke’s Rinnegan powers were already dangerously potent—enough to take him through a confrontation with Madara Uchiha. Still, it wasn’t until Sasuke’s battle with Naruto kicked off in Chapter #693 on October 13, 2014 that he managed to tighten his control over the eye’s capabilities.

“So one obtained the Senjutsu of the Six Paths, and one obtained the Rinnegan. Too bad, I’ve got both of those powers at the same time!” — Madara comments on Naruto and Sasuke’s New powers, Naruto Chapter #673

With the Rinnegan online, Sasuke could access all Six Paths Powers. That included summoning creatures, using the King of Hell for restoration, ripping out souls, absorbing chakra, manipulating attraction and repulsion forces, and even producing mechanical appendages. On top of that, he also had access to the Outer Path. Through the Outer Path, he could directly command life and death themselves.

This was reinforced by Sasuke in Naruto Chapter 696, where he claimed that, armed with the Rinnegan, even immortality, resurrection, and reincarnation became manageable options—tools he could rely on to keep living indefinitely. The story clearly positioned Sasuke as one of the strongest endgame figures by the close of the Naruto run, and his power was even described as canonically moving closer to the level of the Sage of Six Paths.

Unfortunately, Boruto undercuts that setup by removing the Rinnegan from him. In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #53, released December 20, 2020, Sasuke Uchiha loses his Rinnegan after it is stabbed by Momoshiki Otsutsuki. For Momoshiki, Sasuke’s Rinnegan posed a major challenge because of Amenotejikara—an ability that lets Sasuke swap positions across short distances. The transportation ninjutsu tied to the Rinnegan was also the problem, so Momoshiki doesn’t just disable it; he strips Sasuke of the eye entirely.

“There, I’ve blocked your pesky space-time ninjutsu [Rinnegan]. There’s no escape for you now. It’s the second time I’ve manifested. It sure is nice being free.” — Momoshiki Otsutsuki destroys Sasuke’s Rinnegan, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #53

Once Sasuke’s Rinnegan is gone, Boruto leaves itself without any living character who can truly claim the role of a Rinnegan wielder. In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto introduce a pair of intimidating Rinnegan users in the form of the Shinju—humanoid manifestations associated with the God Tree. However, none of them have ever actually used Rinnegan power. Instead, it looks increasingly like their eyes are decorative rather than functional.

Sasuke’s return in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is drawing closer, and there’s room for him to come back with a new transformation.

The Rinnegan is only for show in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s Shinju

The Shinju first appear in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 4, which released on November 20, 2023. At first glance, they read like overpowered antagonists—especially because every Shinju is shown with Rinnegan power in their design. The bigger letdown is that, after their introduction, none of them actually tap into the Rinnegan’s true abilities.

“I started with the Sharingan, but now I have the Rinnegan too. Reincarnation, immortality, have many options.” — Sasuke explains the true power of the Rinnegan, Naruto Chapter #696

The first four Shinju viewers encounter are Jura, Hidari, Matsuri, and Mamushi. Later, in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 14, Ryu is added to the lineup, bringing the number of major Shinju to five. After that point, three of them already fall in the story: Matsuri, Ryu, and Mamushi. Still, none of these Shinju have used Rinnegan power even once during combat.

We’ve also seen Hidari and Jura fight, and even with their overwhelming threat level, they never demonstrate any Rinnegan techniques. That pattern is presented as confirmation that their eyes are essentially “props.” Even with powerful characters wearing the Rinnegan, nobody in Boruto truly makes use of the Kekkei Genkai. The conclusion is blunt: this Kekkei Genkai is treated as officially dead until someone else awakens it.

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Why Sarada Uchiha might revive the Rinnegan Kekkei Genkai

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has a path to bring the Rinnegan’s importance back through two key characters: Sasuke Uchiha and Sarada Uchiha. Since Sasuke already lost the eye, one possibility is that his remaining Mangekyo Sharingan could eventually evolve into a Rinnegan on its own. If that happens, fans would likely be thrilled, because it would give him another route to access those godlike powers tied to the Kekkei Genkai.

A more straightforward option, however, is that Sarada Uchiha could evolve her Mangekyo Sharingan into a Rinnegan.

“For top long, I’ve averted my gaze. Fretting that my goal to become Hokage felt out of reach. Never being able to do anything about the calamities that happen. I rejected everything, not realizing that I also rejected the power sleeping inside me. I’m not looking away anymore. If I have to become Hokage, I need to stop running from reality and accept myself.” — Sarada Uchiha upon Awakening her Mangekyo Sharingan, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #21

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 20, released March 18, 2025, Sarada re-awakens her Mangekyo Sharingan for the first time during her fight against Ryu. Through that evolution, she gains access to the black-hole technique known as “Ohirume,” and she uses it to deal with the Shinju effectively. Then in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 33, released April 20, 2026, it becomes clear she can’t spam “Ohirume” multiple times within the same day. With Sarada slowly losing her sight, the series is already setting up the next stage of her Sharingan progression—through both Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto’s direction. With those Mangekyo developments in motion, the article’s argument is that there’s still a small but real opening for a Rinnegan awakening later.

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If Sarada is going to overtake Sasuke, reviving the Rinnegan is one plausible way for her to reach that next tier in the future of Boruto. The idea is that she could eventually connect with this legendary power and push her overall kit even further ahead. Until that happens, the only move is to wait and see whether the Rinnegan returns to the story—and whether it becomes important again rather than just another set of eyes.

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