As an unforgettable protagonist of the flourishing shōnen genre, Naruto is a core foundation of anime’s global success today, stemming from the character’s inspiring shinobi ethic and his expansion of the series’ intricate power system. There’s no doubt that the originalNarutoseries fully maximized its protagonist’s potential, rewarding him with impressive power-ups that impacted the story profoundly.
Unfortunately, theBoruto: Naruto Next Generationssequel may have impacted Naruto’s reputation as a terrific shōnen character, with the Baryon Mode ability pushing the agenda. The ability came at a great cost, dividing fans on how well it measures up to his vast powers. However, regardless of the controversy surrounding Naruto’s Baryon mode,it still represents Naruto’s greatest strength — sacrifice.
Justifiably, it’s also an efficient power-scaling narrative to remind viewers of Naruto’s influence in the shinobi world despite theBorutoseries’ focus on the younger generations.
Boruto’s Chaotic Power System Lessened The Grand Effect Of Naruto’s Greatest Power
It Made Viewers Miss The Significance Of Naruto’s Final Power Up
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’debut in 2017 was packed with a lot of promise, riding on Naruto’s mega success as one of the defining titles of the shōnen genre. The sheer spotlight and expectation on the series alone might be contributing factors to why the series is judged harshly among critics.
Borutowas predicted to be an extension ofNaruto’svibrant story.To viewers’ angst,Borutointroduced new, unusual developments into the shinobi world in a seemingly thriving era of peace.It deconstructed the germane concept of the Shinobi narrative by employing new elements like technology in a jarring manner that didn’t really fit into the story’s precedents.
Regardless, fans could still tolerate these new developments until the series thwarted thestrengths of esteemed characters like Naruto and Sasuke; characters that formed the basis ofNaruto’spresent-day success. The story does this by using the Otsutsuki clan to underscore the need for Boruto and his cohorts to surpass the current shinobi, weakening the relevance of characters like Naruto to the story.
This approach, however, is greatly flawed as the Otsutsuki are shallow villains with no resonating or remotely appealing mission apart from world destruction that benefits their alien origin.Boruto: Naruto Next Generationsconstantly overplays the Otsutsuki construct, leading to forced and flawed growth in the abilities of Boruto and Kawaki— central characters at the forefront of the agenda.
These undulating factors greatly weakened the global acceptance of Naruto’s Baryon Mode debut, even if, in theory, thepower surpassed his past iconic transformations, such as his Sage of Six Paths and Asura modes. Frankly speaking, the Baryon mode controversy is merely circumstantial, and while it’s unjustifiable, it doesn’t take away the rewarding impact on Naruto’s legacy.
Despite The Series’ Nerfing His Abilities, Baryon Mode Is A True Reminder Of Naruto’s Resolve
Naruto Doesn’t Flinch Even When His Life Is The Price To Pay For Peace
One admirable trait that distinguishes Naruto from many shōnen protagonists is his resolute nature to not compromise his aspirations. The Naruto series makes this crystal clear as the protagonist succeeded in achieving his childhood dream of becoming the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Time and again, through notable events, one being the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto proved his resolve to make an impact in the shinobi world, exemplifying what it means to be the ideal shinobi. Somehow, this exemplary trait is underutilized in Naruto, sorely to let Boruto shine as the upcoming protagonist, until Naruto’s resolve is revived through Baryon Mode.
With the help of Sasuke, Naruto inShippudenwas able to triumph over Kaguya, securing the Shinobi victory over a god-like villain with immense control of chakra. Interestingly,Borutorenews the Otsutsuki saga through Isshiki, a foe similar to Kaguya in strength. The initial clash between Naruto and Isshiki proves how Naruto pales to the villain in terms of strength.
This leads Naruto to a final resort, where he is resolved to gamble his life to defeat Isshiki. The gamble pays off significantly, as Baryon Mode boosts Naruto’s combat power astronomically. The power boost enables him to not just parry Isshiki’s attack but to overwhelm him in strength.According to Kurama, Naruto’s tailed-beast sidekick, Baryon Mode, is a dormant power that has always resided in Naruto.
An underlying meaning to the use of Baryon Mode hints at Naruto’s willingness to sacrifice his life in the act of service, reminding fans of Naruto’s generous nature as a leader and a shinobi.
In other words, it’s an original strength that wasn’t awakened inBoruto, but was delayed due to its life-threatening drawbacks. Essentially, Baryon Mode draws from its users' lifespan, requiring precise, careful use, and this allows Naruto to shave off Isshiki’s lifespan, contributing to the villain’s eventual demise.
Baryon Mode Is The Greatest Not Just Because Of The Power It Brings, But What It Represents
It Shows How Sacrifice is at The Heart of the Naruto Story
“Sacrifice” has always been at the heart of theNarutoseries. To become a shinobi, one must be willing to commit to a greater cause, involving servitude. In theFourth Great Ninja War, Naruto stood out from the rest as a result of his willingness to bring peace to the shinobi world, even to his detriment.
Consequently, it’s hardly surprising that Naruto’s greatest power flows from a sacrificial perspective, involving laying his life on the line.Even though Kurama explains to Naruto the drawbacks of using Baryon Mode, the esteemed hero doesn’t flinchand is prepared to die for a noteworthy cause.
However, as we would soon discover,only Kurama’s life was sacrificedat the end of the battle with Isshiki; a tragic development that can be traced to Naruto’s influence as a jinchuriki over the tailed beast.
Over the course of constant battles, Naruto’s infectious personality won over Kurama, who had been subject to maltreatment from humans throughout his life before meeting Naruto. What started as forced collaboration between the two blossomed into a rich friendship that transcended social ties and stigma associated with jinchuriki and their tailed beasts.
At the very center, Baryon Mode is not just a notable power-up Naruto capitalizes on, but a true representation of how sacrifice is woven intoNaruto’sstory.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Cast
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows Boruto Uzumaki, the son of Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, as he joins the Ninja Academy amidst changing times for shinobi. As mysterious events unfold, Boruto’s journey begins, establishing a new chapter in the Naruto universe. Released in 2017, the series expands on the ninja legacy.
