This article contains spoilers for the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga.

Summary

Kawaki is seen wearing a leaf headband on his hips in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 23.
Konoha accepts Kawaki as a leaf shinobi, due to omnipotence, fighting for the village.
Kawaki becomes officially recognized as a leaf shinobi, despite not becoming a genin in the manga version.

There’s no stopping Boruto: Two Blue Vortex from releasing new and intense chapters one after another in the God Tree arc. With Boruto facing Jura, fans know that Ikemoto is going to insert Kawaki into the fight sooner or later. True enough, Kawaki makes a dramatic entrance in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 23, sporting a new look that fans instantly noticed.

This new ensemble, albeit familiar, is a hot topic among Boruto fans because of Kawaki’s leaf headband. For the first time in Two Blue Vortex, fans see him wearing the iconic leaf headband on his hips, which makes them curious about his shinobi status in Konoha. Some say he’s not a full-fledged Leaf shinobi due to lack of training and education, while others believe he is. Well, who’s telling the correct answer?

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By Rei Penber

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 23 Reveals Kawaki's New Look

Kawaki Has a Leaf Headband on His Hips

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 23 shows Kawaki wearing a leaf headband wrapped around his hips.
Kawaki only becomes a genin in the anime and never in the manga.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 23 presents a new look for Kawaki, who suddenly springs into action in Boruto’s fight with Jura. His whole outfit is way similar to his previous ensemble pre-time skip, except he now sports a leaf headband on his hips rather than under his neck. Fans quickly spotted this change, raising questions about the authenticity of Kawaki’s leaf headband and whether he’s a true Leaf shinobi now or not.

Going back to the Boruto manga, Kawaki received a leaf headband in chapter 60, shortly after Naruto forcefully brought him back to the Uzumaki household. There, he was welcomed by Boruto, Hinata, and Himawari, who were all waiting for him to attend his official welcoming party. Boruto, being nice, gave Kawaki his own leaf headband as a welcoming gift for his adoptive brother.

There ain't a place for me…anywhere in this village.—Kawaki

Naturally, Kawaki, who is often dismissive of ninjas and had no reason to wear a leaf headband, refused Boruto’s gift. Later, he surprisingly accepted and tried the headband after Boruto explained that it's for formality purposes now that he is a shinobi-in-training. Boruto even told Kawaki to give it back to him once he obtains his own. Boruto also revealed he had a spare headband because of Sasuke, which finally convinced Kawaki to accept the gift.

On the flip side, in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime, Kawaki earned his own leaf headband through hard work. He then became a genin, working with the new Team 7. This is the complete opposite of the manga, as Kawaki never became a genin even after Naruto trained him in ninjutsu. He never went to school, graduated, or received a leaf headband at all. On top of that, he never felt at home in Konoha, as he grew anxious about the divine-level threats coming after Naruto’s life.

Kawaki Is Effectively a Leaf Shinobi Now

Kawaki Assumed Boruto's Identity

Kawaki on the cover of the manga in Boruto

Konoha acknowledges Kawaki as an official Leaf shinobi due to omnipotence.
Kawaki fights for Konoha with or without the Leaf headband.

Before the effects of Eida’s omnipotence activated, Kawaki is not officially recognized as a Leaf shinobi in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. In fact, he remained a suspicious individual, watched all day and night by other ninja as advised by Shikamaru. Only the members of the new Team 7 and some next-generation ninja appreciated Kawaki, befriending him in the process.

I'm a troublesome outsider who wandered into this trouble-free, peaceful place.—Kawaki

But when Eida’s omnipotence activated, Kawaki effectively became a Leaf shinobi after assuming Boruto’s place. Since they switched positions, all of Konoha, except for Sumire and Sarada, acknowledge Kawaki as a Leaf shinobi. Hence, it’s only right for Kawaki to wear the leaf headband wherever he likes to, for it would be strange if he avoided wearing it. Most likely, it’s the same headband Boruto loaned, unless he had the time to get one behind the scenes.

All in all, Kawaki is considered a leaf shinobi thanks to the effects of omnipotence in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Without it, he would still be the same shinobi-in-training who needs to join classes and graduate as a genin as part of the official process. What’s important is that he is fighting for Konoha to honor Naruto with or without a leaf headband, at least for now.

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