Boruto: Ikemoto Reveals Why Naruto Uzumaki Is A Better Protagonist Than Boruto

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This article contains spoilers from the Boruto series.

Summary

  • Naruto’s relatable struggles and kindness make him a better protagonist than Boruto.
  • Kishimoto’s difficult writing process in the Pain Arc tested Naruto’s ideals.
  • Boruto’s lack of a compelling backstory makes him less interesting than Naruto.

Naruto Uzumaki, a character from the renowned anime and manga series, has earned immense popularity because numerous viewers found common ground with his challenges and witnessed his growth mirroring their own maturation process.

In essence, Naruto Uzumaki remains popular today because of his kind heart and the deep impact he made on readers. On the other hand, Boruto Uzumaki, despite being his son, doesn’t receive the same level of affection, a point Ikemoto addresses in explaining why Boruto, as a protagonist, falls short compared to Naruto.

Kishimoto On His Hardest Time In Naruto

  • Kishimoto Struggled With The Pain Arc
  • Naruto And Pain Were Both Right In Their Own Way

Masashi Kishimoto crafted an exceptionally captivating character in Naruto Uzumaki, and it was during the Pain Arc that his principles faced their toughest challenge, as Naruto stood on the brink of succumbing to hatred.

Now, the world shall know true pain! — Pain to Naruto

In the midst of crafting this section of the narrative, Kishimoto faced challenges, yet ultimately produced a robust tale. Here’s what Kishimoto expressed regarding Naruto’s trials during the Pain Arc:

*Kishimoto encountered difficulties when writing this segment of the story, but eventually succeeded in constructing a strong narrative from it.*

Here’s what Kishimoto shared about Naruto and his struggles during the Pain Arc:

*This is what Kishimoto disclosed regarding Naruto’s ordeals throughout the Pain Arc:*

In your question, you could rephrase it as follows: Mr. Kishimoto and Mr. Ikemoto, did certain stages of creating Naruto and Boruto pose unique challenges compared to other projects you’ve worked on? On the flip side, were there elements that came together exactly as planned? Could you share some examples?

In this version, the sentence structure is simplified and made more conversational, making it easier for the reader to understand.

Kishimoto:

For me, the toughest aspect was likely the Pain storyline. While Pain’s actions might seem justified, so could Naruto’s. Balancing both perspectives was a challenge for me. It was a particularly challenging phase in the process. On a positive note, I’m really pleased with how the resolution of Naruto and Sasuke’s conflict unfolded.

Ikemoto Explains Why Fans Might Not Like Boruto As Much

Ikemoto Thinks Boruto Doesn’t Come Across As Interesting

Initially, fans found Boruto Uzumaki unappealing compared to Naruto, despite his growth being notable. Many fans even disliked him at first. The way Ikemoto explains it, this is largely due to the unique circumstances of Boruto’s birth that make him less captivating than Naruto in the eyes of fans. Here’s what Ikemoto had to say about Boruto:

“Fans initially found Boruto Uzumaki unappealing compared to Naruto, despite his growth being remarkable. Many fans even disliked him at first. In my opinion, this is largely due to the unique circumstances of Boruto’s birth that make him less interesting than Naruto in the eyes of the audience.

Ikemoto: Unlike Naruto, Boruto was born into privilege and had all his desires fulfilled from the start. Sure, there may be complications that arise from being the son of the Hokage, but he didn’t have a defining mission or objective like Naruto did at the beginning of their stories. Looking back, it’s easy to see why some might find Boruto less compelling as a manga protagonist during the pre-timeskip arc, at least when considering him objectively.

Initially, we meet Kawaki, who contrasts significantly with Boruto in numerous aspects. He played a significant role in moving the story forward, and some might argue he took on the main character position during parts of the pre-timeskip arc. By swapping roles, Kawaki allowed Boruto to step into the limelight as the protagonist, which I found quite satisfying.

Naruto Is A Better Protagonist

In summary, while some fans might prefer Boruto’s story over Naruto’s, it’s generally perceived that Boruto doesn’t measure up and lacks the captivating quality of its predecessor. Here’s hoping that Part 2 will improve this perception.

In just under ten years, on August 20, 2025, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter 25 will be available! The release time is 10 AM Eastern Standard Time or 3 PM Coordinated Universal Time. As ever, enthusiasts can read the chapter for free, officially, on the Manga Plus and Shonen Jump apps.

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2025-07-21 22:04