The new Hokage in the Naruto universe is cracking down but fans can’t agree on whether he’s a force for good or evil which brings us to the Boruto manga ’s most shocking plot twist Naruto fans have ever seen. In Boruto: Seasick Terror, Two Blue Vortex Chapter 21 , longtime fan-favorite Shikamaru Nara now the Eighth Hokage takes a series of actions so sudden and dark that they have fans worldwide divided.

Shikamaru, formerly the voice of calculated logic and level-headed loyalty to friends in need, is now discussed in the same breath as the series’ worst villains. His choice to sacrifice two innocent ninjas so that he can save the rest is reverberating through the fandom.

Who is the eighth hokage in BorutoShikamaru Nara was one of Naruto’s best friends and most trusted advisors during his time as the Seventh Hokage. Renowned for his tactical brilliance and fierce loyalty, Shikamaru was the obvious candidate to succeed when Naruto went missing.

Ever since he took on the Hokage title, Shikamaru has made several decisions that display a bitter, more ruthless side, a willingness to prioritize cold logic over emotion.

Shikamaru faces a test where he must decide on the fate of Konohamaru and YodoIn Chapter 21 of Boruto, In the last arc, Two Blue Vortex, the manga explains that during the time skip Shikamaru had been secretly collaborating with Kashin Koji in order to halt the Divine Trees' monstrous new adversaries that endanger the ninja world.

As a part of their plan they send Konohamaru and Yodo on a deadly mission, fully aware that they will not survive. Koji implies that their deaths were for the best, and the knowledge that he had the ending all planned out means Shikamaru had to have known too.

These aren’t just random characters. Konohamaru is Naruto’s first cousin, once removed, and a respected Jonin. Yodo is a young kunoichi from the Hidden Sand Village. Sending them off to die with zero warning was enough to even shock die-hard fans of the series.

Fans are comparing Shikamaru to Danzo after that brutal decision Danzo Shimura , a former village elder in Naruto Shippuden, made illegal and cold-blooded choices from the shadows. This is why fans are starting to make comparisons between him and Shikamaru.

By not caring if allies die, Shikamaru has turned his back on a lot of what Naruto was able to achieve, protecting comrades, spreading peace, and establishing trust between nations. His actions more or less contradict his initial promise to his mentor Asuma to raise and protect the next generation.

Why would Shikamaru order thatThough his actions may feel emotionally distant, Shikamaru may be justified in thinking that he’s taking the actions that will ultimately save the world. The Divine Trees are formidable foes, even more so than any former villain’s forces, able to instantly heal and wipe out enormous swaths of landscape.

With Naruto and Sasuke out of the picture, and Boruto now a traitor, Shikamaru might find himself with no option but to take desperate actions himself. Yet time is short and he’s facing a shrinking list of allies and a growing threat that could destroy the Hidden Leaf Village if not stopped.

Nevertheless, his approach is prompting important questions about whether he’s truly protecting the village or merely taking it down a perilous path.

Boruto fans are divided about Shikamaru’s hokage positionThe Boruto fandom is more divided than ever. Some viewers may find Shikamaru’s brutal decisions to be exactly what the newly resurrected village needs to survive this bold new age. The audience is angry, everyone from the casual viewer who came to appreciate a hero they thought they knew, to critics, many of whom expected a deeper exploration of his rich character arc.

As Two Blue Vortex plays out, it builds suspense and excitement in how Naruto will deal with everything once he gets out of his dimensional prison. If it were to happen, the confrontation between Naruto and Shikamaru would be one of the most emotional showdowns in the franchise.

Where to read Boruto: Two blue vortexNew chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex installments have been distributed each month via Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine, and are published in English on digital platforms including MANGA Plus and VIZ Media.

Whether you’ve been watching Naruto for years or just starting out with the series, there’s never been a more exciting and important time to get on board. The future of the Hidden Leaf Village and the legacy of the Hokage is at stake.