Masashi Kishimoto Still Has Time to Fix Boruto by Undoing a Mistake Even Akira Toriyama Made

SUMMARY

• Masashi Kishimoto still has an opportunity to turn things around and make Boruto relevant again.
• His decision to sideline Naruto in Boruto proved him costly, but it can also be fixed just like Toriyama did in Dragon Ball.
• If Kishimoto brings Naruto back into the narrative, he can rekindle the spark that made the original series so iconic.

Boruto may well be the star in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations series, but he often comes out a bit off for the viewers. And the problem, in fact, starts with Boruto himself! There is one major reason why the reception of his character has been so lukewarm for the fans, and Masashi Kishimoto, the mastermind behind the Naruto universe, still has time to turn things around. How?

Boruto | Credits: Studio Pierrot

The answer would be taking a lesson or two from the legendary Akira Toriyama and not making the very same mistake that he (Toriyama) made in the iconic Dragon Ball series. But what exactly was Toriyama’s mistake and how can it actually help Kishimoto bring Boruto to life and win back his fans?

Where did Akira Toriyama go wrong in Dragon Ball?

Gohan from Dragon Ball GT | Credits: Toei Animation

There was this one time when Akira Toriyama made somewhat of a major mistake in Dragon Ball as he attempted to make Gohan the main character of the series, passing the legacy from Goku. Although subtle, this shift certainly affected the series’ dynamics. Toriyama’s initial intention for Gohan to take center stage backfired, and so later on, several hateful fan responses led him to come up with a gradual 50-50 split between Gohan and Goku’s involvement in the series.

Toriyama then wisely corrected Gohan’s course of action, refocusing on Goku without abruptly replacing him. As a result, Goku remained relevant in the plot and maintained fan enthusiasm for the original protagonist. This strategic adjustment strengthened the series’ fanbase, bringing back nostalgia and familiarity for the OG fans.

In contrast, Masashi Kishimoto’s decision to sideline Naruto in Boruto proved him really costly. Even in One Piece, the original cast (consisting of Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and others) has never been replaced just for the sake of a change, but Boruto on the other hand killed all the fan expectations who craved Naruto and others’ presence.

The only way Kishimoto can fix Boruto

Naruto from Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | Credits: Studio Pierrot

As a certain Reddit comment also suggested, only by somehow reintroducing Naruto into the Boruto storyline, Kishimoto will be able to rekindle that spark that made the original series so iconic. If this could be done in a way, that Boruto would organically develop from Naruto’s established foundation set by his father’s enduring legacy, then fans would have certainly been interested to continue the series.

The fact that several beloved characters like Tsunade, Kakashi, Orochimaru, and Rock Lee have been completely neglected in Boruto still makes the OG Naruto fans rage. These mighty characters, who were once an integral part of the story, are now left in the cold.

Boruto’s tunnel focus only on a few characters has led to a lack of richness and depth that was a hallmark of the original Naruto series.

Fans love Naruto all over the world, and his absence surely hurts a lot. So keeping Naruto in a respected position would absolutely allow Kishimoto to maintain emotional attachment and nostalgic value with the fans. His legend should have never been left to die and it should be now going in parallel with Boruto’s ongoing story.

Both Dragon Ball & Naruto anime series are available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Written by Diganta Mondal

Articles Published: 297

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