The conclusion of Naruto Shippudden brought an end to an immensely loved and followed franchise. Fans were both pleased in finally finding closure to the series and saddened by the fact that the journey was now over. Regardless, it was not long before that ardent fans found joy at the release of the next chapter in the story of their beloved shinobis as these characters enter adulthood and usher in a new generation of ninjas with the start of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
However, the joy was quite short-lived, as fillers, bad episodes, weak depiction of the canon characters, and disappointing deviations from the canon disheartened fans. Despite the bad reputation that the anime has garnered and the general consensus that the preceding series was much better, Boruto has its own charm, and it even portrays certain elements in a better fashion than Naruto or Naruto Shippudden.
Kakashi's Bell Test
Fans of Naruto will be well aware of the brilliant “bell-test” that Minato had originally devised, which Kakashi later adopted and even the original members of Team 7 had to go through. A test that focuses on teamwork, Kakashi introduces the same during the practice round of the Genin Graduation Exams, with the added obstacles of Anko, Shino, and Konohamaru.
While Boruto only manages to touch the bell before the completion of the 24-hours deadline, it is sure to bring back nostalgic memories for fans of the anime. Furthermore, the test emphasizes Boruto’s influence on his classmates, and how he motivates them to work together. Kakashi reiterating Obito’s golden words, “in the shinobi world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum," only acts as the cherry on top.
Sarada Awakening Her Sharingan
Awakening the Sharingan is a huge feat for any Uchiha. However, it is not something that happens casually, and it usually takes some form of emotional turmoil or pain for the dojutsu to trigger. Such is the curse of the Sharingan.
For Sarada, the activation was more complicated, as it did not result from any direct loss, but from the emotional upheaval of getting to meet her father for the first time in many years, the sense of abandonment that this had caused in her, and the confusion of thinking that Sakura might not be her real mother. Nevertheless, seeing the young Uchiha activate the Sharingan is a moment to cherish, despite the painful circumstances it might have happened in.
The Other Otsutsukis
It was well-established in Naruto that the god-like Kaguya is a member of an alien clan known as the Otsutsukis. However, with the completion of the original series, not much light had been shed on the remaining members of the clan. Therefore, when Kinshiki and Momoshiki Otsutsuki make an unwelcome entrance during the Chunin Exams in Boruto, fans are bound to become interested.
Furthermore, when has a Chunin Exam in the anime ever gone undisturbed? In the canon, it was Sunagakure who foiled the examinations, and, in Boruto, it was this Otsutsuki duo. However, unlike the last time, the stakes were higher this time, and the challenge much greater, making this one of the most entertaining moments of the anime.
Koji Kashin's True Identity
Since the time Koji Kashin had been introduced in the anime, fans started speculating as to what his true identity might be. Revealed as a member of Kara, he bore astounding similarities with Naruto’s mentor Jiraiya, in both looks and fighting style. Suspicions were further raised when his chakra did not trigger the security systems of Konoha, implying that he has some relationship with the village.
While some fans hated the idea of tarnishing Jiraiya’s memory and legacy by bringing him back to life, others argued that Kashin might be a clone. During the fight between Koji Kashin and Jigen, fan theories finally found ground as it was revealed that Kashin is indeed a clone of one of the legendary Sannins, marking a unique moment in the anime.
Jigen's True Identity
Many fans of Naruto were perplexed at the revelation of Kaguya Otsutsuki as the main villain of the series, with some even complaining how the aspect had not been built upon through the course of the anime. Trying to remedy that situation, Boruto has delved deep into the Otsutsuki family, building the background story for the clan quite organically.
Therefore, when Jigen is revealed to be Isshiki Otsutsuki, it marks an interesting moment for the anime. Furthermore, the backstory of Isshiki actually being the partner of Kaguya, whom the latter beat to the point of death, and the secrets behind the Karma Seal make Boruto even more worthy of watching.
Boruto Finding His Ninja Way
Living under the shadow of his father has never been easy for Boruto. Huge expectations, coupled with his father’s absence, had initially led to Boruto straying from his path as a ninja, even resorting to cheating to prove his worth, despite being inherently prodigious.
It is only after his encounter with Momoshiki and learning more about his father from his mentor Sasuke that Boruto starts to understand what it truly means to be a Shinobi. He finally declares that he has no intention of being a Hokage, but rather that he wants to be someone like Sasuke who protects the village, acting as the Hokage’s right hand. This realization from the protagonist is undoubtedly one of the most endearing and worthwhile moments of the anime.
Naruto And Sasuke Teaming Up Against Momoshiki
Sasuke and Naruto partnering has always been a delight for fans, and the battle against Momoshiki is sure to give fans a healthy taste of this team-up. Marking some of the best episodes in the anime, Sasuke and Naruto take turns hitting Momoshiki, after the latter had defeated the rest of the Kages present in the battle.
Sasuke and Naruto even combine their powers to attack Momoshiki with a Susanoo-protected Kurama, defeating the Otsutsuki decisively. Had it not been for Katasuke’s over-smartness, this might have even been the actual end to the fight against Momoshiki.
Boruto's Vanishing Rasengan
An invention of the Fourth Hokage, the Rasengan has been a beloved ninja move in the anime, with many variations of the same created by the Fourth’s son Naruto. It was only destiny, therefore, when Naruto’s son Boruto subconsciously created another variation of the same, known as the Vanishing Rasengan.
While he had originally showcased this ability during his acceptance test as a student of Sasuke, it was during the battle against Momoshiki that he used the skill to surprise everyone and helped save the rest of the Kages, Katasuke, Sasuke, and Naruto, from definite annihilation.
Boruto's Jougan
While not much is known about the Jougan, otherwise known as Boruto’s “Pure Eye," it is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating aspects of the anime, as well as the character’s design. When Boruto first showcased the dojutsu, general assumptions surrounded it being a completely new dojutsu or an evolved form of the Byakugan.
However, with the Otsutsuki clan immediately recognizing the Jougan, and Momoshiki prophesizing the “blue eyes” to be the cause of huge loss for Boruto in the future, other theories regarding the dojutsu being an old kekkei-genkai that has not been witnessed for ages has widely been adopted. Regardless, it is one of those secrets that will definitely keep fans hooked to the series.
Naruto Harnessing Baryon Mode
In one of the most badass moments of the entire anime, Naruto ups the ante during his fight against Isshiki Otsutsuki by revealing his most powerful transformation yet, the Baryon Mode.
While this mode has its drawbacks, draining every ounce of chakra within Naruto and even resulting in the eventual death of Kurama, this transformation changes Naruto’s chakra into raw unadulterated power, which is simply breathtaking. Seeing the beloved hero of the canon risk it all has to be one of the most brilliant moments that Boruto has ever had.