Introduction: The Legacy of Naruto and the Struggles of Boruto
The Naruto franchise is one of the most beloved and successful anime/manga series of all time. Spanning two decades, it built an emotional connection with fans through compelling characters, high-stakes battles, and deep world-building.
Then came Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, a sequel that aimed to carry on the legacy of Naruto. However, instead of being met with the same enthusiasm, Boruto has received mixed reactions from fans.
Many long-time Naruto fans feel Boruto lacks the depth, consistency, and emotional investment that made Naruto a masterpiece.
Let’s break down why Boruto hasn’t achieved the same success, using one major example—the Vanishing Rasengan inconsistency—to illustrate the core issues with the series.
1. The Problem with Boruto’s Writing: The Vanishing Rasengan Case
One of the biggest flaws in Boruto is its inconsistent writing, which often disregards established lore from Naruto. A prime example of this is the Vanishing Rasengan vs. Momoshiki battle.
What is the Vanishing Rasengan?
Boruto Uzumaki's Vanishing Rasengan is a modified version of the original Rasengan, where:
✔ It disappears for a few moments after being thrown.
✔ It reappears unexpectedly before striking the opponent.
✔ Its power and nature remain the same as a traditional Rasengan.
The Problem: Momoshiki Should Have Seen It
During Boruto’s fight against Fused Momoshiki, he successfully hits him with the Vanishing Rasengan, even though Momoshiki possesses multiple powerful Dojutsu:
- Byakugan (Both Eyes): Can see chakra flow and all 361 tenketsu points.
- Rinnegan (Three Eyes): Can perceive chakra, energy, and life force on an advanced level.
With these five powerful eyes, Momoshiki should have clearly seen the Vanishing Rasengan as an active sphere of chakra moving toward him.
🔴 How did a being with multiple Dojutsu fail to detect a chakra-based attack?
🔴 If the Vanishing Rasengan simply becomes “invisible,” it shouldn’t hide its chakra signature.
🔴 This directly contradicts Naruto’s established power system.
This moment is just one example of Boruto’s tendency to ignore logical consistency for the sake of spectacle, which has frustrated long-time fans.
2. Lack of Emotional Stakes Compared to Naruto
One of the biggest reasons Naruto succeeded was its ability to make fans emotionally invested in its characters.
- Naruto Uzumaki’s struggles as an orphan trying to prove himself made fans root for him.
- Sasuke Uchiha’s tragic past and descent into darkness added depth to his character.
- Jiraiya’s mentorship and death left a lasting impact on Naruto and the audience.
What Boruto Lacks:
🔹 Boruto lacks the underdog narrative—Boruto starts off privileged, unlike Naruto, who had to fight for recognition.
🔹 The villains lack depth—Momoshiki, Isshiki, and Code don’t have the same emotional backstory as Pain, Itachi, or Madara.
🔹 There are no real stakes—Naruto and Sasuke, once the strongest shinobi, are now weakened or sidelined for plot convenience.
Without these core emotional drivers, Boruto fails to create the same connection with its audience that Naruto did.
3. Power Scaling Issues and Overpowered Characters
Another issue in Boruto is inconsistent power scaling.
How Naruto Built Power Gradually:
In Naruto, power growth felt earned:
✔ Naruto’s Rasengan took months to learn.
✔ Sasuke’s Chidori required training under Kakashi.
✔ The Sage of Six Paths granted powers at critical moments, but only to those who had proven themselves.
How Boruto Breaks Power Scaling:
- Boruto learns Vanishing Rasengan too quickly without proper training.
- Kawaki immediately becomes powerful without the years of effort Naruto went through.
- Isshiki and Code are introduced as god-tier villains without properly establishing their origins or limits.
These rapid power-ups make battles feel less impactful, as characters are overpowered too soon, removing the sense of struggle that made Naruto’s fights exciting.
4. Side Characters Are Underdeveloped
One of Naruto’s biggest strengths was its diverse cast of well-developed side characters.
- Shikamaru, Neji, Rock Lee, and Gaara had strong backstories and character arcs.
- Each character had a unique jutsu style and progressed naturally.
How Boruto Fails Its Side Characters:
In Boruto:
❌ Side characters like Sarada, Mitsuki, and Shikadai feel underdeveloped.
❌ Villains lack compelling backstories, making them less memorable.
❌ Fights focus too much on Boruto and Kawaki, sidelining other characters.
Without memorable supporting characters, Boruto fails to create the same sense of camaraderie and growth that Naruto had.
5. Forced Nostalgia and Sidelining of Legacy Characters
One of the biggest complaints about Boruto is how it treats the legacy characters from Naruto.
- Naruto and Sasuke feel heavily nerfed despite being god-tier fighters in Shippuden.
- Kakashi, Rock Lee, and the Kage barely play any role in major battles.
- The series heavily relies on nostalgia (e.g., references to Jiraiya, past techniques) instead of creating new emotional moments.
Instead of allowing Naruto’s legacy to shine, Boruto makes him feel weaker and ineffective, frustrating long-time fans.
Conclusion: Why Boruto Hasn’t Matched Naruto’s Success
While Boruto does have some great moments, it fails to replicate the magic of Naruto due to:
Inconsistent Writing & Lore Violations – E.g., Vanishing Rasengan vs. Momoshiki.
Lack of Emotional Stakes – Boruto’s privileged background removes struggle.
Power Scaling Issues – Characters become overpowered too quickly.
Underdeveloped Side Characters – Unlike Naruto, Boruto neglects its supporting cast.
Sidelining of Legacy Characters – Naruto, Sasuke, and others feel nerfed.
While Boruto has potential, it needs better storytelling, stronger character arcs, and logical consistency to match Naruto’s legacy.
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