Sarada's Mangekyo Sharingan may be the most powerful in Boruto or Naruto, and the dojutsu's design is the key

Sarada Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan is one of the most unique and powerful dojutsu in the Boruto series, possibly surpassing Uchiha’s even in Naruto. Unlike previous Uchiha awakenings, which often happened due to traumatic death moments, Sarada’s dojutsu was brought on by her deep affection for Boruto and longing for his safety.

Moreover, the unprecedented eight-way symmetry of her eye layout may be the most important aspect of obtaining power. This layout may signal the newest form of the Sharingan, where its complexity of emotions can play a key role not only in the abilities of the dojutsu but also in its capacity for greatness.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

Boruto: Possible connection between a Sharingan's symmetry and its power level

Obito Uchiha's Sharingan as shown in the anime series (Image via Studio Pierrot)

A theory has emerged suggesting a connection between the symmetry of the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan eye design and the psychological distress involved in its initiation. According to this theory, the more traumatic an emotion is, the greater the symmetry and power of the eye.

Thus, the two characters in the Naruto series had their Mangekyo Sharingan manifested from watching the people they loved die, hence, their eye mechanisms had three-way symmetry.

Obito Uchiha saw Rin die, which granted him a Mangekyo Sharingan. Similarly, Uchiha Itachi got his Mangekyo Sharingan when he was a witness to Shisui's suicide. The theory posits that the unique nature of the traumatic event could be related to the visual symmetry of the Mangekyo Sharingan. Their emotional state, which caused such events, and their inability to prevent them affected the visual symmetry.

Uchiha Shisui moments before his death (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Moving forward, the Mangekyo Sharingan of Shisui Uchiha possesses four-way symmetry. The circumstances that led to Shisui's awakening could have been caused by another type of trauma, such as guilt over letting his rival and best friend die.

Additionally, unlike Obito and Itachi, who were merely passive onlookers to the fatalities that instigated their awakening, Shisui's psychological trauma arose from his thought of a responsibility that he could not save someone.

The theory suggests that this could be more traumatic, as he was helpless and couldn't do anything to save his best friend. Moreover, Shisui's one-of-a-kind Mangekyo Sharingan ability, Kotoamatsukami, is one of the fiercest and most unbalanced powers of the series, which may be due to the increased symmetry of his eye design.

Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan as shown in the anime series (Image via Studio Pierrot)

However, there is one loophole here that doesn't explain why Itachi couldn't get a four-way symmetry from Mangekyo Sharingan. Uchiha Itachi also felt guilt for letting Shusui Uchiha kill himself. However, this didn't awaken a four-way symmetry in Mangekyo Sharingan like Shusui did, revealing inconsistencies.

Boruto: Decoding the reason for Sasuke's six-way Mangekyo Sharingan

Sasuke Uchiha awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan after he learned the truth about Itachi's death (Image via Studio Pierrot)

This theory also applies to Sasuke Uchiha, whose Mangekyō Sharingan exhibits a six-fold symmetry. His awakening was partly instigated by the death of his brother, Itachi, and according to the theory, the real trauma was not the death of Itachi but the fact that Sasuke found out the truth about the heroic sacrifices and disguised manipulations of the village.

It was this revelation that redefined Sasuke's perspective and resulted in his resolve to pay back the village for Itachi's downfall. Consequently, the theory then continues to assert that the complex feelings within Sasuke and the gravity of his trauma correlate with the six-fold symmetry of his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Boruto: How Sarada Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan would be able to surpass Sasuke's

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The inspiration for the theory came from thoughts about how Sarada Uchiha would catch up to Boruto Uzumaki. Sarada’s Mangekyo Sharingan has an eight-way symmetry, which was awakened not by witnessing death but by her affection for Boruto, her questioning of reality, and her desperation to save him.

The theory suggests that this might be a new evolution of the Sharingan, where the intensity and nature of the emotion—whether it be love, guilt, or determination—could lead to more powerful abilities. This idea also fits with the concept that the Uchiha clan has long believed that their powers are tied to experiencing death, but Sarada’s awakening could indicate a shift toward different kinds of emotional triggers.

Final thoughts

The theory is appealing because it offers a fresh perspective on the Uchiha Clan’s powers, suggesting that different emotions or traumas could result in different levels of eye symmetry and corresponding abilities. This could potentially explain how Sarada might develop abilities that rival or even surpass those of her predecessors.