If Boruto Wants to Survive, It’s Time for Naruto to Move On From the Hidden Leaf

While Boruto: Two Blue Vortex appropriately tightened the focus of the Naruto sequel series, one arena it has perhaps stayed in too tightly has been Konohagakure. The Hidden Leaf Village, or Konoha, has largely been the setting aside from brief interludes since Boruto’s return in late 2023, but it is time for the series to embrace different locales.

The most obvious reasoning for this includes how the plot involves dangerous sentient Divine Trees, with the shinobi world knowing how close they came to ruin after the last time one was involved, let alone an Ōtsutsuki. But for Naruto, and especially Boruto, saying goodbye to Konoha, even temporarily, will do a world of good.

Naruto Might Never See the Hidden Leaf the Same Way Again

Before even the start of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, its predecessor laid some key obstacles between Naruto returning to Konoha, and Boruto being fully welcomed back with open arms. After the Omnipotence Arc, with Kawaki sealing away Naruto and Hinata in chapter #77, Kawaki planned only to release them after dealing with Code and Boruto.

With the flash-forward from the beginning, this is very likely the future for the series, even if merely one of the darker timelines teased by Koji Kashin’s Prescience. With Kawaki clarifying that he’d even send Boruto to where he sent Naruto, it’s clear that even with a ruined Konoha, the Seventh Hokage may not see his home again after being freed.

What ultimately caused Konoha’s destruction at the start of Boruto’s story, it’s doubtful that Kawaki and Boruto’s tempestuous battles were the sole root cause. Whatever was threatening Konoha, it clearly destroyed the village, whether it’s a rampaging, feral Mamushi, Code, or some other unnamed menace, with the two more likely to blame each other afterward than contribute to its demise.

But perhaps this occurrence is a good thing. Whether it winds up happening in the near future, or is closer to a final battle for the series, is uncertain. But Konoha’s destruction in Naruto from Pain’s attack led to important developments broadening the story’s horizons, albeit messily, before the Fourth Great Ninja War. Boruto similarly needs to properly leave Konoha behind.

Naruto’s Great Nations and Villages Are Underexposed

Custom Image by J.R. Waugh

Aside from some key instances like a trip to the Land of Wind resulting in defeating both Ryu and Matsuri, and Orochimaru’s hideouts in that same territory being used by Koji and Boruto, little else of the world has been seen. This includes the Villages Hidden in the Mist, Stones, and Clouds.

While this also extends to other nations and minor villages, the point still stands. Boruto is effectively exiled from his home, but he still keeps it at arm’s length. The Divine Tree threat has the power to destabilize entire nations depending on who they consume next, but the story has also done a strong job conveying the need to prevent panic.

But despite efforts like those of Shikamaru to maintain order and keep a tight lid on what information is known by whom, the Divine Trees will do as they please in the pursuit of knowledge. The rest of the shinobi nations, and indeed the greater unexplored world of Naruto and Boruto, is rich with opportunities for their enlightenment.

Whether this means future team-ups or surprising moments like Ao’s return in the original Boruto, remains to be seen. Other Divine Tree iterations, such as Chōjūrō, could present unique opportunities, namely one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist but with Ten-Tails chakra. Beyond the conflict potential, it’d be simply fascinating. It’s a strong case for leaving Konoha.

Boruto Needs to Strike a Konoha Balance

While Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has largely spent time within the walls of Konoha for over two years of monthly releases, Naruto Next Generations before it arguably spent an unusual amount of time anywhere else. While this includes fascinating stories such as Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage overseeing the Hidden Stone Village, it felt at times like portraying a different world.

Boruto is now on the run, though, protecting his home by staying away, knowing this puts his remaining loved ones in less danger of becoming collateral damage. Despite this, Boruto has spent proportionately more time in Konoha, albeit undercover, that one may expect of a fugitive like his master, Sasuke.

Jura even frequents Konoha’s amenities, seen enjoying them in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #27, and Boruto being there merely puts himself at risk. With the Divine Trees being able to quickly capture and devour ninjas of other villages, moving to intercept them could be a good strategic move, such as for defeating Hidari even before Jura is factored in.

This blind spot resulted in Ryu’s awakening in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex chapter #14 after they successfully captured Shinki. If Jura had his way, and if not for Shinki’s protection, they’d have first absorbed Gaara. Being able to cooperate with other villages isn’t just an exciting way to check in on other post-timeskip characters, it’d be for their own good.

Naruto Would Be Heartbroken Upon Returning to Konoha

Putting aside the hypothetical of whether Naruto returns before or after Konoha’s destruction, he would be heartbroken by how it chose to shun his son. Whether the Daikokuten’s pocket dimension is truly frozen in time as Kawaki suggests in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #78, or he was successfully brainwashed, Naruto was a father figure to both Boruto and Kawaki.

It’s uncertain whether the confines of the Daikokuten would affect Naruto or Hinata in terms of shielding them from Eida’s Omnipotence, but Naruto would be equally upset that either of them were driven out. He took Kawaki ub, and in the event that their positions were switched, he’d still be upset that either were deemed an enemy of the village.

Given characters like Sarada, Sasuke, Sumire, Shikamaru, Ino, and others cooperating with Boruto, Naruto will quickly clue in that something is amiss. But upon seeing Kawaki and Boruto’s conflict, it’ll certainly evoke images of Naruto’s countless attempts of getting through to Sasuke. Doing it over the ruins of Konoha though, would be truly tragic for Naruto to see.

Writer

Masashi Kishimoto

Writers

Masashi Kishimoto

Penciler(s)

Mikio Ikemoto

Inker(s)

Mikio Ikemoto

Colorist(s)

Mikio Ikemoto

Publisher(s)

Viz Media

First Episode Air Date

October 3, 2002

Cast

Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei