Hightlights
- Boruto delves deeper into the Naruto universe, addressing fans' inquiries about the Otsutsuki Clan and the 10 Tails.
- The narrative introduces new adversaries such as Kara and thoroughly explores the concept of Karma, resonating well with fans.
- Despite these strengths, a notable drawback lies in how the series mishandles and tarnishes the legacies of original Naruto characters, exploiting their popularity for financial gain.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations serves as the continuation of the Naruto saga and has been ongoing for an extended period. This manga follows the journey of ninjas through the perspective of Naruto's son, Boruto Uzumaki, in an era of tranquility established by his father. As Boruto navigates this peaceful era, he grapples with the challenge of forging his own path and becoming a ninja worthy of pride.
Sasuke was turned into a tree in the most recent Boruto chapter. But how?
Of course, the story of Boruto sees a lot of threats emerge, even though the story is set in an era of peace. The Otsutsuki Clan makes their moves and at the same time, new villains emerge in the form of Kara. Currently, the story of Boruto is being continued in the sequel manga to the original one, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. While the story has been somewhat interesting, one of the glaring weaknesses of the story is how badly it treats the original characters that are responsible for this series, in the first place.
3 Boruto’s Story So Far
Boruto has proven to be a captivating narrative for fans in various aspects. Notably, it has enriched the Naruto world, particularly in exploring the mysteries surrounding the Otsutsuki Clan and the intricate lore of the 10 Tails. Fans, who harbored questions about these elements, found satisfying answers within the Boruto series. It would be unjust to categorize the entire Boruto series as unfavorable, given its substantial contribution to expanding the Otsutsuki narrative from the outset.
The narrative kicks off with the arrival of Momoshiki and Kinshiki on Earth, directly tying into Kaguya's initial motivation to create a White Zetsu Army. As the story progresses, the series unveils new dimensions of Otsutsuki powers, such as reincarnation through the Karma. The exploration of Karma becomes a focal point in Boruto, a facet that fans have particularly relished.
The emergence of fresh antagonists, including organizations like Kara, has played a central role in Boruto's storyline. Boruto Uzumaki and his team's valiant efforts against these adversaries, thwarting their malevolent influence and safeguarding villages worldwide, underscore the series' engaging plotlines. It is evident that Boruto has successfully expanded upon intriguing narratives that fans have found thoroughly enjoyable. However, despite these positive elements, the drawbacks within the storyline far outweigh its merits.
2 The Treatment Of Naruto Characters In Boruto
One of the worst things that the Boruto series is doing and has done since the beginning is trying to benefit off of the popularity of the Naruto series. The Boruto series in itself is greatly profiting off of Naruto. Had Boruto been a standalone series, it is quite possible that not many fans would have paid attention to it. It is not a greatly compelling story and it certainly isn't something that would attract fans’ attention either and the declining sales of the manga are proof of that.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Reveals 4 Major Villains
Boruto Part 2 showcases its new group of powerful villains.The primary source of Boruto's popularity lies in its connection to the beloved Naruto series, making the frequent comparisons between the two series highly relevant. Boruto not only capitalizes on being a sequel to Naruto but also attempts to leverage the popularity of numerous Naruto characters.
When discussing the villains in Boruto, many familiar faces from Naruto make a return, often leading to the detriment of their established legacies. A glaring example is Ao, who met a heroic end in Naruto but is resurrected in Boruto as a villain, thereby tarnishing his character arc and portraying him as a traitor to his own village.
Similarly, Onoki, a character from Naruto, is mishandled in Boruto's anime, transformed into a villainous figure who, post-4th Great Ninja War, engages in acts that jeopardize global security. Jiraiya, presumed dead in Naruto, is quasi-resurrected using a clone named Kashin Koji, a tactic employed to capture fans' attention and evoke nostalgia, encouraging continued engagement with the story.
These instances of mischaracterization are not isolated; a significant portion of the Naruto cast in Boruto faces neglect. While these characters exist in the world, they contribute little to the storyline. Even Boruto's supporting characters are marginalized, with the narrative heavily centered around Boruto Uzumaki and Kawaki, occasionally featuring Sarada. The remaining characters appear as though they do not exist in this world. The series lacks meaningful world-building, with neglect extending to other villages and their respective ninjas—an omission that is particularly disappointing.
1 The Treatment Of Naruto And Sasuke In Boruto
While fans may endure certain aspects of Boruto, the most significant source of disappointment stems from the disrespect shown to main characters like Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Sakura's role in the series is minimal, and her absence wouldn't alter the current storyline. Her fate in Boruto is harsh, but the treatment of Naruto and Sasuke is even more egregious. Both characters are stripped of their powers, rendering them irrelevant in a world they helped create. Naruto loses Kurama, weakening him significantly, while Sasuke is incapacitated with a direct eye injury.
This drastic depowering of Naruto and Sasuke is ostensibly done to provide a platform for the next generation to shine. However, a capable author should ensure that both the old and new generations have their moments, especially when the series focuses on a next-generation directly linked to a beloved predecessor. Moreover, Naruto is sealed away, absent from the story for a significant portion, and Sasuke is transformed into a peculiar tree during the time skip.
Rather than being at the forefront and facilitating opportunities for the next generation, Naruto and Sasuke are sidelined, with their deaths teased to keep fans engaged. The authors refrain from following through with these deaths, seemingly using the characters as bait to retain the dwindling popularity of the series. Boruto's strength lies in various elements, but its most glaring weakness lies in its treatment of the older generation. To survive and regain popularity, the series must address these issues. The declining sales and waning fan interest are evident signs that corrective action is needed from the capable authors to rejuvenate the narrative.
Boruto is available to read via Manga Monster. The release date for the next chapter of Boruto, Boruto Part 2 chapter 5, is set to be December 20, 2023.
