Boruto

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Manga publishing
Founded	May 9, 2016 (2016-05-09)
Founder	Ukyō Kodachi, Mikio Ikemoto, Masashi Kishimoto (supervisor)
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Manga

is a Japanese manga series initially penned by Ukyō Kodachi (volumes 1–13) and Mikio Ikemoto, with Ikemoto also serving as the illustrator, under the supervision of Masashi Kishimoto. This work functions as both a spin-off and a continuation of Kishimoto's original Naruto manga, centering on the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki’s son, Boruto, and his ninja comrades. Serialization began in May 2016 in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine under the title Template:Nihongo foot, before moving to V Jump in July 2019. Kodachi relinquished his writing role in November 2020, with Kishimoto assuming the authorial responsibilities. The first segment wrapped up in April 2023; following a short break, publication recommenced in August with Template:Nihongo foot

The concept for Boruto arose from Shueisha’s initiative to create a sequel to Naruto. Although Kishimoto declined to write it himself, he recommended Mikio Ikemoto, his former assistant, as the artist. The storyline was crafted by Ukyō Kodachi, who previously scripted Boruto: Naruto the Movie. The manga inspired an anime adaptation produced by Pierrot, which aired on TV Tokyo from April 2017 until March 2023, spanning 293 episodes. Kodachi supervised episodes 1 through 216. A continuation of the anime series is currently underway. Unlike the manga’s initial retelling of the film’s plot, the anime begins with a prequel arc set before Boruto and his friends officially become ninjas. Additionally, multiple light novels have been released expanding the universe.

The anime has received acclaim for its effective integration of both new and legacy characters, while the manga is recognized for its more intense and serious portrayal of the main character’s journey. By January 2017, Shueisha had distributed over one million copies of the manga series.

Part I: Naruto Next Generations

The narrative opens with a teenage Boruto Uzumaki confronting Kawaki amid the shattered remains of Konoha, reflecting on how he arrived at this moment. As the son of Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga, Boruto grapples with his father’s prioritization of village affairs over family. He becomes part of a ninja squad under Konohamaru Sarutobi’s leadership, alongside Sarada Uchiha and Mitsuki—Orochimaru’s synthetic son. Sasuke Uchiha returns to alert Naruto about dangers linked to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Seeking to impress his father during the Chunin Exam, Boruto requests Sasuke’s mentorship.

During the exam, Momoshiki and Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki kidnap Naruto intending to exploit Kurama—the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him—to resurrect the Divine Tree. Boruto joins forces with Sasuke and the four Kages to rescue Naruto; together they defeat Momoshiki. Although Momoshiki briefly survives, he acknowledges Boruto’s potential and bestows upon him the "Karma" seal. Inspired by Sasuke’s path as a vigilante, Boruto commits to following a similar route and encourages Sarada to aim for Hokage.

Boruto's team uncovers Kara, an organization hunting individuals bearing Karma marks. They encounter Kawaki, a fugitive from Kara who is taken into the Uzumaki household. In defending Kawaki, Naruto and Sasuke suffer defeat at Kara leader Jigen’s hands; Naruto is sealed away while Sasuke escapes capture. The team rescues Naruto as Momoshiki’s Karma mark begins to possess him. Sasuke learns that those marked with Karma risk being overtaken by members of the Ōtsutsuki clan.

A rebellion within Kara ensues: Koji Kashin—a clone resembling Jiraiya—challenges Jigen; Amado defects to Konoha and reveals that Isshiki Ōtsutsuki is Kara's true mastermind who has inhabited Jigen since ancient times. Karma functions as a means for Ōtsutsuki resurrection through chosen hosts. Koji kills Jigen, triggering Isshiki’s incomplete rebirth; Isshiki attacks Konoha but faces resistance from Naruto. Boruto transports Isshiki to another dimension; Naruto activates Baryon Mode to stall Isshiki but sacrifices his life when Kurama dies.

