Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 36, released July 20, 2026, confirms that Konohamaru Sarutobi will become the Eighth Hokage, ending months of speculation about who would permanently succeed Naruto Uzumaki. The reveal comes through a Prescience vision from Kashin Koji, showing Konohamaru wearing the Hokage cape inside the office — the clearest signal yet that the series is finally moving on from Naruto's era.
The Vision That Changed Everything
Kashin Koji's Prescience ability has been the series' cheat code for peeking at the future, and chapter 36 puts it to dramatic use. The vision shows Shikamaru Nara cooking with the Shinju Jura — an image so bizarre it demands attention — while in the Hokage office, Konohamaru stands draped in the flame-marked cape worn by every Kage before him. It's not subtle. It's a declaration.
This isn't the first time the series has teased Konohamaru's ascent. He's been groomed for the role since childhood, as the grandson of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and a direct student of Naruto himself. But chapter 36 makes it official: the Eighth Hokage will be a Sarutobi, not a Nara.
Why Shikamaru Never Had the Job
Shikamaru Nara has been acting as Hokage since Naruto was sealed away in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 77 (January 2023), but he never accepted the position permanently. He refused the title, insisting he wasn't fit for it and holding out hope that Naruto might return. The Konoha elders gave him a three-year grace period — and that period has now expired.
In chapter 36, Kobu, an agent working for the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, officially sets Shikamaru's dismissal in motion. The charge: abetting a traitor. Shikamaru has been collaborating with Boruto Uzumaki and Kashin Koji, both branded criminals by the village. Kobu has submitted a report to the Daimyo, and approval for Shikamaru's removal is all but guaranteed.
"Abetting a traitor is a serious crime. It'd be no different for the accomplices, but for now, as the leader, the Hokage must be held accountable right away." — Kobu, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 36
This was always the plan. Shikamaru's refusal to formally accept the role, combined with his secret alliance with Boruto, made his tenure precarious from the start. The only question was when the hammer would fall.
What Shikamaru's Removal Means for the Story
Shikamaru's dismissal isn't the end of his arc — it's a pivot. The Prescience vision shows him cooking with Jura, suggesting a strange, possibly deceptive alliance. Shikamaru has always been the series' smartest tactician. It's entirely plausible he's playing the long game, feigning cooperation to buy Konoha time or gather intelligence on the Shinju.
This frees Shikamaru from the Hokage desk and puts him in the field, where he's always been most effective. It also opens the door for Konohamaru to step into the leadership role he's been training for since the original Naruto series.
Naruto's Era Is Officially Over
With Konohamaru confirmed as the Eighth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki's reign as Seventh Hokage is effectively over. He's been sealed away since chapter 77, and the prologue of Boruto established that he wouldn't return to the role. This isn't a tragedy — it's a narrative choice that allows Naruto to fight alongside Sasuke Uchiha once he returns, unburdened by administrative duties.
Think about it: Naruto spent years trapped behind a desk, drowning in paperwork. Removing him from the Hokage position means he can roam the world as a free agent, tackling threats like the Shinju without the constraints of village leadership. That's a more interesting role for the character at this stage of the story.
What Comes Next for Konohamaru
Konohamaru inherits a village in crisis. The Shinju are active, Sarada Uchiha has been kidnapped, and the Land of Fire is suspicious of anyone associated with Boruto. His first days as Hokage won't be about signing treaties — they'll be about survival.
The series has been building toward this moment for years. Konohamaru has always lived in Naruto's shadow, but Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is finally giving him the spotlight. Whether he can live up to the legacy of the Sarutobi name — and the Hokage mantle — is the question that will define the next arc.
New chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex by Mikio Ikemoto, supervised by Masashi Kishimoto, are available via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
The Bigger Picture: Passing the Torch
This shift mirrors a broader trend in long-running shonen franchises: the inevitable handoff from one generation to the next. Naruto did it when Naruto surpassed his mentors. Now Boruto is doing it with Konohamaru. It's a risky move — fans are attached to Naruto and Shikamaru — but it's necessary for the story to evolve.
The real test will be whether Konohamaru can carry the series as its central leader. He's never been the most popular character, and his track record in battle has been mixed. But chapter 36 suggests the writers are committed to making him work. The Prescience vision is a promise: Konohamaru will get his chance, and the story will be better for it.
For now, the Hokage office belongs to a Sarutobi once again. And somewhere, Hiruzen is probably smiling.
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