A few weeks ago, Chapter 5 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex was released, allowing fans to witness Boruto's return to the Hidden Leaf Village and his reunion with Sarada and Sumire. While the manga primarily focused on Boruto and Sarada, the illustrations may have hinted at Shikamaru's realization that his memories had been manipulated.
In the previous chapter, the God Trees decided their targets, revealing who they wanted to consume. The chapter also showed Amado's suspicions that his memories had been tampered with, but he remained hesitant to accept it without proof. Following this, Boruto returned to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 5 hints at Shikamaru knowing about Eida's manipulation
Sumire and Sarada are depicted in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 5 (Image via Shueisha)
Chapter 5 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex features a conversation between Sarada and Sumire as they discuss the search for evidence to confirm Amado's manipulated memories. The manga panels showcase Hokage Rock in the background, a mountain adorned with the faces of the Hokage. However, only seven faces were carved on the mountain, sparking intrigue among fans.
Following the apparent death of the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara emerged as the sole contender to assume the mantle of the Eighth Hokage. He ultimately took on the role and assumed leadership of the village. However, despite the three-year gap between Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the Hokage Rock remained unchanged.
Naruto and Hinata as seen in the Boruto manga (Image via Shueisha)
This small detail suggests that Shikamaru may have known that the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, was still alive, despite being sent to another dimension by Kawaki along with Hinata. It would be unlikely for Shikamaru to suspect Naruto's survival, given that his memories had been altered by Eida and he was informed of Naruto's supposed death at the hands of Boruto. Despite this, Shikamaru has not been appointed as the Eighth Hokage, indicating that the situation is more complicated.
Konohamaru and Shikamaru as depicted in the manga (Image via Shueisha)
Following Eida's manipulation of everyone's memories, Sarada has been attempting to reveal the true story of Boruto and Kawaki to everyone, particularly to the new Hokage, Shikamaru Nara. However, he has dismissed Sarada's assertions, insisting that Boruto was a traitor. Yet, there are signs that Shikamaru might be starting to doubt his own memories.
This was made clear in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 5, where Sai and Shikamaru were shown eavesdropping on Amado and Sumire's conversation. When Sai asked for Shikamaru's opinion about the conversation, Shikamaru remained silent, suggesting that he may be starting to doubt his own memories.
Shikamaru and Sai as depicted in the manga (Image via Shueisha)However, it's possible that Shikamaru has been doubting his memories for years. This could explain why he didn't authorize the carving of his face on Hokage Rock, and why he secretly hopes for the return of the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki. It seems that Shikamaru may be deceiving everyone in order to avoid being caught by Kawaki or Eida.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am intrigued by the hidden detail revealed in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 5, which suggests that Shikamaru may be aware of Eida's manipulative tactics. This adds an interesting twist to the storyline and raises questions about Shikamaru's true intentions. It is possible that he has been deceiving everyone in order to avoid being caught by Kawaki or Eida, which would be a significant development in the plot.
I appreciate the author's analysis of the manga panels and the implications of the missing face on Hokage Rock. This small detail adds depth to Shikamaru's character and makes me wonder if he has been secretly working to uncover the truth behind Naruto's disappearance. Overall, I am excited to see how this revelation will impact the story and how Shikamaru's actions will affect the future of the Hidden Leaf Village.
