Boruto Ruined a Major Character Growth Moment: Konohamaru’s Sacrifice Overlooked

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Summary

  • Konohamaru is in danger from Matsuri’s jealousy, but Boruto saves the day with his heroics.
  • Boruto’s appearance highlights Konohamaru’s relegation in the sidelines as a mentor.
  • Konohamaru’s innovative defensive Rasengan is overshadowed in a world where power scaling has shifted to Otsutsuki ties.

In the latest instalments of “Boruto,” there was a lethal confrontation between agents from Konoha and Suna, targeting the formidable Shinju. The story took a dramatic turn as Konohamaru Sarutobi found himself in a precarious predicament when an angry Matsuri, driven by jealousy over the detained Moegi Kazamatsuri, threatened to engulf him. As Matsuri prepared to deliver a potentially fatal blow, it was Boruto Uzumaki, on the run, who intervened and saved Konohamaru at the last moment.

Despite the success of Team 7 Captain, Kakashi Hatake, in Naruto’s era, Konohamaru’s current marginalization seems more significant in light of Boruto’s recent heroics. This suggests a larger issue surrounding the Third Hokage’s grandson. So, what’s the deal?

Even though Kakashi was successful as Team 7 Captain during Naruto’s time, Konohamaru being sidelined now seems worse due to Boruto’s recent actions. This could mean there’s a bigger problem related to the Third Hokage’s grandson. So, what gives?

A Quick Recap

What Were They Doing With The Shinju, Again?

In the Land of Wind, Shikamaru assigned Team 7, Araya and Yodo from the Sand, a mission to find the Shinju. Along their journey, they encountered Matsuri and Ryu – human-like trees that were once Moegi and Shinki. The two Shinju mentioned they were searching for Boruto, so Sarada feigned interest in finding him too, suggesting they join forces. This strategy worked, as the Shinju agreed to team up with them.

Placing the Human-God Trees under Shikamaru’s hidden intention, which is to eliminate them and destroy their root – essentially liberating the imprisoned blueprints, becomes a reality. Meanwhile, Konohamaru takes on the role of decoy for Matsuri, while the others are ordered to manage Ryu. Regrettably, the Shinju anticipated this move: Jura had already alerted Ryu about possible trickery, thus he is fully equipped to battle Sarada’s group.

Boruto Saves Konohamaru: A Deadly Kind Of Jealousy

Matsuri Is About To Kill Konohamaru Out Of Sheer Jealousy

During a private conversation, Konohamaru and Matsuri talk about their ongoing quest. Matsuri appears flustered, which added an awkward tone to their interaction. When Matsuri referred to Konohamaru as “Konohamaru-chan”, the Jonin politely requested that Matsuri refrain from using the honorific. In response, Konohamaru clarified that only those close to someone can use “-chan”, which seemed to annoy Matsuri and hinted she might think he’s referring to Moegi.

Matsuri’s frustration grows as Konohamaru refuses to explain further, leading her to act aggressively. She considers the potential consequences if she were to absorb Konohamaru, knowing he is her primary target. It seems Matsuri harbors intense jealousy towards Moegi and Konohamaru, despite having no previous encounters with the Jonin. However, before Matsuri could carry out any lethal actions, Boruto swiftly intervenes, cutting Matsuri into pieces almost as quickly as he had appeared on the scene.

Boruto Is Who Konohamaru Should Have been

Boruto Tries To Save The Day At The Risk Of Everything Else

When Boruto inquired from Kashin Koji if the fight between them (as favored by the Shinju) is crucial in this timeline to defeat Jura, as per his Ten Directions, Koji urged Boruto not to meddle. However, if Koji warned that engaging in the battle would let Jura take control, Boruto disregarded his advice and joined the fight. As predicted, the chapter concluded with Jura becoming aware of Boruto’s presence, which may lead to a confrontation Jura had mentioned they were not prepared for.

In this scenario, Boruto’s reckless approach towards danger mirrors the same trait he inherited from Naruto. By rescuing Konohamaru, Boruto displays his obstinate nature, yet denies Konohamaru the chance to prove his growth. It seems that Boruto’s growing irritation with Konohamaru’s ineffectiveness stems from the realization that his younger self possessed heroic qualities equal to those of Boruto. The idea of Konohamaru, Naruto’s apprentice, needing saving by his own student feels almost like an insult to the character, given the legacy and potential of the Third Hokage’s grandson.

