What to Expect from Chapter 18 & Kawaki’s Role?

What to Expect from Chapter 18 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex? To understand that, we should delve into the previous chapter. Kawaki is likely to continue his storyline through negotiations with Amado. Amado, remembering his past mistakes with Code, will ensure that Kawaki does not gain complete freedom.

It’s important to note that Kawaki has a switch installed, which can be activated by Amado’s command, making his actions controllable. The negotiations will likely be lengthy, but given the new threats, Amado will lift the restrictions on Kawaki’s power.

The first thing Kawaki wants to do is fight Jūra, but Shikamaru forbids him to attack, citing the risk to Himawari. This restriction has worked once before and will likely work again. Therefore, Kawaki will probably head to the Land of Wind using spatial techniques. His arrival will alter the course of events, interfering with Sarada’s plans and possibly forcing Jūro to take the front line.

The previous chapter clarified a few things and hinted at future developments through Kawaki’s character. This serves as a foreshadowing for several volumes ahead, and here’s how it works. The manga’s plot follows a cyclical structure.

By analyzing the structure of previous chapters, we can predict how future events will unfold. Volume four strongly resembles volume two, where many characters appear, but no unifying storyline exists. Moving forward, Chapter 17 divides the plot clearly into three lines, just like Volume Three. Back then, we saw the main storyline with Himawari and Jūra, a secondary one with Hidari, and a third one with Boruto.

If we replace Himawari and Jūra with a mission in the Land of Wind and Hidari with the Kawaki storyline, it mirrors the structure of the third volume. During this time, Boruto plays a minimal role, and the focus shifts to secondary characters, one of whom is about to experience a significant power upgrade.

Moreover, before the events of both volumes, Kawaki learned about his weakness in Chapter 8, and in Boruto’s manga Chapter 15, he discovered why this is the case. It’s logical to expect his storyline to continue as a secondary one, much like Sarada and Hidari in volume three. Kawaki and Sarada will likely gain new levels of power. But Amado will not simply release control over Kawaki’s power—he has already experienced something similar with Code.

Kawaki’s presence in the Land of Wind will inevitably trigger a chain of unexpected events that could jeopardize the entire mission, affecting the fates of key characters like Sarada, Mitsuki, and Konohamaru. This sets the stage for a potential clash between Kawaki and Shikamaru, whose strategic foresight will directly oppose Kawaki’s impulsiveness and defiance.

This development holds excellent potential for intrigue, allowing the author to reveal characters in a new, previously unseen light. It’s essential to emphasize that Kawaki’s actions elevate his role in the story, making his decisions the central theme and raising questions about personal choice.

Every step he takes is a challenge, posing the dilemma: how far is it acceptable to break norms and rules in pursuit of lofty goals? His behaviour creates obstacles for the other heroes and deepens the drama, prompting readers to reflect on the limits of what is permissible.

Despite all the difficulties and growing tension, the team still has the potential to unite. Interaction with Kawaki under the common threat could catalyze significant plot twists, revealing new dimensions in character relationships. For instance, with her empathy and leadership qualities, Sarada could attempt to influence Kawaki, guiding his methods in a more constructive direction. This would add more depth to her character, highlighting her importance to the team.

At the same time, the conflict with Jūra remains a key plotline, and its resolution will require a complex intertwining of all the ongoing events. There’s a strong chance that Kawaki’s actions will trigger key events, forcing the other characters to understand his motivations more profoundly and take a clear stance on the situation.

Thus, the story’s development promises to be layered, intense, and emotionally charged. The relationships between characters are becoming more intricate, the threat from Jūra heightens the tension, and Kawaki’s unexpected decisions only amplify the drama.

This creates an intriguing dynamic, making each new chapter of the Boruto manga eagerly anticipated. The author skillfully weaves complex emotions and conflicts into the narrative, giving the story a unique atmosphere and depth. However, despite the well-executed setup, the new chapter suffers from structural issues that are difficult to ignore.

Chapter 18 of Boruto: TBV will have its challenges. The main one will be the chaotic construction of the plot. The constant shifting of storylines, fragmented dialogue, and tiny flashbacks create disorder, which clearly affects the narrative structure. Instead of focusing on a single storyline, the manga tries to cover too much, simultaneously scattering attention over a dozen events.

A prime example is the battle between Boruto and Sasuke against Code. This battle deserved a separate volume that could kick off the second part of the manga. But alas, we get a chaotic mishmash of events instead of profoundly exploring the characters. If it followed the style of Naruto, nearly the entire chapter would be dedicated to dialogue, supplemented with a few action scenes—something modern audiences would surely not appreciate.

They’re used to dynamic pacing and quickly lose interest, dropping the manga after the first chapter. Another clear sign of adapting to the demands of the new generation is the tendency to overexplain everything. Readers need to understand every gesture and every line. Ambiguity or complex intrigue that appears from the beginning is unacceptable because modern readers will just flip through the page.

The focus is on quickly delivering information without concern for depth or quality. This approach clashes with Kishimoto’s visual style and narrative manner, who enjoyed meticulously drawing every frame and savouring the details. In Chapter 17, we see how Ikemoto explains everything similarly.

Even though Kashin Koji’s words, the author clarifies that readers shouldn’t worry about the characters—they don’t need to ask difficult questions because the chances of success are already high. It’s time to relax and enjoy.

However, we can’t ignore the chapter’s positive aspects. The theme of friendship, which has always been central in Naruto, is receiving a new development. The main stages of friendship—positive unity, conflict-driven rivalry, transitional confrontation, and complete betrayal—are beginning to unfold in Boruto. This dynamic is also reflected in Jūra’s arc.

I particularly liked that he’s not just a stereotypical antagonist but a complex character with motivations beyond simple evil. Thus, we see how the plot continues to gather momentum, revealing new challenges and opportunities for personal growth for the characters. Kawaki’s actions and decisions become both a catalyst for external conflicts and an essential factor in the characters’ internal development.

His uncompromising approach to battle, his defiance, and his desire to control his fate lead not only to confrontations with those around him but also force his allies to reconsider their values and interaction methods. As a potential leader, Sarada becomes the bridge between Kawaki and the others, demonstrating her ability to influence his behaviour.

This moment offers an opportunity to reveal her character and increasingly significant role in the plot. Her empathy and ability to analyze situations become essential tools in resolving conflicts and finding ways to address the issues caused by Kawaki’s actions. This, in turn, highlights her leadership qualities and sets her on a path toward understanding deeper emotional and moral dilemmas.

Despite the chapter’s structural flaws, its strengths clearly lie in the themes of growing up, friendship, and personal responsibility. The Boruto manga keeps the reader on edge, offering new, deeper plot twists. Hopefully, future chapters will overcome the chaos and better balance the pacing, creating a genuinely captivating narrative that entertains and encourages reflection on more critical aspects of life and moral values.