Is the Boruto manga better than Naruto?

Boruto has been through a turbulent journey, with initial complaints about the need for its existence, which later turned into praise for its extended cast and exciting story. While the anime is widely considered to be a mediocre adaptation due to its excessive filler episodes, the manga, particularly the events before the timeskip and in Two Blue Vortex, has received well-deserved appreciation.

Due to this, fans may wonder whether Boruto has already surpassed its parent story. Boruto has not yet established itself as a better manga than Naruto, but it may be well on its way to doing so. As most fans know, Naruto is part of the “Big 3” and was serialized from 1999 to 2014, spanning 700 chapters.

Masashi Kishimoto’s source material was later adapted into the globally renowned anime, which had 720 episodes and concluded in 2017. Naruto itself was not free from criticism, as many complained about the poor characterization of its female cast, uneven pacing, frustrating dynamics, and disappointing final arc.

Nevertheless, the series continues to hold a permanent place in the hearts of viewers and readers, inspiring numerous fans through the touching journey of the protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki. Despite being abandoned by his village and facing countless hardships, Naruto powered through and became the Hokage of Konoha.

He went from a young child who had no family to a leader admired by many. By the end of the series, Naruto had settled his differences with Sasuke, married Hinata, and the peace he fought so hard for had been achieved. Therefore, despite the flaws of the Fourth Great Ninja War, fans were satisfied with seeing the beloved protagonist receive his happy ending.

The saga did not end there, however, as Kishimoto collaborated with Mikio Ikemoto to deliver a sequel manga covering the life of Naruto’s son, aptly titled Boruto. This series has two parts, with the first one concluding in 2023 with 80 chapters. As mentioned, Boruto was not well-received initially.

The art was not as impressive as Naruto, the new protagonist was entitled and unlikeable, and the story arcs seemed to merely mirror the predecessor. The 6.97 out of 10 rating on MyAnimeList would attest to this. However, though it had a rocky start, the series grew to find its footing.

Rather than merely trying to copy Naruto, Boruto began standing on its own, introducing the dangerous Otsutsukis, highlighting the immense stakes, and developing the new cast. Along with shining the spotlight on Boruto, Sarada, Kawaki, and several more, the sequel also used the known characters cleverly.

It gave insight into the lives of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and characters brought forth from Naruto, cleverly weaving them into the plot and allowing the next generation to take over the reins. This has culminated in the extremely popular and well-written Two Blue Vortex manga, which is ongoing and features some of the best writing in the entire Naruto universe.

How Boruto can become better than Naruto

The main reason Boruto is yet to be better than Naruto is that it has not yet fully established its voice. When people talk about the sequel, they cannot overlook the main story. Due to this, it is always seen as an extension rather than its own project.

However, the manga does not merely take a step back against the criticism and is actively working towards creating its identity. Two Blue Vortex has introduced several new concepts, such as the Human God Trees, Planetary Chakra, and creative jutsu like Sarada’s Ohirume.

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Therefore, Boruto needs to continue down the road it is currently treading, staying true to its parent story but also carving out unique elements of enjoyment and immersion that fans can experience only through it. While the fight choreography and twists match that of Naruto, the only aspect it continues to lack is the emotional resonance.

The characters are certainly memorable, but excluding a few primary ones, they do not leave the indelible mark left by Naruto. By diving deeper into its cast, giving them a proper role in the narrative rather than simply being fodder for the powerful villains, the day isn’t far when the student surpasses the teacher.

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