Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 1 Recap: Where’s Boruto?

The long-awaited next chapter of Boruto finally been released under a new title: Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. It released on Viz Media and MangaPlus and is available to read for free on both platforms. It is the beginning to the second part of Boruto’s story after part one ended back in April 2023 and picks up after a timeskip.

Editor’s Note: The rest of the article contains spoilers for the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga up through chapter 1 of part 2.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex continues the story of Kawaki Uzumaki, the son of Naruto who is… wait. Sorry, that was odd. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex continues the story of Boruto Uzumaki where part 1 left off. Taking place after a time skip of 3 years, Boruto is still running after everyone believes that he killed Naruto due to Eida’s Omnipotence ability, which grants the user their deepest desire.

Chapter 1 opens with Sarada Uchiha still trying to convince Nara Shikamaru, the newly appointed Eighth Hokage, that Boruto did not kill the Seventh, and that everyone has been effectively brainwashed. Unfortunately, the only ones who still have their true memories are Sarada and Sumire Kakei. Meanwhile everyone else is living with the “knowledge” that Boruto, an outsider, killed Naruto and is now on the run. Why Sakada and Sumire have been unaffected by Eida’s omnipotence is still a point of mystery, which eludes Eida herself.

Kawaki is working alongside the shinobi to help protect themselves from Code as well as hunt down Boruto, whom he previously viewed as a brother. We also see Mitsuki, who is extremely protective of Kawaki. All of the shinobi are helping as they are constantly training and on the lookout for both. However, we see also see Himawari, Naruto’s daughter, training. It’s hinted that she also may have memories of the actual Boruto and how he had fought to save his father and others before, so there’s a lingering possibility that those closest to the two still have some memories before the omnipotence.

Part way through Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 1, it’s revealed that Code is attacking and leaving scars throughout the area. Although Kawaki is able to easily handle these, they find that Code is leaving these scars on people as well. He is able to transport his fighters through these scars, as well as himself.

After getting alerted to unknown chakras, the shinobi gather to fight the monsters that Code has sent. Kawaki begins fighting some of the monsters, as does Sarada, and then Code reveals himself to her. He tells her that he is getting tired of hunting down Boruto with little results and Sarada shoots back that they haven’t seen or found him either.

Code isn’t here to find Boruto though, he’s here to get him to come out. He’s decided to change his tactics and rather than keep chasing him, he’s going to use his friends as bait since Code believes Boruto still has feelings for his friends. Then, as if on command, Boruto lands on Code and the stage is set for a possible 3-way fight between Code and his monsters, Boruto (and possibly his friend), as well as the shinobi.

Chapter 2 is set to release on September 20, 2023 on Viz Media as well as MangaPlus. The anime is available on Crunchyroll.