Boruto Uzumaki

Boruto's teenage appearance in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

In designing the character, Kishimoto intended Boruto to be similar to his father but at the same time avoided facial similarities in the eyes and cheeks due to the fact Naruto had the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Kurama, sealed inside him unlike his son. Additionally, he gave him a simpler costume than Naruto's original one that would yet remain the symbol of the Uzumaki clan. The author purposefully let Boruto wear his clothes casually by making him wear his jacket unzipped since he found it suitable for the character's personality.[10] For the finale of the manga, Kishimoto originally intended to give Boruto the Byakugan, an eye technique which he would inherit from his mother Hinata Hyuga. However, the author forgot about it and instead gave him an unknown eye technique.[11]

In the first few pages of the first chapter Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, an encounter between an older teenage Boruto against another one named Kawaki was briefly shown as a flashforward.[12] The purpose was to attract more fans so they could look forward to the battle as it has a chaotic state to it.[2] The battle against Kawaki was shown instead in the first chapter rather than Sasuke's one against Kinshiki Otsutsuki from the Boruto film to generate a different impact within the fans despite sharing the same storyline. Boruto's teenage design was first illustrated in little time. As a result, Mikio Ikemoto stated that once Boruto reached this moment, the older protagonist's design might change.[13] As the story in the manga progresses, Boruto's facial expressions change when interacting with other character; with the friendly Tento, Boruto's eyes are shown bigger due to the portrayal of Boruto's childish personality. However, upon meeting Kawaki, Boruto's eyes are illustrated smaller due to the author's intent to show a more rebellious take on Boruto.[7]

Due to the staff of the Naruto anime referring to Naruto and Sasuke as "legendary characters", anime developers Pierrot aim to carefully portray Boruto and his friends, the "new generation", as the new protagonists. They also seek to have them developed as the previous generation.[14] However, Kishimoto is concerned about how Boruto and his friends could reach Naruto and Sasuke's strength as he finds it repetitive.[15] Ikemoto stated that Boruto's look is predetermined by the storyline so the author instead could not draw the character on his own completely. However, the scene from the 9th chapter where Boruto creates a Rasengan with his father left a big impression on him, believing it was important for the storyline.[7]

Yūko Sanpei (Japanese) and Amanda C. Miller (English), the actresses who voices Boruto Uzumaki

In the Japanese version, he was voiced by Kokoro Kikuchi in The Last as a toddler; for the Boruto film and anime, he is voiced by Yūko Sanpei.[16][17][18] Sanpei has been a fan of the Naruto manga series ever since she was young. While identifying herself with Naruto Uzumaki's character, the actress noted the bond between her and Naruto became stronger when learning she would voice her son. As a result, once learning she got the role for Boruto's character, Sanpei bought the entire Naruto manga series despite already having it to prepare for the Boruto film.[19] Sanpei was thankful for being offered this position and joked about how Junko Takeuchi became a "father" as her voice role was Naruto. Initially, Sanpei recalls having difficulties voicing Boruto; when she received her script for the film, she began to understand Boruto's concept as the boy who loves his father dearly, which helped her voice the character better.[20] Please with the film Boruto, Sanpei asked Kishimoto to make another one which resulted in Kishimoto asking her to let him rest for another one.[21]

In the English version, he was voiced by Maile Flanagan in The Last: Naruto the Movie film as a toddler and Amanda C. Miller in the Boruto film as a teenager. Boruto is the first main character Miller has ever voiced. While enjoying the work she does as Boruto's English voice, she stated she felt stress about it due to how important her character is considering his role in the story. Miller and the other Boruto English voice actors felt honored to play the characters based on how large the franchise is.[22] Flanagan and Miller found the two family members similar in nature despite having different backgrounds.[23]

First appearing in Naruto's finale, Boruto is a child who attends Konoha's ninja academy and often takes care of his sister, Himawari Uzumaki. Like Naruto, Boruto commits mischief to get attention, but for different reasons. Due to his father becoming the Hokage (the leader of Konoha), he does not spend any time with him as he used to.[24] He makes a brief appearance in Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, where he gives a meal to his comrade Sarada Uchiha to pass on to his father; she becomes motivated to become the Hokage after the day she had.[25] In the 2015 film Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and its retellings, Boruto joins the Chunin examinations while gradually becoming frustrated by Naruto putting the village ahead of their family.[26] Boruto ends up meeting his father's best friend and rival, Sarada's father Sasuke Uchiha, and managed to become his apprentice after learning to use the Rasengan while accidentally creating new variation of it. But when the exams commence, Boruto cheats causing his disqualification. As this happens, Naruto is captured by Momoshiki Otsutsuki while protecting their village from the alien's attack. Boruto realizes the error of his ways and joins Sasuke and the Kage to save Naruto. With the help of Naruto and Sasuke, Boruto defeats the enemy Momoshiki with his Rasengan. Although he resented the Hokage position, Boruto becomes resolute to become strong to protect his village's leader in the same way as Sasuke and entrusts Sarada to be a future Hokage instead of himself.[26] Boruto also reprises his role in the novel adaptation of the movie,[27] as well as part of an omake from the manga Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan Legend where he trains with the title character.[28]

