This article contains spoilers for the Boruto series.
Itachi Uchiha is quite easily one of the most recognizable shinobi from the Naruto franchise. Known to be a legendary Uchiha with immense skill, Itachi stood as a villain in the first part of the series and later went on to become a fan favorite. To this day, fans feel the absence of Itachi Uchiha, even though a new era in the Boruto series has now dawned. Itachi's influence is such that even in the new era, there are character archetypes inspired by him, and even the fans still crave more content regarding Itachi Uchiha.
Boruto: Kishimoto Reveals A New Shinobi Stronger Than Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha was strong, but a new Shinobi has risen in Boruto.
While Itachi cannot truly come back in Boruto, given that he has already died and even been brought back once with re-animation jutsu, fans know very well that there are characters who can go on to carry on his legacy in the next era. There's Sarada Uchiha, who is quite clearly the next generation leader of the Uchiha clan, and just like Itachi, she has not been influenced by the Curse of Hatred that stems from the Sharingan. At the same time, the true legacy of Itachi Uchiha is carried on by none other than Boruto Uzumaki, despite not being a true Uchiha.
Itachi Uchiha Was A Legendary Ninja In Naruto
- The Most Prodigious Uchiha Of All
- Wisdom of a Kage At 7
- Considered Invincible In Combat
Itachi Uchiha was truly a phenomenal Shinobi, the likes of which hardly ever come by. It was said that Itachi had the wisdom of a Kage at a tender age of 7, and his strength was so immense that Orochimaru started scouting him before he was even 10. Itachi's skills were on a completely different level during his era. After the awakening of his Mangekyo Sharingan, he was so strong that he would easily overpower even the likes of the Legendary Sannin in combat. Despite the Sannin themselves being Kage-level ninjas, Itachi could easily defeat one without even looking in their direction, and such was his frightening strength.
You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for. — Itachi Uchiha to Sasuke
This wasn't even Itachi's full power, as he would eventually unveil his trump card, the sword of Totsuka and the Yata Mirror. Itachi's strength is often underestimated by Naruto fans, and while he most certainly wasn't as strong as Madara, his presence alone kept Obito in check for the longest time, which should tell the fans how strong he truly was.
Above all, it is the fact that Itachi sacrificed his entire life and even his clan for the sake of his brother, and that makes fans love him as much as they do. There is never going to be another Itachi Uchiha ever, but there can be imitations of his character here and there, and that is what Boruto Uzumaki currently represents. Despite not being as talented or as skilled as Itachi, Boruto carries the most important quality that Itachi Uchiha had, and that is the quality of self-sacrifice.
Boruto Uzumaki Is The Next Itachi Uchiha of Konoha
- Inspired by Itachi's devotion to the village
- Wants to Follow Sasuke Uchiha
If Itachi were to be described in a single word, it would most certainly be "self-sacrifice." Itachi sacrificed everything that he possibly could for the sake of his little brother and the village itself. He even betrayed his own clan and his own people, who weren't even in the wrong to revolt against the oppressive rule of Konoha. Of course, Itachi's actions weren't justifiable, and he certainly wasn't a good guy for doing what he did. But he did it all for his village, and that is admirable in its own way.
In a way, Boruto Uzumaki is exactly like him. Boruto puts the safety and the happiness of those he loves as well as the village ahead of himself. He has sacrificed his life for the sake of the village, and protected it even when he is hated by everyone, thanks to the effects of Omnipotence caused by Kawaki.
Boruto's character arc has certainly been commendable, and even though the writing itself in the series isn't all that good, one absolutely cannot deny that Boruto has done everything he can to put Konoha on his shoulders in the absence of his father and Sasuke Uchiha. In doing so, he has become the next Itachi Uchiha of Konoha, and that certainly is commendable.
Kishimoto Has Made An Itachi Style Main Character In The Boruto Series
The fact that Boruto turned out like this was probably because Kishimoto and Ikemoto had Itachi Uchiha on their mind. Clearly, Boruto's quality of self-sacrifice has to have come from somewhere, and the model might very well be Itachi. After all, it must be noted that Itachi is an incredibly popular character among the fans. In the Naruto popularity poll that took place two years ago, Itachi Uchiha came second and finished only behind Minato Namikaze, the legendary Fourth Hokage of Konoha.
People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true. That's how they define "reality". But what does it mean to be "correct" or "true"? Merely vague concepts... Their "reality" may all be a mirage. — Itachi Uchiha, Naruto
Say Goodbye To Naruto Uzumaki, And Welcome The New Strongest Character In Boruto
Naruto Uzumaki is powerful, but there is one stronger ninja in Boruto now.
Itachi's popularity, as well as his incredible conviction and ideals, might have influenced Kishimoto and Ikemoto to develop Boruto in the way they did. In either case, it certainly worked very well because Boruto, in the new series that is Two Blue Vortex, is a very likable character, and his character arc is certainly going to get even richer with more time.
For years, fans craved for Itachi to be the center of attention in the Naruto series. It is unfortunate that Itachi never got the attention that he deserved and was killed off way too early to the liking of the fans. While nothing can change that decision, having Boruto as the leader of the new generation when he resembles Itachi so much is a sort of consolation for the fans of the series. It can be said that Itachi Uchiha is truly influencing the world of Naruto even beyond his own death, and that certainly is very satisfying, to say the least.
Itachi’s Will Lives On To This Day
At this point in the Boruto series, Itachi is nowhere to be seen. He died as a villain, and the vast majority of the village probably still recognizes him as a villain. However, those who lead from the top certainly know what Itachi did for the village. Sasuke lives by his brother's example, as does Naruto, to a certain extent. The next generation, such as Sarada and Boruto, share qualities with Itachi, and through them, the legend of Uchiha certainly lives on.
Fans absolutely cannot wait to see how Itachi continues to influence the plot of Boruto later down the line, and hopefully, Kishimoto and Ikemoto both keep him alive through different characters. There is nothing fans of Itachi Uchiha would like more, and it will most definitely enrich all the other characters of the series as well.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the sequel to the original Boruto series, written by Mikio Ikemoto, and supervised by Masashi Kishimoto. The series follows the journey of Boruto Uzumaki, 3 years after the events of Omnipotence struck in the story. Boruto must now work to save to world from the perils it faces while dealing with his brother, Kawaki. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 30 is set for its official release on January 20, 2026. The release time of the chapter is 10 AM EST/ 3 PM UTC. As always, fans can read the chapter officially for free on the Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps.