The world of ninja, established by Masashi Kishimoto, has always been embroiled in war in one way or another. Before the establishment of the shinobi villages, there existed a time period known as the Warring States Period. After Hashirama and Madara collaborated to create the first shinobi village, the Great Shinobi World Wars started taking place.
The Naruto series focused extensively on the Fourth Shinobi World War, which officially concluded with the release of Chapter 699 on November 10, 2014, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 52. Now, 12 years later, the franchise is moving towards another major war, this time perpetuated by none other than the Great Nations themselves. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 38 officially sets up a catastrophe for all the ninja villages and a chaotic impending battle that could eventually boil down to what could be known as the Fifth Shinobi World War. Only this time, the Shinobi kind is projected to be wiped out.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Confirms A Scheme From Great Nations To Oppose Ninja Villages
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 38 was incredibly important for the overarching lore of the ninja world. For years, the ninja world has been dictated by the powers of the shinobi villages, which exist as the primary military forces of various nations. However, a major shift has taken place in the era of peace, established by Naruto Uzumaki himself following the conclusion of the Fourth Shinobi World War.
In the new era of peace, the ninja villages are now collaborating with one another, and countries are no longer at war. In other words, this new era of peace has brought in a false sense of security, especially for those who lead the ninja villages. This false sense of security has lulled them into thinking that they do not require ninja villages anymore, and this is a big problem.
“If they can take you out and get rid of Boruto, even better. Then, with these so-called threats gone, they’ll gain ample justification for dismantling the Shinobi Villages, citing them as needless military Strength.” — Kashin Koji explains the destruction of ninja villages, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #38
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 38, which was officially released on October 20, 2026, might have focused primarily on the battle of Sarada Uchiha against Code and Hidari, but the most important detail revealed in it pertained to the impending doom of the shinobi kind. As things stand, the Land of Fire is effectively trying to get rid of Shikamaru Nara and install their own puppet, Konohamaru Sarutobi, as the Hokage of the village. From behind the shadows, Kobu intends to control the village and eventually pave the way for its entire dismantlement. It has been confirmed by Kashin Koji that the other villages and other nations are doing the same with their own ninja villages. Their goal is to completely redefine the world of ninja and destroy the shinobi kind forever.
Kashin Koji: Kobu has plans to oust you from the Hokage seat and install Konohamaru Sarutobi as your Successor.
Shikamaru: He means to make Konohamaru the Hokage?
Kashin Koji: For the sake of appearances only. In reality, Kobu means to take control of Konoha himself. Konohamaru will only be the figurehead to gain support of the Konoha public. A puppet regime.
— Koji reveals Konohamaru’s 8th Hokage ascension, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #38
Why The Fifth Shinobi World War Is Brewing In Boruto
One way or another, the Shinobi kind is most certainly going to come under attack in the Boruto series, and once that happens, war is likely to break out. Once again, this is not going to be a war between different nations, but against the Shinobi kind as a whole. In many ways, this war is likely to be similar to what we observed in the Fourth Shinobi World War. Only this time, the villages will likely be fighting for autonomy against their own nations. The Naruto series established important facts that ninja villages and nations exist on the same level.
The Daimyo is not considered to be higher than the Hokage, and vice versa. That is precisely why Boruto brings its own complexities. Whoever is leading Konoha and the other Shinobi villages will have to band together against this impending threat, which could utilize either scientific technology or some other means to combat the influence of Shinobi.
Boruto: I guess this was the only possible outcome.
Kawaki: That’s right! The age of Shinobi is
Boruto: Even so, I’m still a ninja!
— Boruto and Kawaki confirm the Ninja World is destroyed, Boruto Chapter #1
Interestingly enough, Boruto Chapter 1, which was released on May 9, 2016, showed us an era where the Shinobi kind was already dead. Both Boruto Uzumaki and Kawaki openly stated in the very first chapter that the era of Shinobi is over. In other words, the goal of the Great Nations is eventually fulfilled, and Konoha is destroyed. This destruction was once attributed to Kawaki, but now, after the latest facts were revealed in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 38 on October 20, 2026, this could be reattributed to a massive war breaking out due to the plan of the Great Nations to dismantle the Shinobi villages permanently, paving the way for the Fifth Shinobi World War.
The End Of The Shinobi Era Is Coming
The Fifth Shinobi World War, if it does end up happening in the Boruto series, is going to lead to the end of the Shinobi era. In fact, even if this war doesn’t happen, the Shinobi era is most certainly going to end. This has already been confirmed by Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto to us directly through the characters of Kawaki and Boruto Uzumaki.
As to what happens after, we do not know. What we can say with certainty is that Boruto Uzumaki and Kawaki are going to fight it out one last time in the midst of a destroyed Konoha. Whoever wins this battle is going to decide the fate of the Shinobi kind. Boruto calls himself the last known Shinobi to exist in that particular timeline, while Kawaki attempts to erase him and end the era of Shinobi forever.
Boruto: I can’t believe you went this far, Kawaki!
Kawaki: I’ll send you where I sent the Seventh shortly, Boruto.
— Exchange between Boruto and Kawaki showing the sealing of Naruto, Boruto Chapter #1
It appears that Naruto Uzumaki is still sealed in the dimension of Daikokuten during this time period, and Sasuke Uchiha is nowhere to be seen either for unknown reasons. All in all, it all comes down to the protagonist of the series, Boruto Uzumaki, to restore the Shinobi world. It is only by defeating Kawaki and finally allying with him that the Shinobi world can be freed from the clutches of the Great Nations, who intend to monopolize the ninja villages, dismantle them, and redistribute the resources to other projects of theirs.
For now, the world of ninja is heading towards a grim future, and all of this will be brilliantly expanded upon by Mikio Ikemoto over the course of the next few arcs. We absolutely cannot wait to see these developments in the next few months and years, and hopefully they will live up to all our expectations.
All chapters of Boruto by Mikio Ikemoto, supervised by Masashi Kishimoto, are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.