While the movie and manga open to Boruto after his graduation from the Ninja Academy, the anime adaptation shows him when still attending the school. Boruto manifests an Eye Technique called "Jōgan" or that allows him to see people's contaminated chakra.[29] This enables him to solve the mystery of a "Ghost" corrupting fellow villagers alongside his friends, by finding the culprit. Boruto and his friends take a trip to the village of Kirigakure, befriending the young ninja Kagura Karatachi while stopping a coup by loyalists of their village's horrific Blood Mist traditions.[30] Boruto later graduates and forms the new "Team 7" alongside Sarada and Mitsuki under the leadership of Konohamaru Sarutobi,[31][32] and they start taking ninja missions.[33][34] He is also present in two original video animations: one where he indirectly causes his father to be knocked out after accidentally breaking Himawari's doll, and another where Team Konohamaru is sent to stop an apparent thief.[35]

In both versions of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Boruto is branded by a dying Momoshiki with a "seal" in his right hand known as "Karma" (楔, Kāma). After the Momoshiki fight, Boruto becomes a bodyguard to the Fire Feudal Lord's son Tentō Madoka, befriending the boy while teaching him ninjutsu.[36][37][38] Boruto later learns of the existence of a group known as "Kara", and he and his team meet a former Kara member named Kawaki, who is revealed in the series opening scene to become his enemy when the two are older.[12] As Boruto befriends Kawaki, the two learn of Kara's plans, and the consequences of possessing the Karma. During a fight against a Kara member, Boro, Boruto's Karma causes him to be possessed by Momoshiki who seeks to take over his body through the Karma.[39] Fearing the rebirth of Momoshiki, Kawaki tries to kill Boruto in combat and end Karma with him. However, Momoshiki saves his vessels by mixing their DNAs. With the Karma intact, Kawaki is driven to rebel against the village and accidentally scars Boruto who loses his left eye in combat. Kawaki's failure and wishes result in a Kara agent reverting his role with Boruto, changing everybody's thoughts about the identities of both Kawaki and Boruto. As a result, every ninja in the village believe Boruto is a traitor and try to kill him. However, Boruto is saved by Sasuke who decides to take care of him after deducing the true of the reversed thoughts after being confronted by Sarada. Boruto then goes on a 3 year training to prepare for his next fight against Kawaki.[40]

Outside manga and anime, Boruto also appears in the fighting game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, first only in the ending and playable in the expansion pack Road to Boruto.[41] Following Momoshiki's defeat, Boruto can fight against Naruto. Although Boruto loses, his father states he is proud of how much he developed his skills, pleasing Boruto.[42] In 2019, CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama received multiple requests by fans to develop another Storm game but claimed that this was meant to be the final game in the series. Nevertheless, he claims Bandai Visual is up to decide if the developers should develop a new series of games focused on Boruto.[43] He appears in the video game Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker as a playable character,[44] as well as Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Voltage.[45] He is also featured in the Boruto light novels.[46]

Critical reception to Boruto's character has been generally mixed. While comparing Boruto's traits to main characters often seen in other manga series, McNulty felt that Boruto's growth across the anime series helped to make him more likable.[47] On the other hand, Andy Hanley from UK Anime Network said despite his similar design and actions to his father Naruto, Boruto is not like him and has a different personality. Amy McNulty from Anime News Network and Hanley enjoyed Boruto's relationship with his father Naruto due to the differences in their childhoods and how that becomes the focus of the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie. McNulty also liked how Boruto develops as he became afraid of his father's fate during an attack from the antagonist.[48][49] Richard Eisenbeis from Kotaku was critical to Boruto's development, as he felt that his bond with his father at the end of the Boruto film was unthinkable and weak.[50] In a review from the manga, Nick Smith from ICv2 found Boruto as the weak part of the series due to his personality that contrasted the Naruto in the original Naruto series.[51] Alexandria Hill from Otaku USA enjoyed Boruto's fight against the film's villain, Momoshiki, and his team-up with Naruto and Sasuke.[52] Chris Zimmerman from DVD Talk noted how the writers fairly conceived Boruto's poor relationship with his father and how it improves during the climax of the film.[53] Leroy Douresseaux liked how Boruto's character has already started development by the second volume of the series.[54] For the anime, Beveridge remarked Boruto's characterization which he felt was superior to the one from the manga.[55]

