The power balance of the Naruto world shifted drastically both by the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, and again in its sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Kage have since perished or given up their seats to successors, new threats have emerged, and old clans have begun passing the torch to their greatest members, such as Sarada Uchiha, now.

The next anime to adapt the world of Naruto, capping off the Omnipotence Arc before entering Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, will introduce a more mature, confident roster of Naruto’s next-gen ninjas. While it might be hard to believe given how Naruto ended, one of its most powerful shinobi, Sasuke, is ready to pass on the title of strongest Uchiha.

Sasuke Has Known About His Successor for a Long Time

While anybody who watched or read Boruto to this point will already know Sasuke primarily as a less pervy Jiraiya-figure to Boruto Uzumaki, the iconic Uchiha warrior had plenty of praise for his daughter all along. He may have struggled to connect with her adorably in filler episodes like #95, but Sasuke recognized his “peanut” had latent potential.

She will realize it eventually, as well as intuitively come to understand her abilities and what she is capable of.

-Sasuke Uchiha, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #21

It is important to recognize that Sasuke is fairly removed from his prime by the time of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. While he’s gotten by with one less arm for what’s approaching the majority of his life now, he lost his Rinnegan after Boruto, under Momoshiki’s influence, destroyed it. Down to one Sharingan Eye, Sasuke needs his successor now.

By this point, every avid Boruto follower has seen and talked about Sarada’s big moment in Two Blue Vortex chapter #21. The chapter lingered on her seizing her sense of agency, aware both of Boruto’s plight while everyone around her was brainwashed, and finally embracing the phenomenal power of her Mangekyō Sharingan eyes.

The “Strongest Uchiha” Title Comes with a Catch

It’s important to note that Sasuke no longer being the strongest Uchiha is also tied to him being completely out of commission for years’ worth of Boruto’s manga. As of chapter #4, Sasuke’s revealed to have been captured by Code’s Claw Grimes some point before the events of the story. In a real sense, he’s out of play when considering who the strongest is.

That being said, Sarada has amassed an impressive array of jutsu before even fully awakening her Sharingan. Born to both Sasuke and Sakura, Sarada was bound to be competent shinobi, as noted by Shikamaru in episode #112. Like her father, she similarly has Fire and Lightning Release techniques, as well as anime-canon Wind Release with Gale Palm.

Sarada similarly knows Sasuke’s most iconic ninjutsu like the Great Fireball Technique, Phoenix Flower Jutsu, and multiple Chidori variants. Although for different reasons, Sarada has not progressed past the Genin rank like her father, but she has remained a high achiever at school. But Sarada’s latest claim to fame hints her frightening potential in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Sarada Uchiha’s Awakened Sharingan Is Only Beginning to Be Understood

With Sarada awakening her Mangekyō Sharingan, releasing her new and signature attack, Ōhirume, the Naruto world just saw a frighteningly powerful new Uchiha properly emerge. Capable of generating multiple miniature suns which can pull in and obliterate Human Divine Trees, Sarada’s new power is deemed by Koji as essential in surviving, as observed by his Prescience.

Yet, Sarada is prone to the same weaknesses Sasuke had before obtaining his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. As revealed in chapter #31 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Sarada’s overuse of Ōhirume mirrors Sasuke’s reliance on Amaterasu, threatening her with blindness. With possible options for Sarada to counteract this blindness, one exciting possibility still remains.

Sarada, much like every Uchiha successfully able to awaken her Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes, will eventually activate her unique Susanoo. The prospect alone of what color it’ll wind up being (smart money being on shades of red like crimson) is thrilling, but it’s also a piece of Sarada’s arsenal that more easily puts her on even footing alongside Sasuke.

Sarada Is Being Propped Up as Konoha’s Future Leader

Modeling herself more strongly on Naruto Uzumaki and aspiring to be a future Hokage, Sarada has plenty of support. Her father failed to defeat Naruto and thus relinquished his twisted ambitions to change the shinobi world. But now, Naruto’s son wishes to be a Supporting Shadow like Sasuke, and Sasuke’s daughter wants to be her village’s next leader.

Boruto already confirmed he’d be Sarada’s right-hand man should she ascend to the role. A big part of becoming the Hokage, as Itachi Uchiha once said, is that one must be acknowledged by their village before, not after taking on the position. Sarada successfully evaded the village’s brainwashing, and has steadfastly guided efforts to save it and clear Boruto’s name.

Sarada clearly does this out of love for Boruto, but in doing so, she upholds the true narrative of the village, that he never actually betrayed Konoha, and is correcting a massive injustice. Not only has Sarada become immensely powerful, she has made massive strides as a leader and friend her clan hasn’t been able to achieve for years.

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  First Film

  Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

  Latest Film

  Boruto: Naruto the Movie

  First TV Show

  Naruto

  Latest TV Show

  Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

  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.

  
  

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  Writer

  Masashi Kishimoto

  Writers

  Masashi Kishimoto

  Penciler(s)

  Mikio Ikemoto

  Inker(s)

  Mikio Ikemoto

  Colorist(s)

  Mikio Ikemoto

  Publisher(s)

  Viz Media

  Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.