Sarada’s True Mangekyou Power is The Key To Saving The Sand Village

Why is the group of Konoha ninjas that Konoha sends to the Sand Village more important than you might have thought? In particular, why Sarada Uchiha? If no other Konoha shinobi goes, Sarada is the one we need to take a much bigger and deeper look at for the Sunagakure Assistance Mission. This is why Sarada’s character needs this mission more than anyone in Boruto’s generation.

So, jumping right into it, part of what we have to consider with Sarada is that, for her character, she’s at a career-defining moment. I don’t think enough people realize this. Sarada needs this mission to be given to her because it will be crucial if she wants to succeed in her dream of becoming the first Uchiha to be Hokage. From that perspective alone, she is starting way behind the eight ball. For those unfamiliar with this expression, it means starting from a very unfavorable position, making it extremely hard—or some might say nearly impossible—to turn things around in a winnable fashion.

The history between the Uchiha clan and the Hidden Leaf Village is something Sarada unfortunately inherited simply by being born into her clan. It’s through no fault of her own, yet she bears this burden—a burden from the blood-soaked legacy of her clan. Madara Uchiha helped found the village, yet he later raised arms against it, ultimately proving himself right on some points. However, this original “sin” was for Konoha shinobi with Uchiha heritage. Even though the dying words of the First Hokage were that the Uchiha were to be treated civilly, things changed after his death under the rule of the Second Hokage.

The Third Naruto Data Book reveals that certain Uchiha aligned with Madara’s views once Tobirama Senju—the more hardened Senju brothers—became Hokage. These Uchiha saw Madara’s predictions about the village favoring Senju-related politics coming true, leading to their gradual marginalization. Setsuna Uchiha was one of those Uchiha who believed in Madara’s vision to the point of plotting to overthrow Tobirama. However, before he could act, the Gold and Silver Brothers intervened.

During the reign of the Fourth Hokage, Minato, there was a brief chance for bridging relations between the Uchiha and the village, especially given that Minato’s wife was close friends with the clan leader. But, sadly, Minato’s Hokage term ended swiftly, lasting less than a year due to his death in the Nine-Tails attack. Despite no Sharingan being involved in the attack, Danzo ensured there was enough suspicion against the Uchiha, effectively sidelining Fugaku Uchiha. According to Itachi’s Shinden: Daylight novel, Danzo and the elders secretly ordered Fugaku to stay away from the Nine-Tails, fearing his Genjutsu skill. Though Fugaku was prepared to die assisting Minato and confident in his ability to control the Nine-Tails, he was ordered to oversee the evacuation instead.

Once again, the actions of one led to many being punished, with the Uchiha forced to live on the village’s outskirts post-rebuilding. Under the Third Hokage’s second term, tensions between the Uchiha and the village reached a boiling point, leading the clan to plot a coup d’etat. Fugaku intended to install himself as the Fifth Hokage, with heavy reliance on Shisui and Itachi—not realizing they were also informants. This culminated in the Uchiha Massacre, with Itachi being branded a criminal while ironically committing an honorable act to prevent further dishonor to his clan.

Despite Itachi’s actions, the Uchiha legacy was stained. He would become part of the criminal organization Akatsuki, which was viewed as responsible for the deaths of multiple Kage. During the Five Kage Summit, there were rumors that Orochimaru was an Akatsuki member responsible for the deaths of the Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage. They knew, however, that the Akatsuki were behind the death of the Fifth Kazekage, who had to be revived by Chiyo. Under the Fifth Hokage, Pain’s Invasion resulted in Tsunade fighting for her life.

Then, Sasuke Uchiha became a rogue ninja, joining Orochimaru, aligning with the Akatsuki, and attacking several Kage at the Five Kage Summit. He even killed a sixth Hokage candidate before they could be confirmed. It was a Uchiha—Madara—who would later initiate the Fourth Great Ninja War. Under the Sixth Hokage, Sasuke was offered a path to redemption on strict parole, with a kill-on-sight order reactivated if he ever stepped out of line.

Under the Seventh Hokage, Sasuke redeemed himself and proved valuable to the Ninja World, saving it several times. However, on one fateful night, he helped Boruto, the alleged killer of the Hokage, escape the village. Though we, as the audience, know Sasuke was helping an innocent Boruto, this added further shame to the Uchiha name.

All of this must be considered when discussing Sarada’s position. She has a lot stacked against her, especially under Shikamaru’s reign as Hokage, which has been ongoing for three years. By defending Boruto (a Kage killer) and Sasuke (a traitor), she unknowingly adds to the negative reputation of the Uchiha in the broader Ninja World. Though Sarada is right in this very moment, the larger world doesn’t know it, meaning she has an enormous burden of “bad karma” to make up for in the eyes of those aware of the dark truths about the ninja world—including secrets that have been hidden from her.