Isshiki commands Code to uphold the Ōtsutsuki legacy by sacrificing either Boruto or Kawaki and transforming into an Ōtsutsuki himself. Code unleashes cyborg operatives Eida and Daemon—creations of Amado. Eida agrees to assist Code in killing Naruto if Kawaki is spared due to her romantic feelings; her powers of seduction limit her affection exclusively to Ōtsutsuki beings. Amado equips Kawaki with an enhanced Karma weapon; Kawaki escapes detection but is pursued by Boruto under surveillance.

Code confronts Kawaki; Boruto engages using Karma powers and knowledge from Momoshiki but becomes possessed once more. Kawaki kills Momoshiki before Naruto; Momoshiki revives Boruto at his own expense. Following reprogramming by Amado, Eida and Daemon betray Code; Code retreats.

Amado explains that Eida's and Daemon's abilities originate from Shibai Ōtsutsuki's corpse—shinjutsu—a divine technique surpassing ninjutsu accessible only to gods, including those wielding Karma. Momoshiki appears within Boruto's consciousness forewarning of impending conflicts. Kawaki deduces that Boruto’s complete Ōtsutsuki nature could lead him down a dark path; consequently, he sends Naruto and Hinata to another dimension while vowing to eliminate all Ōtsutsukis including Boruto before freeing them.

In a confrontation between Boruto and Kawaki, Boruto loses his right eye defending Sarada. Sasuke intervenes but Momoshiki aids Kawaki's escape. Utilizing Eida’s Senrigan dojutsu "Omnipotence," Kawaki alters memories so that he and Boruto switch identities; the world believes Boruto murdered Naruto and Hinata. Only Sumire Kakei and Sarada resist this deception; Sarada awakens her Mangekyou Sharingan and persuades Sasuke of Boruto’s innocence. After Eida offers an apology, Boruto pledges to recover everything lost. The tale concludes with Kawaki sealing away Naruto and Hinata permanently as the world mourns the demise of the Seventh Hokage.

Part II: Two Blue Vortex

Three years onward, Sarada is unable to persuade the Eighth Hokage, Shikamaru Nara, regarding Boruto's innocence. The Ōtsutsuki clan pursues Uchiha lineage, setting their sights on Sarada. Code launches an assault on the village using monstrous entities, but Boruto steps in to protect it. Shikamaru postpones addressing Boruto's situation until after handling Code. Although Boruto manages to overcome Code, Kawaki intervenes and attacks him, enabling Code's escape before disclosing information about the Ten-Tails. Utilizing Flying Raijin, Boruto travels to Code’s dimension where he confronts four Shinju replicas. After escaping, Koji Kashin assumes the role of Boruto’s new mentor alongside the imprisoned Sasuke. Boruto reunites with Sarada and Sumire; however, Mitsuki suddenly assaults him. Once Mitsuki is pacified, Boruto conveys the truth of the events from three years earlier to Shikamaru through Ino Yamanaka's Mind Body Transmission technique. Shikamaru advises operating covertly since Boruto is still considered a fugitive.

Upon uncovering the Ten-Tails’ actual objective, two Shinju clones named Jura and Hidari invade the village with the intent to capture Naruto. Himawari confronts them as Kurama’s new vessel. Jura focuses on Himawari while Sarada, Sumire, and Konohamaru engage Hidari in battle. Boruto is taken into custody after failing to obtain the Thorn Soul Bulb key essential for Sasuke’s rescue but manages to escape during interrogation.

Production

Following the conclusion of Naruto in 2014, publisher Shueisha requested Masashi Kishimoto to develop a sequel; he declined but suggested his assistant Mikio Ikemoto as the illustrator instead. A promotional "Next Generation" countdown was launched for the new manga, leading to the announcement of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations serialization in December 2015. Kishimoto intended for Boruto to exceed the success of his original series. The writer Ukyō Kodachi, who contributed to the screenplay of Boruto: Naruto the Movie and supervised the anime narrative, incorporated inspiration from his physician father and science fiction role-playing games to fuse ninjutsu with technological elements.

