The Boruto manga is still ongoing, continuing to expand the story and introduce new characters, conflicts, and story arcs in Two Blue Vortex. Despite its longevity and monthly release schedule, the Boruto manga has faced mixed reactions from fans, who constantly critique its character development, pacing, and how it measures up to the original Naruto series.
Even after all this time, many anime and manga fans remain frustrated with Boruto for different reasons. From recurring issues such as power scaling, uneven pacing, and sidelined characters to the visuals, Boruto continues to draw strong and reasonable criticism from its fanbase.
'It's So Serious': Boruto Animator Says There Might Be No Room for Anime Original Content in Two Blue Vortex
The Boruto anime is known for its fillers, but it seems like Two Blue Vortex is going in a different direction, according to its animator.
Underwhelming Boruto Fight Scenes
Lack of Variations Creates Stiff Scenes
- Fans are disappointed in Boruto's bland combat scenes.
- Fans want more creativity in Ikemoto's fight scenes.
The Boruto manga is full of fight scenes, but many of them suffer from bland and inconsistent artwork, which can easily make even high-stakes battles feel flat or simply underwhelming to readers. Boruto’s critics usually point out the series’ lack of creativity when it comes to these combat scenes, citing that Ikemoto's repetitive techniques and minimal combat choreography make the fights less striking.
In addition, manga fans also have issues with Boruto's background art, which often lacks details or depth compared to the intricately designed environments of Naruto. For many fans, the setting in Boruto feels empty and less immersive, especially during crucial fight scenes where Boruto Uzumaki or another character shows off their skills and abilities.
Unusual Character Designs
Wardrobe Issues on Sarada, Eida, and even Daemon
- Fans are not impressed with Boruto's character designs.
- Fans appreciate Naruto's aesthetics more than Boruto's.
The Boruto manga has introduced quite many new faces in the story, each with their own distinct personalities and abilities. However, from day one, fans have criticized the series for its poor wardrobe choices and character designs, noting that many outfits feel either overly modern, impractical for combat, too revealing, or disconnected from the ninja world.
Among the characters, Sarada Uchiha stands out as one whose wardrobe frequently sparks discussions, as her outfits often walk the line between overly mature and stylish. The same is true with Eida and Daemon’s character designs, with many fans saying their aesthetics don’t fit in the shinobi world.
Power Scaling Issues
Inconsistent, Unearned and Abrupt Abilities
- Fans don't want shortcuts in Boruto.
- Fans want to see believable character progression.
Perhaps the biggest issue fans have with Boruto is its inconsistent power scaling. Most fans hate it the most whenever a character suddenly gains overwhelming abilities or defeats powerful opponents without proper buildup, especially in a series like Boruto, where the legacy of Naruto set high expectations for earned victories and logical progression.
This inconsistent power scaling makes battles in Boruto feel unearned. It’s almost as if the characters, especially Boruto and Kawaki, are forced to become stronger in just a short amount of time for plot purposes. In other words, fans struggle to invest in the characters who achieve victories without exerting visible effort, training, or believable development.
Neglecting Established Naruto Characters
From Tenten, Rock Lee, Kakashi, to Sakura
- Fans want more screentime for the main cast of Naruto.
- Fans feel it's only right for the main cast of Naruto to involve themselves more in Boruto.
It’s undeniable how the Boruto manga continues to neglect the main cast of Naruto, keeping iconic characters like Rock Lee, Kakashi, and even Sakura in the background most of the time. In fact, Kakashi has never appeared in the manga series, and the same goes for Tsunade.
Even Konohamaru has become a joke for most fans, as his character is usually reduced to comedic moments instead of being developed as a competent ninja worthy of becoming the next Hokage.
As much as fans would love to witness the main cast of Naruto take a more active role in Boruto, either as a mentor, adviser, or fighter, they are expected to remain largely absent in the story for the next generation to shine.
It’s All About Boruto Uzumaki
Letting Go of Naruto and Sasuke Is Hard
- Fans hate Boruto's poor treatment of Naruto and Sasuke.
- Fans are still hoping to see Naruto and Sasuke come back stronger than ever.
From the very first chapter, the Boruto manga has established that the series is no longer about Naruto Uzumaki and his heroic deeds. Instead, it’s about Boruto Uzumaki and his journey to not only step out of the Seventh Hokage’s shadows but also to carve his own path according to his ninja way.
Yet still, many fans are still disappointed in the Boruto manga for taking the spotlight away from Naruto and Sasuke. Sidelining these legendary ninjas by limiting their relevance and reducing them to background characters has left many fans frustrated. Some, on the other hand, are still following the manga just because they want to find out whether Naruto and Sasuke could gain another incredible power-up and not because they want to see Boruto conquer every villain.
- Release Date
- April 5, 2017
- Network
- TV Tokyo