 This mission to go to the Sand Village to offer assistance is one that Sarada desperately needs. If she’s going to start building her resume to become the next Hokage, this mission is essential. Once Naruto                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             is unsealed, he will likely begin grooming the next person for the Hokage role, which would make the most sense for him to start grooming Sarada—but that’s a topic for another day. If Sarada can’t yet earn the right to be in the same room as Naruto for that process, she must at least begin paving her way forward.

While she is only 15 years old, age shouldn’t matter regarding her Hokage ambitions. When he was in Sarada’s age range, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already gaining favor with the First and Second Hokage. Judging by how he’s drawn in flashbacks, he looks about 10 to 12 years old. Sarada was 11 in the Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage arc and 12 in Boruto Part One. Hiruzen would eventually be appointed Hokage in his early twenties, but his journey to worthiness began in his teenage years.

Even Minato Namikaze started making a name for himself well before he became Hokage at 23. As Jiraiya’s direct student near the tail end of the Second Ninja War, he bravely fought against two Jinchuriki simultaneously in the Minato One-Shot Manga. Although he hadn’t yet earned the title of the Yellow Flash (which included a “flee-on-sight” order), Minato was still a teenager at that point, around 15 to 16 years old. Despite his young age, Hiruzen and others noted how Minato, the same age Sarada is now, could suppress Kurama from emerging out of Kushina, even though it almost cost him his life.

In the four and a half years that followed, Minato became known during the Third Ninja War as a Jonin with the Yellow Flash moniker. At this point, he was clashing with the future Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee. His exploits would become so legendary that they even overshadowed the Third Raikage, who, during the same year as Minato’s battles with A and Killer Bee, died fighting 10,000 shinobi on his own.

Three years later, in the war’s final year, Minato gained even more fame for driving back the Stone Village ninjas. He also groomed a trio of talented shinobi—Kakashi, Obito, and Rin—who played a massive role in the Konoha-Great Bridge destruction, a pivotal battle in the war. Once destroyed, this bridge tipped the scales of the war toward a Konoha victory.

Even Naruto Uzumaki made a name for himself as early as 12. Through flashbacks in the manga, we see how the villagers, despite viewing him as an “obnoxious” and “loud Nine-Tails Jinchuriki,” noticed his growing potential. They learned how he defeated the Sand Village Jinchuriki, preventing further destruction, played a role in bringing the Fifth Hokage back to the village, and attempted to bring Sasuke Uchiha back to Konoha, though his initial attempt failed.

They also heard about his battles against the Akatsuki and saw how it all culminated when, at 16, Naruto saved the village from Pain. For those on the Hokage path, times like these are when they start “cutting their teeth,” racking up accomplishments as they inch closer and closer to their prime years, which are still years away.

Sarada, at the age of 15, is only a little more than two years older than Itachi was when he massacred the Uchiha Clan. It’s worth remembering that Itachi is only a few years older than Sasuke; despite looking like an adult during the massacre, he wasn’t one. Sarada, at 15, is also one year younger than Naruto was when he defeated Pain.

While Sarada played a key role in the battle alongside Boruto to rescue the Seventh Hokage, that battle isn’t public knowledge. Her teammate Boruto is the one the public credits with pivotal roles in the battles against Momoshiki and Isshiki. They know what Boruto accomplished and even witnessed him teleporting Isshiki out of a battle.

The Sand Village mission, where Sarada is part of a team gathering intel to support the village, could be critical for her Hokage aspirations. It might even be more impactful than her role in Hidari’s defeat. While her support in that battle allowed Boruto to land the Rasengan Uzuhiko, it lacks the prestige of going into another village, being acknowledged by its people, and potentially playing a key role in pushing out the Claw Grimes and Awakened Shinju there.

A defining moment might arise if Gaara were unsealed and Sarada was involved in that rescue. A bridge to this scenario could involve Temari learning what happened to her brother. Kankuro has warned against this, fearing Temari, who was highly protective of her brothers, would rush to help. The idea of Sarada assisting the Hokage’s wife—perhaps even saving Temari—on such a mission could be monumental. Given Temari’s standing as the firstborn child of the Fourth Kazekage, this could be a legacy-defining moment for Sarada, earning her respect in another village. It would also start planting the seeds in the villagers’ minds that maybe, just maybe, the daughter of the “traitor” Sasuke isn’t so bad after all.

We’ve seen some Konoha Shinobi already acknowledge Sarada’s power, but we’re finding it hard to believe she’s only a genin. This sentiment was clear during the Code Invasion, emphasizing that her role in the Boruto battle isn’t public knowledge.

I think a Sarada and Temari team-up in the Sand Village is very much needed. If you’re rooting for Sarada to become Hokage, she still lacks public accolades. Granted, once the truth about Omnipotence comes out—assuming it ever does—that will help her reputation. But now, she must start stacking up achievements and proving her worth. Read Boruto Manga and Discover her character’s trials and the historical challenges she faces.