Abilities, Origin, and Everything We Know

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

The power system of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto world is a fascinating, if odd one, especially regarding its mysterious genetic gifts, known as Kekkei Genkai. While many are undeniably world-shaping canonical abilities like the Sharingan, Rinnegan, or Byakugan Eye, others have emerged due to anime episodes hastily introducing them. One classic example is Boruto Uzumaki’s Jougan Eye.

While this eye is popularly recognized as Boruto’s dōjutsu, namely, ocular jutsu bestowed by a Kekkei Genkai originally labeled by animator Chengxi Huang as the Jougan (written as Jōgan) or “Pure Eye”, its canon status is a bit more complicated. Regardless, the Jougan eye raises important questions for the Boruto fandom, not showing any signs of going away.

Is Boruto’s Jougan Eye Canon?

Easily the biggest burning question about Boruto’s Kekkei Genkai, predominantly in the Western fan base, is whether Masashi Kishimoto or Mikio Ikemoto have confirmed the Jougan as canon in the manga. With people observing the events of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episodes #15 and #125, they were eager to close the case, but there’s no explicit confirmation yet.

Fans whipped up a frenzy about Kishimoto allegedly confirming the Jougan, citing vague interviews out of France, with them pointing to KONOHA EXPERIENCE in Paris in August 2024. At the event, there’s a full 17-minute video of the pair completing real-time illustrations of Naruto and Boruto while fielding questions. The Jougan doesn’t come up in the transcript.

While there are frequent paraphrased claims of a special eye alluded to by Kishimoto, even then, there doesn’t appear to be a discernible source backing this statement regarding the manga. Even then, however, with Urashiki Ōtsutsuki directly acknowledging it in a non-filler episode of the Boruto anime, it’s anime-canon, which is still a big deal.

Masashi Kishimoto confirmed in a 2014 appearance marking the release of The Last: Naruto the Movie, that he had intended to give each of Naruto and Hinata’s children Byakugan, responding, “I was thinking about doing it, but I forgot (laughs). Once I have three children… But then things would get complicated…” as reported by CinemaCafe.

Instances like Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #44 and #57 show direct mentions of his power, after activating his Kāma, as a Byakugan. While this makes sense given his Hyuga heritage from Hinata, when in use, Boruto’s special eye doesn’t feature the characteristic engorged veins on either side, yet retains the white sclera, unlike the anime. It’s undeniably an inconsistency.

But yet, the latest installment, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #28, shows Boruto finally resigning himself to Momoshiki’s control. While his injured eye is obscured, as fans know from both episode #1 of the anime and chapter #1 of the manga, it’s noticeably still present. Chapter #29 will perhaps be the first proper glimpse of Boruto’s special eye in years.

First Episode Air Date: October 3, 2002
Cast: Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei