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Summary
Borutohas had a contentious relationship with its predecessor,Naruto, and its fan base, and for understandable reasons.Borutois a direct sequel series, yet it handles the lives of favorite characters from the original alongside the new generation. This, alongside its bizarre initial attempts to differentiate too far from the original to the point of trivializing the feats of classic heroes, is hard to overlook.
Still, even ifBoruto: Naruto Next Generationsand the subsequent series,Boruto: Two Blue Vortexare occasionally disappointing, I know their potential because, at times,I was even disappointed with Naruto. Readers familiar withNarutomay enjoy the refreshed premise and modernized takes on classic characters, but it’s understandable to find some aspects ofBorutodisappointing.
After key movie tie-ins and theNarutomanga concluded in the fall of 2014,Boruto: Naruto Next Generationsbegan its run in 2016, developing a somewhat sporadic release schedule inWeekly Shonen Jump.Its transition to V Jump would eventually help the series retain a more reliable pattern,eventually becoming a monthly series, with the formula being especially comfortable by the release ofTwo Blue Vortex.
Boruto Confirms How Himawari’s Ninetails Power is Stronger Than Naruto’s
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex awakens Himawari’s powers in a big way in the latest chapters, making fans wonder if she could surpass Naruto.
The Boruto Manga Was a Jarring Experience for Me After Naruto
Coming to the Series as an Adult Made for a Difficult Reunion
I remember where I was when theNarutomanga ended. It was a lot of tumultuous nights in the Fall of 2014 when I’d turn up any leads on what people had passed on about the latest chapters before getting my hands on the next installment. I found it odd how Masashi Kishimoto madeKaguya Otsutsuki more powerful than Madara Uchihaor anybody else up to that point.Still, more than anything, I knew theNarutomanga’s conclusion was hitting me personally.
The moment I had to stop readingNarutowas the moment I had to get working on the graduation thesis I had been procrastinating for so long. Still, I felt a wave of wistful emotionsas I realizedthe end ofNarutowas the end of an era, one last remaining happy memory of my adolescence. So as I pulled up on the last chapters, finding catharsis and solace in seeing everybody so happy in the epilogue,I decided to give adulthood a chance too.
I knew who Boruto was, but I was unprepared for the manga experience when I binged it beforeTwo Blue Vortexin 2023. The beginning ofBoruto: Naruto Next Generationsestablished two things: a flash-forward to where an older Boruto and Kawaki would fight atop Konoha’s ruins and that Boruto was never intended to be another Naruto story.
Boruto as a Series Lacked Direction Until Recently
Beyond the Opening Scene, the Series Lacked a Proper Driving Force
Despite this north star, theBorutoseries lacked a compass for a long while, often having its most compelling stories and fights best conveyed by the anime; otherwise, it was some bland combination of big Rasengans and friendship. As a manga reader,I foundBoruto: Naruto Next Generationsto be a disappointing 80-chapter slogbecause I only wanted to know how they’d incorporate that flash-forward.
Soon, with the release ofTwo Blue Vortex, I would find my answer, where an imprisoned Naruto Uzumaki would imply that the opening chapter’s ambiguous statement of Naruto’s fate is intentionally vague for the sake of drama. But that’s okay because every chapter inTwo Blue Vortexhas also been thrillingwhile bringing characters like Himawari, Boruto’s sister, into play like never before.Around then, I soon realizedBoruto’smanga maybe wasn’t disappointing for a purely tangible reason, aside from my rose-tinted glasses not detectingNaruto’ssimilar issues.
Not Everything About Naruto Ages Well
Nostalgia Is the True Genjutsu of the Real World
I loveNarutoso much that I’ve written more about my personal experiences with it than any other franchise, including small details like a Shikaku quote, its poignant lesson on masculinity, andwhat I think the best battle in the series is. However,Narutois still wildly imperfect, such as its anime showing its dated formatting very quickly, issues with underwriting its female characters, and more.
Much of what’s loved about Naruto is thoroughly baked into Boruto, whether the fans want it or not, resulting in some excellent moments when the two show healthy integration.
Other aspects ofNarutoweren’t even a matter of poor aging but simple execution,such asresurrecting ninjas for rematches in the Fourth Great Ninja Waror the general pacing of the final arc. As absurd as I found the scientific ninja tools like the Kote inBoruto, they were eventually subdued. Butmuch of what’s loved aboutNarutois thoroughly baked intoBoruto, whether the fans want it or not, resulting in some excellent moments when the two show healthy integration.
Naruto Lore in Boruto Can Result in Excellent Filler
Not Many Series Boast Enjoyable Filler Arcs
On top of oldNarutocharacters stealing the spotlight in some ofBoruto’sbest fights, the characters and nations ofNarutoare far from forgotten inBoruto, with their legacies honored and expanded, most notably in filler arcs. I’ve had the opportunity to review multipleNarutoside stories recently localized in North America, includingone featuring Sasuke and Sakuraand one about Mirai Sarutobi escorting Kakashi and Guy.These were adapted into pretty excellent anime filler arcs inBoruto, where characters like Metal Lee get far more exposure than in the main story.
I did not have this experience withNaruto,largely because its filler makes up 41% of the entire anime,with the majority being highly skippable.Boruto,by comparison, only has 11% filler. Episodes and arcs like Sasuke Retsuden Arc are considered Mixed or Anime Canon, offering at least some substance to the series, integrating characters and various generations fromNarutoandBoruto. This creates a much more balanced experience than “Naruto vs. Mecha Naruto” or “The New Chunin Exams.”
Boruto Deserves Just as Much of a Chance
Don’t Gatekeep New Readers Due to Knee-Jerk Reactions or Hype
It can be easy to write offBorutoby claiming it’s catering to younger audiences, like Gen Z or Gen Alpha. Still, I’m all for new generations finding their way into theNarutouniverse. I don’t buy into any of that being an issue because, as a young reader, I was ridiculed for enjoyingNarutoby people who didn’t even read manga. Whether claims of pandering hold any merit is immaterial, even if its characters dress somewhat like SoundCloud rappers;I’m just happy people are getting into it while simultaneously enjoying it myself.
I giveBorutoa chance and will complain about it as I do, which is perfectly fair, as I cite issues about evenBoruto: Two Blue Vortexnot overcoming its predecessor’s flaws. Claiming that it only has eleven chapters is irrelevant; the series is a post-time-skip continuation ofNaruto Next Generations, meaningI don’t have to reset the clock with my expectations for the series' pacing. With chapter #11, the series has just been running for under a calendar year, with each chapter being over twice the length of a typicalShonen Jumpchapter.
I’m free to be disappointed byBoruto, but I’m also ready to be proven wrong, just as I was withNaruto.
Yet, as I say this, I look back atNaruto, with the excellent Kazekage Rescue Mission Arc being a lengthy 37 chapters and Gaara’s death being reversed. If I had reacted similarly to that moment, the series' subsequent stories would have proven me wrong. I’d have been content with the series ending after Pain’s Assault as the end of Naruto’s character development, yet that would have deprived me of Naruto meeting his mother, bonding with Kurama, and more.
Overall, while it’s undeniable thatBorutohas its flaws, and it’s the right of fans to point those out, at the same time most negative reactions to the series come from a comparison withNarutothat ignores the issues present in the latter. I’m free to be disappointed byBoruto, but I’m also ready to be proven wrong, just as I was withNaruto.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex
Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.
