Explained: The Decline of Naruto and Sasuke’s Characters in Boruto

This article contains spoilers from the Boruto series.

Overview

Naruto and Sasuke established their legacies through distinct journeys.
The Boruto series appears to diminish the significance of their achievements.
There is a pressing need for better representation of legacy characters; however, irreversible damage has been done.

How Naruto and Sasuke Crafted Their Legacies
The Treatment of Naruto and Sasuke in Boruto
- Boruto’s Undermining of Naruto and Sasuke
Is Redemption Possible for the Boruto Series?
- Possible Improvements and Remaining Issues

How Naruto and Sasuke Crafted Their Legacies

Naruto emerged from humble beginnings.
Sasuke capitalized on his innate abilities.

Naruto and Sasuke stand out as two of the most compelling characters within the Naruto franchise and across the broader anime landscape. Their dynamic has profoundly shaped the fans’ understanding of rivalries and friendships in anime, providing countless memorable moments. While both characters have achieved iconic status, sadly, their treatment in the Boruto series raises concerns among fans.

Naruto’s narrative journey began with great adversity. Labelled as talentless early on, he overcame skepticism and earned the admiration of his peers through sheer determination, ultimately becoming a pivotal leader in the ninja world. His evolution embodies resilience and hope.

I will come for the hatred inside you too. – Naruto to Kurama

In contrast, Sasuke’s story is rooted in talent and innate skill. A prodigy from birth, Sasuke faced his own trials, ultimately walking a dark path that further intensified his character development. Both Naruto and Sasuke have proven to be exceptionally powerful, but their journeys resonate on an emotional level with audiences worldwide.

The exploits of Naruto and Sasuke, from their showdown with Haku to their alliance against Madara during the Fourth Great Ninja War, solidified their legacies. Despite their different approaches—Naruto’s relentless training versus Sasuke’s dark explorations—they become protectors of their world after the war, preventing catastrophic threats. Given such monumental contributions, one would expect that the Boruto series would honor their legacies more respectfully.

The Treatment of Naruto and Sasuke in Boruto

Boruto’s Undermining of Naruto and Sasuke

Since the announcement of Boruto as a sequel to Naruto, fans were hopeful. Initially introduced through the movie, “Boruto: Naruto the Movie,”followed by a manga that created buzz, excitement faded as the series progressed. It became apparent that Naruto and Sasuke were relegated to mere support roles, primarily to elevate Boruto and Kawaki’s characters.

While their initial conflict against Momoshiki showcased their strength—likely due to Kishimoto’s direct involvement—the landscape shifted under Mikio Ikemoto’s tenure. Although some argue that Kishimoto retains supervisorial responsibilities, his influence on the plot appears limited.

Farewell. You be good, Naruto! And don’t join me anytime soon. – Kurama

Throughout the Boruto series, Naruto and Sasuke have faced considerable degradation of their legacies. In battles against Jigen and later Isshiki, both characters were humiliated, unable to utilize their full abilities, indicating a lack of thoughtful writing. When Naruto eventually sacrifices Kurama, it symbolizes the significant weakening of his character, reducing him to a mere shadow of his former self, and leading to his unsettling role as a plot device for Boruto’s development.

Similar treatment befell Sasuke, who, at one point, is depicted as being ensnared and rendered ineffective, causing further frustration among fans. This kind of portrayal leaves a lasting negative impression and damages their established legacies, causing many viewers to lament their treatment.

Is Redemption Possible for the Boruto Series?

Possible Improvements and Remaining Issues

The path to redemption for the Boruto series involves meaningful treatment of legacy characters, extending beyond just Naruto and Sasuke to other vital figures from the earlier generation, including Sakura and other members of Team 7, along with the Kage like Kakashi. Unlike Naruto, which showcased a broad range of characters and their developments, Boruto has largely diminished these legacies, leading to disappointment among its audience.

Even if future narratives improve the portrayal of these beloved figures, the prior treatment’s detrimental effects are hard to overlook. Consequently, fans must reconcile the dissonance between their cherished memories of Naruto and Sasuke and the less favorable depictions they now face within the Boruto series.

For those interested, Boruto is accessible for reading through Viz Media. Fans can enjoy the latest chapters officially and free on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus platform. The forthcoming chapter, “Boruto: Two Blue Vortex”chapter 17, is anticipated to release on December 20, 2024.

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