Naruto: How Boruto Twists Sasuke and Sarada's Bond With a Tragic Detail

The relationship between Sasuke and his daughter Sarada is one of the most complex in the Naruto franchise. The kunoichi grew up believing that her father did not care about her, while the Uchiha patriarch had to travel the world to keep his daughter safe. Their relationship has fortunately improved as the Boruto series has progressed, yet it remains somewhat strained.

The Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga series has a subtle yet significant nod to this issue, one that makes Hidari the most tragic of all Divine Trees. In chapter #17, the series proves that the creatures given life by Jura, the series' big villain and incarnation of the Ten Tails, are controlled by their emotions. While Hidari’s has not yet been revealed, the series has hinted at it being the regret Sasuke feels for not being more present in his daughter’s life.

Matsuri’s Crush Revealed Hidari’s Sad Truth

The Divine Tree Is Motivated by Sasuke’s Regret

In chapter #17 of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga, Matsuri meets at last with the human she selected as her target, Konohamaru Sarutobi. Fans expected that when this encounter occurred, the Divine Tree would enter a blind rage and attempt to kill Naruto’s pupil, like what happened when Hidari met Sarada. Yet, what ended up occurring was Matsuri being unable to move or speak, blushing profoundly as she stared at the man, strongly hinting at her having a massive crush on him. Followers of the series will know that Moegi, the human from whom Matsuri was born, also had feelings for Konohamaru.

This event suggests that the main motivator for the Divine Trees is the strongest emotion their human counterparts felt at the time of being absorbed. For Moegi, it was her love for Konohamaru, which has now been amplified in Matsuri. Mamushi, the Divine Tree born from Code’s lackey Bug, also supports this theory, as he had a strong aversion to Eida, which has manifested as him bothering her anytime it is possible. If Jura’s creations are indeed controlled by their counterparts’ strongest emotions, Hidari’s brief battle against Sarada becomes much more tragic.

Despite appearing as a cold and unfeeling man, Sasuke has an enormous heart that has suffered more than most. One of the few happiness in his life is his family, the people whom he loves most in the world. He might not be the perfect father, but he has been confirmed to be a good and supportive parent. It is because of this that his final emotion before being absorbed by the Claw Grime was regret at not being enough with his daughter.

Hidari Cannot Understand Sasuke’s Regret

His Newborn Mind Cannot Comprehend His Negative Feelings

Chapter #17 proved that not all Divine Trees want to kill their target, which makes Hidari’s initial encounter with Sarada that much stranger. Instead of being inundated by Sasuke’s love for his daughter and protecting her, he went immediately for a fatal blow. At first, this might give fans the idea that Sasuke wanted to kill his daughter, which could not be further from the truth. The real reason behind Hidari’s actions is his lack of emotional intelligence. Shikamaru himself explained during this same entry that the Divine Tress could be compared with small children learning about the world.

As such, it would not make sense for Hidari to already be acquainted with the feeling of regret. When he sees Sarada, he does not understand that he feels guilty for not being there for her. He simply knows that her presence makes him uncomfortable. As a child would do, his first instinct is to get rid of what causes his negative emotions. Hidari’s mind is simply too young to understand that Sarada is not the origin of his guilt, but Sasuke desires to be closer to his daughter.

Hidari’s Emotions Are Much Stronger Than the Rest of the Divine Trees

His Regret Grew Stronger With Each Year Apart From Sarada

Hidari, being motivated by Sasuke’s regret, would explain much more than just his violent reaction when near the kunoichi; it would also explain his rash behavior. Even among the Divine Trees, Sasuke’s double has always been seen as different, being much more willing to throw himself into danger and without much interest in learning. This could be easily explained by considering that Sasuke’s regret is likely much stronger than any other emotions motivating Jura’s creations.

Naruto’s best friend was already suffering from the distance between him and his family during the beginning of the Boruto series. There is a high likelihood that these feelings did nothing but increase once he was forced to abandon the Hidden Leaf to protect Boruto. It was only thanks to his master’s sacrifice that the blonde ninja was able to survive his exile and find his real teacher, Kashin Koji. In those last moments, Sasuke’s regret was likely enormous, as he did not know if he would ever see his daughter again.

Hidari has quickly become one of the most intriguing and complex characters in the Naruto franchise. Nonetheless, there is still much that the series has to reveal about him, and fans cannot wait to learn more about the most unique Divine Tree.