Critics still enjoyed Boruto's growth, comparing his initial childish act to a more mature teenager with notable idealism.[56][57][58] Anime Now felt Boruto's first enemies were more lighthearted than his predecessors.[59] Thais Valdivia from Hobby Consolas stated that while viewers of the film may initially dislike Boruto's personality, his character arc helps to make him more appealing adding his fight alongside Naruto and Sasuke as one of the highlights.[60] Viz Media senior director Kevin Hamric noted that while he initially displays a lazy demeanor, Boruto seeks to fight and surpass his father.[61] Sam Stewart from IGN felt Boruto's personality was "far less enthused" as the reviewer commented he found the character's dislike toward his father misguided and finding types of stories too common in fiction.[62] Melina Dargis liked how Boruto realizes his father's goals and joins Sasuke and the Kages in order to save Naruto. Additionally, Dargis noted Boruto's early strained relationship with his father as well as his use of technology to fight might reflect on modern audiences who might understand his character more as a result.[63] Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised how the writers manage to develop Boruto's angst without coming across as "teen whining" and how Sasuke Uchiha decides to train him upon seeing his similarities with his father.[64][65]

The misrelationship Boruto forms with his adoptive brother Kawaki was seen as a striking rivalry similar to the one his father had with Sasuke in the first series.[66][67] Beveridge enjoyed the foreshadow of an older Boruto on a fight against Kawaki in the series' pilot chapter, looking forward to their development.[68] The eventual debut of Boruto in his teenage appearance earned praise by Screen Rant, Siliconera and IGN with former praising his new skills and the latter looking forward to his fated duel with Kawaki which has been attracting more readers.[69][70][71] His personality also stood out for being calmer and more threatening when interacting with Code fitting for Sasuke's student.[72]

Journalists also focused on Boruto's voice actresses. Toon Zone enjoyed Miller's performance as Boruto for making him a come across as a believable male character despite the actress being female. On the other hand, Yuko Sanpei's performance was criticized for giving a pitch equal to that of Junko Takeuchi's Naruto despite the latter being an adult.[73] The New York Times claimed that it was common that young male characters were voiced by women citing other characters with English actresses including Goku from Dragon Ball and Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. Miller also noted that while her character was initially polarizing to viewers due to Boruto not being aware of his father's past, he still acted as realistic child and often showed signs of affection ever since his introduction in the 2015 movie where he cries in joy when being motivated by him.[74] Anime News Network also praised Amanda C. Miller's role as Boruto's English actor, but feeling the voice often sounded more feminine than his Japanese counterpart.[48]

In The Meaning Of Moral Messages In Anime Films Boruto: Naruto The Movie, writers from University of Bengkulu claims Boruto's role involves in his first appearance explores relationships between parents and children which might reach the audience who also tend to suffer these type of relationships. Boruto is already early in the film in conflict with father during their first interactions when their morals about how ninja missions should work as the son is cocky about his own skills while the father instead tells him he should rely on his teammates too. According to the writer, Sarada oversees Boruto's growth as, while she claims that she aims to become the next Hokage, she also believes her teammate also wishes to become one too. By the final scene of the movie, Boruto decides with noticeable smile that he does not want to become a Hokage due to him finding himself fitting like his father but instead wants to be the ninja who will support Sarada once she achieves her dream instead. The firmness of Boruto's stance is also confirmed by the scene that appears, in which Boruto utters his sentence with a smiling face and his stance about what will be achieved in the future.[75]

Antônio Guilherme Bernardes Galletti from University of São Paulo notes Boruto starts noticing the different skills his father possesess when Sasuke has him try to learn the Rasengan which makes the skilled student find a challenging training in his life for the first time. Across the film, Boruto tries taking easy steps to achieve greatness but changes his point of view after seeing Naruto and Sasuke in action for the first time. The film makes Boruto's character become complex when learning of the shinobi code his father and master use which was also compared to the samurais' bushido while developing a sense of individuality when deciding what to do with his life when growing up. Boruto's decision in the ending stands out from other characters who follow their previous generation.[76]

Theatergoers for the Boruto film were given two different types of fans with one of them using Boruto and Naruto's images.[77] Boruto's entire clothing is also being sold as merchandising.[78] Although Hiroshi Matsuyama received a number of requests in 2019 from fans to develop another Storm game, he said that it was the final game of the series. He said that Bandai Visual would decide if a new series of games, focused on Boruto, should be developed.[79] In a popularity poll of the 2015 movie, Boruto was voted as the third best character behind Mitsuki and Sarada.[80] In poll from 2021, Boruto took the top place.[81] Denki Kaminarimon's voice actress, Chihiro Ikki, said she liked how Boruto protects Denki from bullies in the series' beginning having once being bullied when she was younger and saw Boruto as an ideal hero.[82] When Blue Vortex started, Hindustan Times noted that Boruto achieved high popularity online due to the new skills he shows off while facing Code.[83]