While Kishimoto revised aspects of the manga’s storyline, he encouraged Ikemoto to cultivate his own artistic style. Ikemoto embraced the challenges of monthly serialization; chapters often surpass 40 pages, requiring considerable effort for thumbnails, illustrations, coloring, and refinements. Over time, he adjusted Boruto’s facial expressions to reflect character development and evolving relationships.

The series begins with a lighter tone compared to Naruto but subtly foreshadows a darker trajectory, as Kishimoto proposed this approach to distinguish it from the movie and enhance its impact. For this arc, Ikemoto designed an older version of Boruto but may modify this portrayal later. The dynamic between Boruto and Kawaki is central to the narrative, with plans extending close to 30 volumes. Kodachi compared Boruto's setting to a post-Cold War period where peace is fragile and susceptible to disruption.

Kishimoto created multiple characters for staff use but granted creative liberty regarding major plot developments. In November 2020, after 51 chapters and 13 volumes, Kodachi stepped down as writer; Kishimoto assumed full writing responsibilities while Ikemoto continued illustrating from chapter 52 in V Jump. In a 2024 interview, Kishimoto emphasized that Ikemoto holds full responsibility for both story development and primary illustrations, stating, "It really is Ikemoto's manga."

Media

Manga

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is penned by Ukyō Kodachi (volumes 1–13) and Masashi Kishimoto (volumes 14–20), with illustrations by Mikio Ikemoto. It premiered in Shueisha's shōnen magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on 9 May 2016 and ran there until 10 June 2019 before transferring to V Jump on 20 July 2019. Initially supervised by Masashi Kishimoto and authored by Ukyō Kodachi, Kishimoto took over writing duties in November 2020. Ikemoto aims to conclude the series within fewer than 30 volumes so that the entire Naruto saga remains under one hundred volumes total. In April 2023, the manga entered a hiatus period before resuming on 21 August with a new storyline titled Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Viz Media secured licensing rights for English distribution in North America in 2017, releasing it alongside the English dub of Boruto: Naruto the Movie.

A spin-off manga titled Boruto: Saikyo Dash Generations, authored by Kenji Taira, was serialized in Saikyō Jump from April 2017 through April 2021 and compiled into four volumes.

Anime

During the Naruto and Boruto stage event at Jump Festa on 17 December 2016, it was announced that an anime adaptation of the manga was underway,<ref>later confirmed as a television series featuring an original storyline.<ref> Additionally, an original video animation was released as part of CyberConnect2's video game compilation Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy (2017), showcasing a new mission involving Boruto's team.<ref>

The anime series is produced by Pierrot, with character designs by Tetsuya Nishio and Hirofumi Suzuki. Former manga writer Ukyō Kodachi supervised story elements until episode 216. It premiered on TV Tokyo on 5 April 2017.<ref> Episodes have been compiled on DVD in Japan since July 2017.<ref> The selection of Pierrot and TV Tokyo was strategic to leverage an available timeslot aimed at younger viewers.<ref> The initial portion concluded at episode 293 on 26 March 2023; a second part is currently in development.<ref><ref>

Viz Media licensed this series for North American distribution,<ref> while Crunchyroll promoted it by releasing free previews early in 2018.<ref> The English dubbed version debuted on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block on 29 September 2018.<ref> In Australia, broadcasting began on ABC Me starting September 2019. Episode releases were postponed from April until July 2020 due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>

Soundtrack

The musical score is co-composed by Yasuharu Takanashi along with his group Yaiba. The first soundtrack album titled Boruto Naruto Next Generations Original Soundtrack 1 was issued on 28 June 2017; a second followed on 7 November 2018.

Novels

Several light novels based on the anime have been published, written by Kō Shigenobu (volumes 1–3 and volume 5) and Miwa Kiyomune (volume 4), featuring illustrations by Mikio Ikemoto. The inaugural novel titled The New Konoha Ninja Flying in the Blue Sky! was released on 2 May 2017. Subsequent titles include A Call From the Shadows! (4 July 2017), Those Who Illuminate the Night of Shinobi! (4 September 2017), School Trip Bloodwind Records! (2 November 2017), and The Last Day at the Ninja Academy! (4 January 2018).

