Warning: Spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 78Sasuke's daughter Sarada just said in so many words to Sumire that she's acting out of love for Boruto when taking into consideration the last conversation the two shinobi had on the subject much earlier on in the manga.
Upon learning that Kawaki once killed Boruto, Sarada immediately goes to confront Kawaki to prevent it from happening again in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 78 by creator and supervisor Masashi Kishimoto, artist Mikio Ikemoto and scriptwriter Ukyo Kodachi. On her way out, Sarada appears to be speaking to a stunned Sumire when she says that now that she knows this, she can't just stand around and do nothing.
Sarada Reveals Her Love of Boruto to Sumire
This statement carries much more weight when considering Sarada and Sumire's last meaningful interaction in chapter 19. Right when Sarada and Team 7 are about to leave Sumire's work, Sumire says to Sarada that the prospect of other girls liking Boruto must bother her. Although Sarada responds in the negative, Sumire says that it bothers her and winks. Although in the present day it's unclear who Sarada is speaking to when she says that she must do something to save Boruto from Kawaki, artist Ikemoto goes out of their way to sandwich Sarada's between two other s with Sumire, creating the impression that Sarada is directing her words at Sumire.
Any fans desperately hoping that Boruto and Sarada will become an official couple view this latest moment with Sarada and Sumire as proof that Sarada loves Boruto. When Sumire tells Sarada that other girls liking Boruto should bother her, she is, in effect, implying that Sarada should do something about it since she obviously has a crush on him. And now it appears as though Sarada is informing Sumire that she has to do something to protect Boruto after learning of what Kawaki once did to him. Since Sumire was obviously referring to Sarada's romantic feelings for Boruto in chapter 19, the fact that Sarada is possibly responding to that earlier conversation creates the impression that she is now being influenced by romantic feelings.
Boruto Needs to Do More to Truly Confirms Sarada's Love
Without the context of chapter 19, Sarada is likely motivated by her duty as a shinobi, as a member and quasi-captain of team 7 who Boruto is part of, and as a future Hokage hopeful. The series has proven on more than one occasion that Boruto and Sarada are close friends who believe in and respect each other's dreams. In fact, Boruto has based his own aspirations on what Sarada has devoted her life towards. Because Boruto has clearly conveyed his desire to not be like his dad, Boruto claims he doesn't want to be Hokage, but the Hokage's right-hand man like Sasuke. And since Sarada wants to become Hokage, Boruto says that his goal is to aspire to be her right-hand man.
When taking all this into consideration, Sarada could just be trying to save her future right-hand man who's destined to serve by her side once she becomes Hokage. But thanks to how chapter 78 sets up the moment when Sarada goes to save Boruto from Kawaki, fans can't help but think back to chapter 19 and all that it implies.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter 78 is available on Viz.com.
