Initially deemed unworthy and disposable by the inner circle of the nefarious group Kara, Code endured neglect and disdain over his inability to fulfill the role he trained for – to serve as the vessel for their leader Isshiki Otsutsuki.
Though he survived Kara’s dangerous civil war and eventually became its figurehead leader, Code remained underestimated and even mocked by allies and enemies alike for lacking power and agency.
His humiliation was complete when a newly emerged adversary disparagingly labeled him a “clown” fated only to be used by others, voicing what many in the story seemed to think – that Code posed little real threat.
However, Code has slowly subverted these low expectations. Despite lacking brute strength, he persevered in pursuit of his goals with cunning and tenacity.
This was shockingly demonstrated in his recent impossible victory over the legendary ninja Sasuke Uchiha, proving Code remains an unpredictably dangerous foe.
Though initially treated as expendable and dismissed as weak, the cunning Code continues to defy perceptions.
His defeating Sasuke underscored how this once-mocked character still has the potential to severely threaten the heroes and upend assumptions, making Code an antagonistic force that cannot yet be discounted or ignored.
From Laughingstock to Formidable Threat in Boruto
Just when Code seemed cemented as an ineffectual laughingstock, the latest installment reminded me not to underestimate him.
In a flashback, Boruto reflects on how Code resoundingly defeated Sasuke, his mentor and one of the greatest fighters alive.
Years ago during a fierce battle, Code unleashed frightening new powers unlocked by Amado, suddenly transforming from a perceived clown into a formidable force that handily overpowered both Boruto and Sasuke – titans of their respective eras.
This startling disclosure contrasts the dismissive assessments of Code as weak and ineffectual that proliferated earlier.
Emerging from that fight transformed, Code shook assumptions by conquering two legendary warriors back-to-back, updated into one of the series’ most imposing threats.
Yet unfortunately, despite achieving such dominant strength, Code’s portrayal in the story so far hasn’t matched his importance or sheer capacity for mayhem.
While the latest revelations corrected past misconceptions by validating Code as extremely dangerous opposition, more remains to be seen regarding how impactfully that strength manifests going forward.
But his sound thrashing of awe-inspiring ninjas like Sasuke and Boruto affirmed one absolute – this is no joke of an adversary.
Sasuke’s Cautionary Warning and Boruto’s Reluctance Speak Volumes
Far from dismissing Code as harmless, Sasuke treated him with utmost seriousness and caution even after grievously wounding him in their fateful duel.
A towering pillar of combat mastery and judgment, Sasuke discerned the ongoing danger Code posed, judging it great enough to compel his protégé Boruto to immediately flee rather than aid him.
This spoke volumes – one of the supreme warriors in shinobi history, uniquely familiar with the pinnacles of power, explicitly warned Boruto away from Code’s threat.
Boruto’s own extreme reluctance to abandon his mentor against wounded Code further underscored this. Having clashed before, Boruto would not have feared to leave Sasuke if he believed Code was no risk.
Instead, Boruto resisted separation, suggesting firsthand experience taught him Code remained lethal despite the injury.
Between the unparalleled Sasuke’s direct command to retreat from Code’s presence and Boruto’s refusal to comply due to acute concern, Code’s menace and credentials as a still-formidable opponent were clearly established in that scene.
When the savviest veterans like Sasuke and Boruto stand testament through word and deed, it brooks no debate – even battered, Code was assessed as a cardinal danger by those most qualified to know, a far cry from the dismissable nonthreat some presumed.
Code’s Unpredictable Impact
For all the ridicule targeting him, Code has arguably catalyzed the most sweeping upheaval so far within Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. Originally Code engineered the distinctive Claw Grimes – bizarre artificial beings that later radically evolved into the formidable Shinju god-trees.
Indeed, even Code’s former master Isshiki glimpsed his underlying potential to ascend into godhood.
Beyond instigating the Shinju genesis, Code’s impact persists. An idiosyncratic yet undeniably potent fighter from the start, Code’s distinctive abilities have only amplified over time, at odds with dismissals of him as weak.
And while Code’s scattered whimsical nature and questionable judgment have opened him to mockery, his fearsome expanding power is no laughing matter.
The full scale of devastation Code can wield may still be unclear, as the manga has yet to showcase the extent of his growth.
But given the landscape-reshaping threats he already unleashed and the continued ascent of his strength, it is reasonable to expect the disruptive Code will remain a hugely significant unpredictable variable going forward in the story.
For good or for ill, this agent of chaos will likely continue playing a major transformative role.
