Timeline of Naruto vs. Boruto: What Changed?
Buckle up, let’s tighten the headband and talk straight—Naruto vs. Boruto, the real glow-up (or glow-down, depending who you’re asking).
The Timeline – When Are We Even?
- Naruto Part 1: Baby Naruto at 12, eating ramen and catching L’s from the village.
- Shippuden: Teenage Naruto at 15–17, saving the ninja world while crying over Sasuke every five minutes.
- The Last Movie: The “romcom-but-still-ninja” arc—Naruto finally realizes Hinata’s been crushing on him since forever.
- Boruto: Fast-forward like 12 years. Naruto’s in his 30s rocking Hokage dad-life (More like a 9-5 dad-life), and Boruto’s 12, complaining that his dad works too much and doesn’t have time for family.
Basically, two decades passed, and the world flipped from “ninja survival horror” to “ninja suburbia with Wi-Fi.”
Character Glow-Ups & Switch-Ups
- Naruto: Orphan, hated by everyone, living with a literal demon inside. Dude’s whole life was trauma + instant noodles.
- Boruto: Has both parents, luxury Hokage house, training AND PlayStation. His big problem? “Dad doesn’t come to my baseball game.”
Naruto = fighting loneliness.
Boruto = fighting aimlessness.
Different vibes, same emotional stakes—just different flavors.
Worldbuilding: From War Scars to Wi-Fi Bars
- In Naruto, every week a rogue ninja was trying to burn down the world. Akatsuki, tailed beasts, Madara—nonstop chaos.
- In Boruto: Villages are at peace. Tech is booming—smartphones, trains, game consoles, even cheat-code ninja tools. It’s less “I might die today” and more “am I still a real ninja if I use gadgets?”
Power Scaling: OP or Nah?
- Naruto: Slow burn. Rasengan ➝ Sage Mode ➝ Kurama ➝ Six Paths. Every power-up felt like blood, sweat, and training arcs.
- Boruto: Straight to alien gods, karma seals, eyeballs with hacks, and Kawaki nuking people as a teen.
Fans are split: some miss the gritty fights, others love the cosmic chaos.
Naruto was “underdog climbing a mountain.”
Boruto is “teenage gods speedrunning destiny.”
Side Characters – The Glow & The Ghosts
- Naruto’s era: Rock Lee’s hard work, Neji’s fate struggles, Gaara’s redemption, Shikamaru’s lazy genius… side characters slapped.
- Boruto’s squad: Mitsuki (Orochimaru’s science baby, creepy but cool), Sarada (mini Sasuke but with ambition), Kawaki (edgy foster brother with trauma).
They’re cool, but let’s be real—nobody hits like OG Team Guy did.
Animation: Clean vs. Raw
- Boruto: Fluid, flashy fights. Naruto & Sasuke vs. Momoshiki (Ep. 65)? Peak anime.
- Naruto: Janky at times, but when Pain fought Naruto or Naruto clashed with Sasuke—those raw, hand-drawn close-ups hit your soul.
Boruto = polished, modern.
Naruto = messy, emotional.
Themes: Survival vs. Legacy
- Naruto: Finding belonging, proving your worth, chasing dreams.
- Boruto: Living up to expectations, carving your own path, escaping your parent’s shadow.
Naruto = “I’ll prove I exist.”
Boruto = “I’m more than my dad’s legacy.”
The Breakdown
| Category | Naruto | Boruto |
|---|---|---|
| Main Conflict | Isolation & War | Legacy, Identity & invasion |
| Power Growth | Slow, earned | Fast, cosmic |
| Technology | Basic, old-school | Advanced, sci-fi ninja tech |
| World | Chaotic & dangerous | Peaceful but fragile |
| Theme | Belonging & dreams | Legacy & self-definition |
Final Word:
- Naruto was that gritty ramen-fueled menace dealing with loneliness and the spoils of human conflict.
- Boruto is the Wi-Fi generation dealing with alien gods and dad issues.
So, is one better than the other? Depends on your vibe.
If you love struggle-to-success underdogs = Naruto all day.
If you’re into futuristic ninja Avengers = Boruto’s your jam. (still, watch Naruto first)
Me? I’ll take ramen with Naruto, then hop on a train with Boruto. Balance.
Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇 or share this with your anime friends for a nostalgic (and maybe heated) debate!
Image credit Studio Pierrot
