Boruto’s Risky Bet on Love: Following Naruto’s Lead?

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In the realm of Naruto, affectionate undercurrents and strong ties have consistently been a central theme, shaping the narrative over time. As the original series concluded, it delved deeper into exploring how these deeply connected characters expressed their feelings genuinely. The spin-offs Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex build upon this foundation and push the emotional themes even further, especially in the latest arc of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Chapter 20. This ongoing storyline finds the remaining ninja from Konoha engaged in a battle against the “Human God Trees,” with love and trust emerging as recurring emotional focal points.

In other words, the intense emotions in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex aren’t entirely unexpected given the emotional bond themes that have been woven throughout the Naruto series, albeit more subtly. It’s logical for a series set in a war-torn world to concentrate on unresolved themes rather than rehashing resolved plot points. However, there’s a concern about whether Boruto is rushing into these storylines without giving them adequate space to develop, much like how too much focus on romantic relationships might overwhelm the characters involved.

The Romance Blueprint Set by Naruto

Love and relationships consistently played a significant role in Naruto’s storyline, often emphasized by his aspiration to become Hokage, viewing the village as his extended family. Additionally, Naruto’s affection for Sakura, reciprocated feelings from Hinata towards him, and the deep bond he shared with Sasuke frequently influenced the protagonist’s actions.

It’s clear that Naruto has had encounters with love throughout the storyline, although romantic aspects have not been the main focus. Nevertheless, by the end of the series, significant connections were made between key characters, providing a satisfying resolution to these themes. Initially, our protagonist embarked on his journey as a solitary and ambitious ninja. Over time, he forged relationships that ultimately enabled him to become the Hokage and establish peace among the villages.

The Next Generation’s Spin on Naruto’s Groundwork

In the anime titled “Boruto: Naruto Next Generations,” significant relationships and hints of affection are recurring themes among several characters. At first, Boruto, our protagonist, grapples with his feelings towards his father while embarking on his ninja journey in a tranquil community. Initially, Boruto faces only minor challenges, primarily due to his father’s distance, but he eventually emerges as an inspiring figure for other aspiring ninjas within the series. Characters such as Kunoichi, Sumire, and Sarada all display intricate feelings towards Boruto for various reasons, which are expected to further develop their characters in future storylines.

In the story, we encounter characters such as Kawaki and Mitsuki, who have strong connections with Boruto and other characters in the series. Mitsuki is initially portrayed as a mysterious ninja linked to Orochimaru, with a significant focus on how Boruto’s commitment to his ninja journey can guide him towards becoming both a hero and a ninja. Mitsuki serves as an early indication of the story’s twist in romantic themes, as events orchestrated by Kawaki and Eida cause Mitsuki’s feelings for Boruto to change to those held for Kawaki. Meanwhile, the narrative of Kawaki unfolds throughout Boruto: Naruto the Next Generations, focusing on his growing affection for Boruto, Naruto, Hinata, and Himawari. This bond ultimately leads him to make difficult choices like sealing away Naruto and Hinata to protect them, and deciding that Boruto should be sacrificed due to the perils posed by his Karma seal.

Loving Too Hard

Wrapping up our discussion on “Boruto: Two Blue Vortex”, let’s delve into how love and emotional bonds have emerged as prominent elements in this series. As “Boruto: Naruto The Next Generations” concluded, we were plunged into a convoluted plot where Kawaki sought to safeguard those he cares for by portraying Boruto as the villain. In the sequel to Boruto, love has become the central theme. Characters like Jura express an intrigue towards “love” and how emotions can drive irrational behavior. Although Jura appears calculating, this is not true for the other members of the Human God Trees he leads.

Starting from chapters 19 and 20, Jura considers “love” a perilous influence on the God Trees because it’s an unusual factor associated with intelligence. Jura insists that they need to conquer love, and this notion is reinforced by depictions of two conflict zones featuring both parties. In one scene, we follow Sarada and her squad, where Yodo, in a bid to sway Ryū’s feelings, appears to sacrifice herself. As Yodo nears her end, she encourages Sarada to unleash her power, especially if it’s to safeguard that “significant person”. This advice precedes a panel showing Boruto as Sarada subsequently activates her Mangekyo Sharingan.

In the same pair of chapters, we observe a confrontation between Konohamaru and Matsuri, where Matsuri playfully calls her opponent “Konohamaru-chan” despite his obvious unease. Throughout this skirmish, it becomes clear that Matsuri harbors feelings similar to Moegi’s, and Shikamaru had previously warned Konohamaru about exploiting this vulnerability to vanquish the Human God Trees before they reach their full power. The battle is marked by brief exchanges between the combatants, with Konohamaru managing to catch Matsuri off guard by tapping into her emotions and then attacking with a Rasengan. As the fight seems to be wrapping up, Konohamaru starts to hesitate upon seeing Matsuri weeping from the perceived betrayal. In that instant, she retaliates, potentially dealing a fatal blow to Konohamaru while also saving herself in the process.

In these scenes, while they sometimes powerfully illustrate Jura’s thought process, they’ve led some fans to wonder if Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is hastily developing and overemphasizing the characters’ relationships and feelings. Although these emotional elements were designed to add thematic depth, it remains valid to ponder whether this excessive focus on character’s affection for each other might hinder their personal growth instead. The battle against Matsuri introduced a unique aspect of a ninja utilizing emotions to defeat an enemy, and unexpectedly hinted at the possibility that Sarada could be suppressing feelings for Boruto, which may potentially undermine her future development.

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2025-04-08 01:10