Boruto Hints At Romance For Major Series Villain, And It Changes Naruto Lore Forever

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Published Jun 20, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.

His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.

Naruto and its sequel stories have always been at least somewhat conscious of romantic subtext, even beyond the overt cases like its characters growing up and getting married. This is the case despite Masashi Kishimoto's franchise being deeply rooted as one of the most definitive battle shonen series in existence, with Boruto's co-creator now carrying the torch in their latest shared project. For Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, one key interaction teases an important new bond which, while not guaranteed to be romantic, certainly carries similar energies to older friendships on the timeline.

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, friendship and love in multiple forms, be it platonic, familial, or romantic, have been recurring themes as aggressively as they were in Naruto's heyday. But what's setting it apart this time is the emerging bond between two villains, the Human Divine Trees (or Shinju) Jura and Hidari recently shared an exchange strongly resembling Naruto's occasionally overbearing expressions of friendship and quasi-brotherly loyalty to Sasuke. While the series is a shonen manga and unlikely to take the BL route, it's undeniably a loaded moment sure to set off fujoshis and fudanshis; but behind the fanshipping, it might set up a new path for Jura in particular.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Teases Love Among Its Villains (But Don't Expect It To Stick)

Boruto Two Blue Vortex Jura loves Hidari

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #35, reflecting on the death of Mamushi (and Bug in the process) Jura and Hidari noted Mamushi's warped form of love for Eida, driving him to consume her while hoping the Shinju would propagate further as a species. But rather than linger on this, Hidari chooses to ask why Jura, who could have collected Mamushi, Ryu, and Matsuri's Thorn Soul Bulbs, only chose to save his instead after being killed by Boruto and Kawaki in chapter #12. Jura responds by confessing that, in the moment, he imagined a world without Hidari, and it caused him immense sadness. Teased by Jura about whether this gives him the "ick", Hidari accepts it.

At face value, this easily qualifies as bromance, with just enough ambiguity and subtext to playfully imply, without any commitment, something more. It's amusing considering Hidari bears shades of his chakra template, Sasuke, particularly his personality and confirmed mutual adoration for cats, making him no stranger to recurring displays of affection reasonably construed as queerbaiting. But while the tease of romance is entirely in interpretations of the subtext, Jura is being direct with his love for Hidari as a fellow Shinju, whether influenced by his drive to consume Naruto and protect his Sasuke counterpart, or to initiate something more sinister.

Jura has spent dozens of chapters in the series now observing romantic love and its ability to cloud one's judgment, such as the case of Matsuri, or empower one's fighting spirit, such as with Himawari Uzumaki and Sarada Uchiha. While it's clear he's trying to grasp that feeling properly, it appears he may be contriving the next steps for his potential enlightenment.

Jura's Been Referring To Love For Years Now

Despite emerging early in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Jura has remained the prevailing series antagonist so far, being their true alpha while also their intellectual leader with his observations on humanity. This has included his debriefs such as on his fight with Himawari, in which Team 10 risked their lives to protect her, with Inojin Yamanaka's particular injuries only being reversed by Kurama's chakra. He notes that these rash actions were driven by love, drawing parallels between this fight and Matsuri's foolish devotion to Konohamaru Sarutobi in chapter #19. In chapter #22, Jura even states to Boruto that it's both a uniquely human source of weakness and an indicator of their higher intelligence.

But Jura appears to be chasing that feeling, both to chase a similarly heightened sense of existence, and to chase the flipside of such a love if taken away. Whether Jura's love for Hidari is out of friendship or romance is immaterial; he wants to experience it, regardless. Boruto even said that without the capacity to love, they would be nothing more than mere trees. But what Jura is really after is to put that love to a true test in the form of loss. This all comes back to chapter #35, where Hidari is urged by Jura not to disappear on him. Jura may want to create a scenario in which he's close enough to Hidari to be devastated when he loses him.

Boruto Just Stepped Out Of Naruto's Shadow With One Seriously Dark Move

If fans weren't already convinced of Boruto, he has differentiated himself from his father with a calculative plan that Naruto wouldn't approve of.

With instances like Himawari tapping into Kurama's power, and Sarada unleashing her Mangekyo Sharingan, alongside historical examples in the Naruto universe of characters unlocking their potential after horrific trauma, Jura appears to seek this out. While there are certainly loving, aromantic bonds between antagonists in the universe such as Zabuza and Haku, or Nagato and Konan, one hasn't been contrived to intentionally set up loss quite like Jura may be attempting. The closest anybody has come to something similar was Obito Uchiha after witnessing Rin Nohara's death. If this is indeed Jura's plan, it's not only absolutely diabolical; it could unleash even more power.

Boruto's Strongest Villain Could Be Setting Up His Own Power-Up

Witnessing Himawari's grief at the sight of Inojin's impalement in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Jura has seen for years' worth of chapters what love and loss can do for somebody. After all, Himawari is seen being regularly visited by Inojin in later chapters, a consistent source of comfort while she continues to be alone due to Boruto being on the run, as well as Naruto and Hinata's predicament. Himawari, for a brief moment, witnessed a world without Inojin, tapping into potential she didn't know she had. It's a very Dragon Ball-coded moment, but it's also got plenty of precedent in the Naruto universe, with Jura only standing to benefit from such an evolution.

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Naruto Uzumaki carries an immense burden — a powerful Tailed Beast sealed inside him since birth by the Fourth Hokage. This fox demon’s chakra gives Naruto extraordinary power but also makes him an outcast. What is the name of this Nine-Tailed Beast?

