Boruto Needed to Make These Adult Naruto Characters Useless to Advance the Plot

The transition from Naruto to Boruto has sparked many heated debates. Some accepted it as it is, and some didn’t favour this change. In this process, many beloved characters who once stood as pillars of strength now appear reduced to background figures. This shift has left viewers questioning the narrative choices behind sidelining legendary shinobi.

Boruto deliberately weakened adult characters to create space for the new generation's growth. The series faced an impossible challenge: how do you make teenage protagonists relevant when gods like Naruto and Sasuke exist? The answer to this was controversial but necessary—strip the adults of their former glory to let fresh faces shine.

Kakashi, known as the Copy Ninja, is mostly absent in the manga but makes an appearance in the anime version. His absence feels jarring given his central role in the original story. Tsunade, despite her legendary status as a Sannin, remains conspicuously absent during village crises. These disappearances aren't accidental oversights.

The Boruto manga's monthly format limits panel space significantly. With only 40 pages per chapter, writers face tough choices about character inclusion. Legacy characters consume valuable real estate that new protagonists desperately need for development.

Perhaps no character exemplifies this decline more than Konohamaru. Once positioned as Kakashi's successor, he now serves as comic relief. His repeated defeats by enemies that genin characters overcome highlight the series' power scaling problems.

The series had to show Konohamaru struggling so that the new Team 7 could stand on their own. A competent sensei would eliminate dramatic tension from dangerous missions. By making him ineffective, the story forces young characters into leadership roles they wouldn't naturally assume.

Rock Lee, Neji's former teammates, and other fan favorites rarely appear during village emergencies. Their absence during Code's attack felt particularly glaring. These skilled jonin should logically participate in defending their home, yet they remain nowhere to be found.

Power Scaling Necessitated These Sacrifices in Boruto

The Otsutsuki threat level forced dramatic changes to the series' power structure. When teenagers must face interdimensional gods, traditional ninja rankings become meaningless. Adult characters who once seemed unstoppable now appear inadequate against cosmic-level threats.

Boruto and Kawaki's karma abilities grant them access to Otsutsuki knowledge and power. This development makes conventional training and experience less valuable. Why would the protagonist need guidance when he possesses lifetimes of alien memories?

The series made a calculated trade-off: sacrifice beloved legacy characters to establish new protagonists quickly. This approach alienated longtime fans but potentially attracted new readers unencumbered by previous character attachments.

This pattern extends beyond combat situations. Character relationships that fans cherished have been abandoned. Sakura's reaction to her husband going rogue or Naruto's apparent death receives minimal exploration.

The anime has historically expanded on character relationships that the manga has neglected. However, with the anime currently on hiatus, these development opportunities have disappeared. The series fans must accept a narrower character focus than previous generations enjoyed.

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Future Boruto chapters may find ways to reintegrate sidelined characters meaningfully. The latest time-skip opens the door to give grown-up characters more meaningful roles in the story. However, the power gap between generations may prove too vast to bridge convincingly.

In short, the Boruto series' survival depends on whether new character dynamics can replace what was lost. If its supporting cast can capture readers' imagination like the original Konoha 12 did, the sacrifice of legacy characters might ultimately prove worthwhile for the franchise's long-term health.

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