Am I watching Boruto? Yes! But do I like watching it? No! 

And not just me, thousands of anime fans watch Boruto just for the sake of Naruto. Trust me, it’s difficult to watch what Boruto has turned out to be. I still remember how elated I was when Boruto was first announced, but now, my heart sinks a little to see how Naruto’s legacy is massacred every time I watch an episode.

Most anime fans may agree that Boruto is nothing like Naruto and fear it will never live up to its hype. It’s because while Naruto’s story took considerable time to develop, Boruto’s plot always feels rushed.

Besides this, there are several other factors I’ll focus on in this article. Below, I will pinpoint and explain some major reservations most Naruto fans have with Boruto and especially, Masashi Kishimoto. Let’s also take a look at some things that make no sense in the show. 

But before I do that, you may want to rewatch Naruto and Boruto to validate if the following factors make sense. So, why shouldn’t I start by telling you where to watch these shows?

Where to Watch Naruto and Boruto?

Naruto (including Naruto Shippuden) and Boruto are available on Netflix and Crunchyroll. As for me, I prefer Netflix, and thanks to one of the high-speed and affordable Spectrum Internet packages, I’ve downloaded Boruto’s episodes.

This way, I can stream Boruto anywhere, at any time I want without worrying about a spotty internet connection or buffering at all. 

Top 5 Reasons Why Boruto Is Disappointing

Now, that you have a little bit of context, let’s look at some of the major reservations I have with Boruto. 

Naruto Has a Whole Different Personality

Even though there are a lot of disappointing factors in Boruto, Naruto’s personality in this show tops them all. 

Naruto fans remember him as a strong, emotional, ambitious yet witty and stupid character. However, in Boruto, it feels as if Naruto’s personality has taken a 180-degree turn. Let me tell you why I believe this.

First of all, his role as the Hokage doesn’t have to be this dull. It’s because since childhood, all Naruto wanted was to become the Hokage. And now that he has finally become one, is there any reason for him not to enjoy his new role?

Secondly, by no means does it make sense that Naruto would leave Boruto in the hands of Sasuke to train him. Out of all, it was Naruto who understood the pain of being an orphan. So, don’t you think it’s unjustified that Boruto, his son has to beg for his attention?

Lastly, Naruto’s nindo has always been that “I never go back on my words”. And throughout Naruto, we’ve witnessed that he always stayed true to his words. But suddenly, it feels like his nindo has changed as he did nothing for the Village Hidden in the Rain (Amegakure) after holding the Hokage’s office. 

So, all these factors force me to believe that the Naruto we witnessed in the Naruto series isn’t the same as in Boruto.

Orochimaru’s Crimes Are Too Grave to be Forgiven

Naruto fans are familiar with Orochimaru, as he was the one who was introduced as the first major antagonist in Naruto. Now, he’s been forgiven in Boruto and enjoys all the benefits like the rest of the Hidden Leaf villagers.

Anyway, let me remind you of some of the heinous crimes Orochimaru committed, and decide for yourself how could anyone forgive him.

Firstly, well before Orochimaru was officially declared a fugitive, the Third Hokage caught him red-handed in his laboratory. Not only did he learn and practice forbidden Justus, but also performed terrible experiments in that laboratory.

Secondly, how can anyone forget the time he attacked the Hidden Leaf Village? It was the same incident when the Third Hokage lost his life while defending the village from his former beloved student: Orochimaru.

In the grand scheme of things, this event was incredibly important as it led Sasuke to Orochimaru, which was hurtful for Naruto and the rest of the villagers. In short, there is no way anyone could forgive Orochimaru for his past doings, let alone permit him to roam freely in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Boruto’s Work Ethics Are Nothing Like His Father’s

Even though Naruto was a mischievous kid, what set him apart was his hard work and dedication. Also, it’s true that he was the nine-tail jinchuriki, Naruto did not take anything for granted. For instance, do you remember the chunin exams when Naruto defeated Neji?

Naruto was an underdog in that fight, as Neji had been the strongest ninja in that age group. However, the sheer hard work and nifty tactics by Naruto made him the victor. And not just this, even when Naruto was training with the Toad Sage, he did not take any shortcuts to success.

However, Boruto is nowhere near like his father. Yes, Boruto does not lack ambition and wants to become powerful, but does he ever work hard for this purpose? I believe not! Instead, he was caught cheating in the chunin exams with a scientific tool, something which was forbidden.

So, if Boruto, being the son of a great ninja had acquired some similar skills, the story would’ve been more digestible.

Naruto and Sasuke Are Nothing but Ordinary Ninjas

I agree that Boruto should be about Boruto, but how can you significantly diminish the powers of Naruto and Sasuke — two of the greatest ninjas of all time?

After the 4th Great Ninja War, there was a daylight difference between the strengths of Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of the ninjas. However, in Boruto, both Naruto and Sasuke have been seen avoiding and dodging the opponents, rather than taking the fight to them.

Moreover, what is more embarrassing is Naruto and Sasuke’s reliance on Boruto’s side characters. For instance, it was Kawaki who saved Naruto and Himawari in one episode. As someone who’s seen Naruto fight, it does not make sense because Naruto, being a jinchuriki, has the most chakra and has proved to be the strongest among all.

Side Characters Often Get Boring

Arguably, Sakura, Gara, Shikamaru, Lee, Kiba, Shino, Kakashi, Guy, and the rest of the side characters played a massive role in Naruto’s development. Also, this wide range of side characters, who were special in their own way, kept the story alive.

However, I believe Boruto lacks such side characters. Most times, the story revolves around Boruto, Kawaki, Himawari, or Sarada. Moreover, I do not like how Naruto’s side characters have been sidelined in Boruto.

Yes, there may be little cameos by Naruto’s side characters in Boruto, but there isn’t much to cherish for Naruto fans.

Like Naruto, Boruto may stream for the next couple of years. And as a fan, it does not matter if I like this show or not, I will watch it for the sake of Naruto. That said, like all Naruto fans, I’m hoping to see some improvements in Boruto’s upcoming seasons.

Also, here is a subreddit thread on Naruto vs. Boruto. There, you can check out how people are comparing the two shows, or share your experience.