AShukaku BMatatabi CKurama DGyuki

✓ Correct! Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Initially a source of fear and hatred, Kurama eventually becomes one of Naruto’s closest allies. Their bond is one of the most emotional arcs in the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kurama. Shukaku is the One-Tail sealed in Gaara, Matatabi is the Two-Tails, and Gyuki is the Eight-Tails sealed in Killer Bee. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is Naruto’s legendary partner.

Naruto’s greatest rival is a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possesses a powerful eye technique called the Sharingan. Consumed by a desire for vengeance against his older brother, he defects from the Hidden Leaf Village. Who is this rival?

ANeji Hyuga BSasuke Uchiha CGaara DRock Lee

✓ Correct! Sasuke Uchiha is Naruto’s eternal rival and best friend. After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke’s obsession with killing his brother Itachi drives him to leave the village and seek power at any cost. Their rivalry is the emotional backbone of the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Sasuke Uchiha. Neji is a Hyuga clan genius with the Byakugan, Gaara is the Sand Village’s jinchūriki, and Rock Lee is the taijutsu specialist. Only Sasuke wields the Sharingan and defects to join Orochimaru.

Naruto’s signature jutsu is a spinning sphere of concentrated chakra formed in the palm of his hand. Originally created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to Naruto by Jiraiya, it becomes the foundation for many of his most powerful attacks. What is this technique called?

ARasengan BChidori CShadow Clone Jutsu DSage Art: Lava Rasenshuriken

✓ Correct! The Rasengan is a pure chakra manipulation technique that doesn’t require hand signs. Created by Minato Namikaze and passed down through Jiraiya to Naruto, it evolves into many variations including the devastating Rasenshuriken with added Wind Release nature transformation.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is the Rasengan. The Chidori is Sasuke and Kakashi’s lightning technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu is a different Naruto staple, and the Lava Rasenshuriken is a late-series variant. The base Rasengan is Naruto’s iconic spinning chakra sphere.

Team 7’s leader is a mysterious, mask-wearing jonin known as the “Copy Ninja” for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu using his borrowed Sharingan eye. He’s always reading a certain novel. Who is this legendary sensei?

AMight Guy BAsuma Sarutobi CJiraiya DKakashi Hatake

✓ Correct! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan, leads Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura). His Sharingan was a gift from his dying friend Obito Uchiha. Always cool under pressure and perpetually reading Make-Out Paradise, Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kakashi Hatake. Might Guy leads Team Guy, Asuma leads Team 10, and Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin who later trains Naruto. Only Kakashi is the masked Copy Ninja with a borrowed Sharingan who leads Team 7.

Sasuke’s older brother massacred nearly the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, then joined the criminal organization Akatsuki. It was later revealed he did it all on orders from the village to prevent a coup — sacrificing everything to protect his brother. Who is this tragic figure?

AMadara Uchiha BItachi Uchiha CObito Uchiha DShisui Uchiha

✓ Correct! Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most complex characters. A pacifist genius forced into an impossible choice, he bore the hatred of the entire world — including his beloved brother Sasuke — to protect the Hidden Leaf from civil war. His final words to Sasuke remain iconic.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Itachi Uchiha. Madara is the legendary clan founder, Obito is the masked man behind much of the war, and Shisui was Itachi’s best friend. Itachi alone carried out the massacre to prevent the Uchiha coup and protect Sasuke.

From the very first episode, Naruto declares his lifelong dream to earn the respect of his village and prove his worth. He vows to achieve the highest rank in the Hidden Leaf — its supreme leader. What is this title that Naruto dreams of?

AKazekage BJonin Commander CHokage DAnbu Captain

✓ Correct! Hokage is the title of the Hidden Leaf Village’s leader, and Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage drives the entire series. After years of struggle, he finally achieves his dream and becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hokage. The Kazekage leads the Sand Village, Jonin Commander is a military rank, and Anbu Captain leads black ops. The Hokage is the Hidden Leaf’s supreme leader — and Naruto’s lifelong dream since he was a lonely academy student.

Naruto’s father was the Fourth Hokage, known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” for his incredible speed using the Flying Thunder God technique. He sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son. What is his name?

AMinato Namikaze BHiruzen Sarutobi CTobirama Senju DHashirama Senju

✓ Correct! Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Yellow Flash, sacrificed himself using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Kurama inside baby Naruto. His love for his son and faith in Naruto’s potential made him one of the series’ most selfless characters.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju is the Second, and Hashirama Senju is the First. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto’s father who sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life.

A shy, kind-hearted kunoichi from the Hyuga clan admired Naruto from afar since their academy days. She boldly confessed her love while fighting Pain to protect him, and eventually became his wife. Who is this character?

ASakura Haruno BIno Yamanaka CTemari DHinata Hyuga

✓ Correct! Hinata Hyuga went from a timid girl who could barely speak around Naruto to a fierce warrior who stood against Pain to protect him. Her confession during the Pain arc is one of the series’ most emotional moments. They marry in The Last: Naruto the Movie and have two children, Boruto and Himawari.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hinata Hyuga. Sakura is Naruto’s teammate who loves Sasuke, Ino is Sakura’s rival from the Yamanaka clan, and Temari is a Sand Village kunoichi who marries Shikamaru. Only Hinata loved Naruto from the very beginning.

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This has been the case ever since instances like Indra Otsutsuki killing his closest friends to awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan, or Sasuke once he defeated Itachi. It was a devastating loss that unlocked greater potential for them. Even Sarada, who originally awakened her Mangekyo in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, did so as a response to the fear of losing the one she loved. Even Konohamaru

remained steadfast in his dedication to Moegi Kazamatsuri, for fear of losing her in the place of Divine Tree Matsuri. Love and loss, or even the potential of it, may limit humans, but it's also what separates them from the Divine Trees in Boruto, and Jura wants in.

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.
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.