Boruto: Two Blue Vortex focuses on many of its supporting characters, with Konohamaru Sarutobi, Naruto Uzumaki’s former disciple and leader of the new Team 7, crossing an important milestone. Konohamaru has been in the story since Naruto chapter #2, predating Sasuke and Sakura as one of the earliest characters in the series. Yet, his younger status often doomed him to the sidelines. However, as a jonin and leader of Boruto’s ninja team, Konohamaru enjoys greater presence in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, namely in how he adapts the Rasengan in a way Naruto never did.

Konohamaru Sarutobi is the grandson of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, and nephew to Asuma Sarutobi, a former elite defender of Konoha known as the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Konohamaru quickly takes onto Naruto’s teaching, idolizing the village outcast while seeing him as a threat to his destiny as Hokage.

While his escapades are largely side adventures for the longest time, he eventually develops as a ninja, including learning Naruto’s signature Rasengan as developed by Minato Namikaze, only in Konohamaru’s case, he adapts it for defensive purposes.

Konohamaru Does What Naruto Failed to Do with the Rasengan

Minato’s Technique Gets Fascinating New Update

In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, after Himawari steals the show in a quick fight against Jura, Hidari heals himself from Sarada’s Chidori before attacking the group, being blocked only by Konohamaru’s new Rasengan technique. The new Rasengan adapted as Wind Style: Rasen Barricade, uses Konohamaru’s Wind Release to create a strong barrier to block Hidari’s hasty Chidori attack, an impressive feat on its own. Much like Boruto in chapter #3 with Rasengan Uzuhiko, Konohamaru surpasses his master, Naruto, by creatively adapting the Rasengan beyond manipulating its size or adding Wind Release in chapter #11.

This shouldn’t be surprising, as Naruto rarely demonstrated great skill with the Rasengan, needing for the longest time to have his shadow clones spin the chakra for the technique. However, Naruto taught many invaluable lessons to Konohamaru. Naruto was better at more frivolous techniques like the Sexy Jutsu and had overwhelmingly massive chakra reserves as assets. Konohamaru uses this new Rasengan technique, changed at the last second in the face of a head-on Chidori, to show himself as more adaptable than his master, even if he narrowly survives the attack.

Techniques Like Konohamaru’s Show Ninjutsu Trending Again in Boruto

Naruto Characters Still Have Relevance in Two Blue Vortex

Despite trends toward underpowering franchise mainstays, including Naruto Uzumaki himself, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex puts ninjutsu back into focus as a formidable weapon against the God Trees and Code. This is exemplified in chapter #9 when Boruto dominates Kawaki in single combat despite Kawaki deploying powerful new techniques, showing his ninja training paying off. With Konohamaru, this trend grows further, alongside Sarada, Team 10, and more, as they use their ninjutsu to defend Konoha.

This was not always the case in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, with cases like Naruto and other ninjas being “nerfed” or significantly weakened in favor of new and powerful characters to take prominence. This is potentially a case where Naruto fans can see more characters like Konohamaru taking prominence instead of all focus being on Boruto, Kawaki, and, recently, Himawari. It also suggests future reveals of fascinating new ninjutsu in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, so hopefully, Konohamaru and other ninjas can debut their findings soon.