Video games

The game Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, which features characters from both Boruto and Naruto, launched on 31 August 2018. In August of that year, another title called Naruto x Boruto Borutical Generations was announced as a free-to-play browser game with microtransactions available via Yahoo! Game service for PC users. Additionally, Boruto Uzumaki appears as a playable character in the crossover fighting game Jump Force.

Reception

Manga

In Japan, the manga has achieved strong sales performance with multiple volumes ranking among top sellers. The debut volume sold approximately 183,413 copies during its first week; by January 2017, over one million copies had been printed across volumes. The fourth volume saw an initial print run of about 450,000 copies in 2018. In North America, sales were robust for volume one; overall series rankings placed it sixth among serialized manga in 2017 and fourth during fall of 2018.

Critics commended its appeal both for newcomers and long-time fans of Naruto. Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised how Boruto’s character growth and training under Sasuke were effectively portrayed. Amy McNulty highlighted expanded development of supporting characters such as Mitsuki; Nik Freeman appreciated Mitsuki’s backstory despite some critiques regarding Boruto's progression compared to his introduction in Naruto. Chris Beveridge of The Fandom Post criticized excessive focus on Naruto-Boruto tensions and some repetitive storytelling yet acknowledged strong character interactions and foreshadowing.

Additional reviews from both The Fandom Post and Comic Book Bin lauded early plot advancements surrounding Boruto’s journey and major developments introduced promptly within chapters. Kawaki’s introduction received particular acclaim for enriching narrative depth and establishing a rival dynamic reminiscent of Naruto-Sasuke relations. Game designer Hiroshi Matsuyama also praised Kawaki’s debut for elevating action sequences and story engagement.

Some criticism targeted reliance on legacy characters like Naruto and Sasuke confronting principal antagonists instead of emphasizing newer protagonists’ roles; there remains anticipation that future arcs will spotlight Boruto and his generation more prominently.

Anime

Among Japanese audiences surveyed by Charapedia, the anime ranked ninth during Spring of 2017. Reviews from IGN applauded its emphasis on new ninja characters alongside returning figures such as Toneri Otsutsuki, highlighting intricate eye techniques and evolving relationships especially between Shikadai and Metal Lee. Industry voices like Crunchyroll Brand Manager Victoria Holden and IGN’s Miranda Sanchez noted its potential to rival its predecessor's success. TV Tokyo reported substantial sales revenue in 2018 placing Boruto among top five anime titles domestically; Crunchyroll identified it as one of Asia's most streamed anime globally that year. UK Anime Network praised original story arcs as refreshing compared to filler-heavy episodes found in original Naruto anime adaptations.

Tim Tomas from Geek.com drew parallels between Boruto and ‘‘The Legend of Korra,’’ citing thematic similarities despite differences from their respective predecessors. Critics described it as adopting a lighter tone than ‘‘Naruto,’’ though episode thirteen received commendation for introducing darker subplots effectively. IGN highlighted climactic moments within early arcs alongside compelling villain portrayals. Polygon noted initial fan apprehension sparked by flashforward scenes hinting at possible fate changes for Naruto himself—adding intrigue toward ongoing narratives. It ranked eightieth among Best TV Anime at Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2017.

Reviewers praised Boruto’s characterization within the anime often favoring this portrayal over manga renditions due to more positive heroic qualities conveyed onscreen. Attention was also drawn toward Sasuke Uchiha’s more nurturing relationship with daughter Sarada during second story arc—enhancing family dynamics significantly. Kawaki’s battle against Garo became Crunchyroll’s most viewed fight scene uploaded on YouTube within thirty days throughout all releases in 2021.

Related Links

• Official Pierrot Co., Ltd. site: Japanese, English