It’s Not Like Konohamaru Was A Slouch

He Was One Of The Few Minds Who Improved The Rasengan, After All

The Rasengan has traditionally been associated with the Uzumaki family, particularly as Minato perfected it by mimicking Tailed-Beast Bombs. Although Jiraiya and Kakashi have mastered it and developed the Chidori from it, the Rasengan is closely tied to Naruto’s persona due to its multiple forms. It was therefore thrilling to witness Boruto adding a fresh twist to the technique with his Compression Rasengan (Wind), Vanishing Rasengan (Lightning), and even the Two Blue Vortex’s Uzuhiko.

In addition to Boruto, there’s another individual in the current era who mastered the Rasengan, but it was actually Naruto who initially taught it to Konohamaru. This young ninja, being the grandson of the Third Hokage, showed remarkable skill by enhancing the Rasengan into a defensive jutsu known as the Spiralling Barrier. The brief appearances of this technique in the manga, only showcasing its defensive capabilities, may not do justice to Konohamaru because it overlooks the originality of the Rasengan being reworked for a more defense-oriented purpose for the first time. This innovative move underscores Konohamaru’s intellect, but in a world where robots and aliens exist, genius might not always be celebrated or appreciated.

The Matsuri Angle Could Have Been Character Development

Konohamaru’s Love Life Could Extend The Sarutobi Bloodline

In the world of Naruto, lineage holds great significance, making it peculiar that Konohamaru’s ancestry, being traced back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the second individual after Hashirama Senju to be called the God of Shinobi, seems to have been downplayed. The anime briefly explores a romantic subplot for Konohamaru, but this only serves to highlight his refined manners as a mentor. However, his recent interchanges with Matsuri suggest that Konohamaru and Moegi might share a bond deeper than friendship.

If Konohamaru had been left to respond on his own to Matsuri’s advances towards Moegi, his actions – a blend of gallantry and protective concern for Moegi – would have offered valuable insights into his character. However, Boruto intervened, preventing us from witnessing how Konohamaru might have acted had his life been at stake. Given that Matsuri shares many similarities with Moegi, except for her memories, one can ponder what Konohamaru’s reaction would have been in such a situation.

Furthermore, the reluctance of Konohamaru to kill Matsuri for the sake of the mission could have provided an intriguing exploration of his character. This hesitation could have been further examined if Boruto hadn’t stepped in to resolve the situation prematurely.

Yet Another Demonstration Of A Bigger Problem

Everyone Else Is Out Of Their Element

In the world of Naruto and its continuation, Boruto, the focus on power scaling has been a recurring topic among fans. Particularly in the Boruto era, it seems almost everyone, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, has some connection to the Otsutsuki clan. Those who were once hinted at becoming powerful figures in the future are now found struggling against present threats, requiring rescue instead. The Two Blue Vortex arc clearly illustrates that others are out of their depth when confronting the Otsutsuki, which poses a significant issue for the franchise.

In my opinion, it seems that characters with connections to the Otsutsuki clan are taking center stage – Boruto, Kawaki, Ada, Daemon, Koji, and even the Shinju. The rest of us ninjas feel like we’re just serving as supporting cast or, at worst, expendable pawns in this new era. This issue isn’t exclusive to Konohamaru; it affects many other traditional Naruto-era ninjas who find themselves sidelined by the power scaling.

  • Mitsuki’s Sage Mode was kept a secret in Part 1 but practically a default (and useless) setting in most encounters midway until Two Blue Vortex
  • Araya’s Iron Sand-countering Sealing Blade is quickly dispatched when Ryu started fighting more seriously
  • The “next generation” of Ino-Shika-Cho needed a Kurama-empowered Himawari to save them

Even the traditional aspects such as Sarada awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan or Himawari becoming a Jinchuriki had to be directly connected to the Otsutsuki clan before reappearing. Regrettably, Boruto’s frequent interactions with characters unrelated to the Otsutsuki serve as a continuous reminder that the original Naruto lore is gradually fading in significance due to the introduction of aliens and technology.

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2025-06-06 18:14