As the story of theBorutomanga has progressed, opinions among fans have been divided. While many love the sequel for its unique approach to the world created by Masashi Kishimoto, there are many others who see it as a less engaging adventure. What a majority of the fandom can agree with is the fact thatthe series has a severe lack of world-building.
WhileNaruto’s world felt vibrant and alive,Borutohas confined its story to a handful of locations, losing most of the appeal of the original. TheTwo Blue Vortexmanga could still correct this decision, making the rest of the Elemental Nations and their inhabitants relevant to the story once again.
Boruto’s World Feels Quite Small
Only a Few Villages and Remote Locations Are Relevant
While working on his original manga, Kishimoto made sure to create a world that would not only house his characters but would also help the story feel dynamic and engaging. DespiteNaruto’s main setting being the titular protagonist’s home village, Konoha, the adventure was rarely ever limited to this singular location. Naruto and his friends would constantly explore and visit other nations.
TheBorutoseries, which focuses solely on the battle between the protagonist andthe members of the Otsutsuki clan, has significantly reduced the locations it utilizes. Besides a handful of outside locations, the story occurs inside Konoha’s borders.Worse of all, the other villages have seemingly become indifferent to the Divine Trees.
If not for Gaara being attacked by Matsuri, Sunagakure would not have shown any interest in supporting Konoha during their battle. Other important places like the Hidden Cloud or Hidden Mist have not even been mentioned in several years, confirming thatBorutohas abandoned their characters.
The Linear Story Prevents More World-Building
The Series Has No Room for Side Plots
One of the main reasons why theBoruto: Two Blue Vortexmanga has not been able to further develop the world ofNarutois because of its strict plot. The first part of the series had several openings that would allow the writers to give the characters a chance to breathe.
Since the world was not in direct danger, the heroes could relax and enjoy their world. Oncethe franchise’s strongest villains, the Divine Trees, were introduced, the plot could not afford distractions, as it would not make sense for the protagonist to explore the world while their opponents loom over them.
The animators working on the upcoming anime adaptation of the manga have talked about this issue,claiming that there is no room for original content. Nonetheless,the lack of filler does not excuse the lack of representationof other villages, as all humans are in danger of being destroyed by Jura’s Divine Trees.
Boruto’s Story Needs To Expand Beyond Konoha
The Series Could Benefit From Expanding Its Cast
Although exploring the vast world of theNarutofranchise would indeed be an almost impossible feat for the series at the moment, there is an easy fix that would allow it to bypass the issue.Boruto’s cast, despite having access to hundreds of legacy characters, has barely made use of them in recent years.
By exploring the ramifications of the Divine Trees’ attack on the Ninja World, theBorutoseries could reintroduce its vast universe without interrupting the plot.
Many fans have complained that beloved characters like Sakura and Kakashi have been relegated to minor supporting roles,one of the timeskip’s biggest flaws. As such, the story could truly benefit from bringing back ninjas from other villages and exploring the effects that Jura’s monsters have had on their homes.
By exploring the ramifications of the Divine Trees’ attack on the Ninja World, theBorutoseries could reintroduce its vast universe without interrupting the plot. This would also aid the franchise in expanding the current cast, which currently focuses on only a handful of characters. There are many amazing warriors whose help could turn the tide in favor of humanity.
Overall, theBoruto: Two Blue Vortexmanga has to find a way to expand its world without compromising its streamlined plot, as they have lost one ofNaruto’s most enticing traits.Bringing back beloved legacy characterscould be a solution, but it is by far not the only one.
