Naruto Uzumaki has found himself in a dangerous predicament in Boruto, and the only one who can save him is his best friend, Sasuke. To do that, however, Sasuke will need to recover his strongest power that he has recently lost in battle: the Rinnegan.

Eye techniques, or Dojutsu, are a specific genetic trait that alters eyes and is usually inherited among the bloodline of a shinobi clan. The Uchiha have the Sharingan, while the Hyuga clan has the Byakugan. A third type of Dojutsu, the Rinnegan, is much rarer and is not connected to a specific clan, but it's often considered the most powerful. After receiving half of Hagoromo Otsutsuki's chakra during the final battle against Kaguya, Sasuke awakened a Rinnegan in his left eye, which allows him to use all the Six Paths Techniques, plus one space-time manipulation power that is unique to Sasuke's Rinnegan, and that will be necessary to save his best friend Naruto.

Sasuke's Rinnegan Is The Only Way To Save Naruto

Chapter #77 of Boruto has shocked fans by revealing Kawaki's betrayal of Konoha. The former vessel of Isshiki Otsutsuki is obsessed with protecting his rescuer and adoptive father, Naruto. After realizing that Momoshiki's spirit is still inside Boruto, Kawaki comes to the conclusion that the only way to protect Naruto is to eradicate all the Otsutsuki, including his son Boruto. Knowing that Naruto will try to stop him, Kawaki traps him and Hinata in the Daikokuten dimension using his Kama Rift technique, before heading to kill his adoptive brother. Daikokuten was a technique of Isshiki, which Kawaki inherited through his Kama, and allows the user to store objects and people in a dimension where time does not flow.

The Otsutsuki are experts in space-time techniques, all deriving from their Yomotsu Hirasaka, and they have displayed the ability to freely travel through different dimensions through the series. Some space-time ninjutsu, however, have been able to mirror this effect. Obito and Kakashi's Magekyo Sharingan had the Kamui power, while Sasuke used his unique Rinnegan ability during his battles against Kaguya and Isshiki to pursue them to other dimensions. However, Obito is dead, and Kakashi lost his Sharingan during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Sasuke, on the other hand, lost his Rinnegan more recently, after a Momoshiki-possessed Boruto stabbed him in the eye. Considering that it's very unlikely to see Obito come back to life or Kakashi gain the Sharingan again, the only option left to free Naruto is for Sasuke to recover his Rinnegan.

Sasuke Could Get His Rinnegan Back After The Boruto Time Skip

It's true that Boruto, having Momoshiki's Kama in his body, could also use an Otsutsuki space-time technique, but Kama is a dangerous power that, every time it is used, makes it more likely for Momoshiki to completely take over Boruto's body. Sasuke's loss of the Rinnegan, on the other hand, is something that the fanbase has debated for a long time, seeing it as another way to "nerf" the powers of the protagonists of Naruto in this sequel. According to a theory elaborated by fans, Sasuke never actually lost his Rinnegan, he just needs a catalyst to re-awaken it. The need to save Naruto could be the perfect one, as the two share the deepest bond, forged by fighting against each other and on the same side. It's very likely, thus, that when Boruto comes back from hiatus with part 2 and the long-awaited time skip, Sasuke will have already found a way to recover his Rinnegan, in order to save his best friend Naruto.

All chapters of Boruto are available from Viz Media.