WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chapter #53, “That's Reality,” of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, Ukyo Kocachi, Mari Morimoto and Snir Aharon, now available in English from Viz Media.
In the Naruto franchise, the Hokage boasts one of the most powerful weapons in the shape of the Nine-Tails Fox, Kurama. But what's put some warriors on equal pegging with him are their dojutsu techniques. We witnessed Nagato using his Rinnegan to become almost godlike; plus, there are Sharingan users such as Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke, Obito and Madara that are among the most elite shinobi ever.
However, in Chapter #53 of the Boruto manga, Sasuke has revealed a new weapon that could change the dojutsu game forever: a mineral bomb.
After Isshiki beats Sasuke and Naruto down, he's about to grab Kawaki to put the Karma mark on him when Sasuke has the teen detonate a grenade. Ishhiki thinks it's just a smoke bomb -- one of the common weapons the ninja uses -- deployed out of desperation, but as Kawaki flees as per Sasuke's instructions, the alien realizes it's much more deadly. It hampers his vision, which is shocking because he's using the Byakugan eye technique, which Naruto's wife, Hinata, and many members of the Ōtsutsuki clan employ. It allows them to predict moves and sense chakra, not just in people but in nature, too, which means the target shouldn't be hidden.
The Sharingan is also focused on such energies, which is what Sarada was trying to perfect recently by training with Sasuke to get "sight beyond sight" in a cognitive manner. But with this bomb, these abilities would be nullified. Honestly, if someone who's as powerful as Isshiki can't see through it, then no one would. It only inhibits the clairvoyant abilities of the Byakugan for a few minutes but that's all they need for Isshiki's body to wither away.
It leaves us wondering where Sasuke got the mineral from while on Ranger duty, as well as what other weapons were made and how close they are to perfecting these items. He's embraced Katasuke's science team a lot so they're clearly making secret tools for battle. The only problem is, if enemies or sinister allies like Orochimaru get their hands on these items, it would spell trouble.
Such enemies could slip past the heroes with ease using these minerals, hide in the dead of night or create storms and clouds to mask invading armies. It basically makes its targets sitting ducks as they would only be able to defend and not go on the offensive, which is what we're seeing in the latest Boruto chapter -- a panicked Isshiki never thought ninjutsu could be bested by science like this.
What's also intriguing is that these pellets may be able to counteract the Rinnegan, the ultimate ocular asset. If that's the case, Sasuke may be making a weapon that would kill off his infinite vision, and also, something which would inhibit him from teleporting through space and time. Worse yet, the resurrection technique the Rinnegan holds could be harmed, so let's hope Katasuke and Naruto's workers are keeping their work very secure.
So far, it's a blessing against Isshiki but as Konoha's history has often reminded us, these things usually end up cursing the village with death and destruction.