Even Naruto Admits Boruto Isn’t His True Successor

For years, fans assumed Boruto Uzumaki would naturally inherit Naruto’s mantle as the next great Uzumaki prodigy in the Naruto franchise. His blond hair, whisker marks, and loud charisma made him look like Naruto’s clone, and shōnen tradition all but guaranteed he would follow the path of previous Jinchuriki. However, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has boldly rewritten that expectation in shocking fashion.

Instead of positioning Boruto as Naruto’s direct successor, the manga reveals the role belongs to someone who had rarely been considered in power-scaling debates: Himawari Uzumaki. After Kurama’s sacrifice in the original Boruto run, fans believed the Nine-Tails era had ended forever. Yet the Tailed Beast’s surprise return, inside Himawari, not Naruto or Boruto, permanently reshapes the future of the Uzumaki legacy.

Naruto’s Real Successor Isn’t the Hero Everyone Expected

Boruto’s early portrayal leaned heavily on Naruto parallels, but Two Blue Vortex separates him from his father more aggressively than ever. His story has become one of alien powers, Otsutsuki possession, and rogue mentorship, positioning him as a wandering protector like Sasuke. Rather than embodying Naruto’s hopeful light, Boruto walks in shadows far removed from the Will of Fire’s traditional guardians.

This shift allows Himawari to step into the role Naruto once embodied. The manga frames her as the child who understood Naruto’s burdens more compassionately, never resenting his duties or the attention they denied her. That emotional foundation makes her a far more natural heir to Naruto’s spirit than Boruto, whose early resentment reflected Sasuke’s estrangement more than Naruto’s optimism.

The Nine-Tails’ return cements this transition. Kurama does not reappear to reclaim his place beside Naruto, nor does he gravitate toward Boruto, despite Boruto being the presumed next Jinchuriki. Instead, he manifests within Himawari in a symbolic passing of the torch that reframes Naruto’s successor not as a lookalike, but as someone who shares his heart.

The series subtly prepared for this twist. Himawari’s gentleness, patience, and emotional clarity reflect Hinata’s influence, but her explosive bursts of power echo Kushina’s ferocity. That dual nature positions her as a bridge between Konoha’s most iconic bloodlines, giving her a thematic weight Boruto never fully carried.

Himawari’s Unique Bond With Kurama Rewrites Jinchuriki Lore

Kurama’s reappearance initially stunned readers because his chakra seemed completely consumed during Baryon Mode. Yet Two Blue Vortex explains that Himawari carried a latent fragment of Kurama’s chakra from birth in a seed that began regenerating once the original Fox died. This unprecedented rebirth creates a new version of Kurama, one unburdened by centuries of hatred and trauma.

Their bond is unlike any Jinchuriki partnership before it. Instead of sealing a beast through force or spiritual dominance, Himawari forms a natural connection rooted in lineage and emotional innocence. Kurama awakens inside her not as a prisoner, but as a familiar presence linked to the Uzumaki household where he once lived peacefully with Naruto.

Foreshadowing supports this reveal. Daemon’s unexpected fascination with Himawari, long considered a gag or misdirection, now reads as an early sign of her extraordinary chakra. Likewise, the comedic scene where toddler Himawari knocks both Naruto and Kurama unconscious gains retroactive meaning, suggesting her latent potential was enormous from the beginning.

This reinterpretation enriches her character arc. Instead of remaining a narrative bystander or emotional anchor for Boruto, Himawari becomes central to the world’s balance of power. The Nine-Tails, once defined by violence and destruction, now grows alongside a host whose kindness shapes his evolution. Their cooperation is instantaneous, illuminating a version of Kurama who never endured a lifetime of pain.

Himawari’s awakening also transforms her from a civilian into a crucial military asset overnight. She becomes a target of powerful enemies, forcing her into a world she was previously shielded from. Yet the shift feels organic, honoring themes of inherited destiny while breathing fresh life into the Jinchuriki concept.

Himawari’s Potential Surpasses Naruto’s and Changes Boruto’s Future

One of the most startling revelations in Two Blue Vortex is how quickly Himawari adapts to Kurama’s chakra. While Naruto spent years battling the Fox’s hostility and learning to control its immense power, Himawari begins from a place of harmony. Her version of Kurama is cooperative, supportive, and emotionally aligned with her from the moment they meet.

This synergy grants her abilities Naruto never mastered without external boosts. When Jura mortally wounds Inojin, Himawari instinctively channels Kurama’s regenerative chakra. She heals herself instantly and even bestows healing on others, which is something Naruto struggled with unless accessing Six Paths enhancements. This ability hints that Himawari’s chakra compatibility exceeds any Jinchuriki in history.

Her combat awakening is equally staggering. Fueled by grief and determination, Himawari unleashes a partial transformation reminiscent of Kushina’s chakra chains and Naruto’s tailed forms. Her hair flares into fox-like tendrils, her eyes shift with primal intensity, and she launches Bijuu Bombs with almost no training. Jura, a threat capable of overwhelming elite fighters, is genuinely surprised by her power.

Although she ultimately loses the battle, her performance forces Jura to reevaluate her as a worthy opponent. This moment marks Himawari’s official entrance into top-tier power scaling, demonstrating potential that could one day rival or surpass even Naruto’s prime. Her future battles will likely determine the course of the impending conflict with the Otsutsuki remnants.

Her transformation also reshapes Boruto’s role. For the first time, he is no longer the sole hope against cosmic threats. Himawari stands not as a burden to protect but as a partner capable of shouldering equal responsibility. Their combined potential embodies the title Two Blue Vortex, representing twin storms of Uzumaki chakra destined to fight side by side.

This evolution strengthens the narrative’s emotional core. Boruto must accept that his sister is no longer the gentle child he once shielded. Himawari, empowered but endangered, must rise to challenges beyond anything she imagined. Together, they forge a sibling dynamic grounded in trust, power, and shared destiny that Naruto and Sasuke never had the chance to experience.

Why Himawari, Not Boruto, Carries Naruto’s True Will

By making Himawari the Nine-Tails’ new host, Two Blue Vortex boldly declares that Naruto’s true successor is not the son who resembles him most, but the daughter who inherited both his spirit and his compassion. Boruto may stand as Konoha’s shadow, fighting in the dark, but Himawari carries the torch of light that defines the Uzumaki legacy.

Their intertwined futures promise a new era for the Naruto franchise, where both siblings shape the shinobi world, not through repetition, but through reinvention.

First Episode Air Date

October 3, 2002

Cast

Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei

Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.