It's close to impossible to have a discussion about the greatest shonen anime ever made without mentioning the phenomenon that is a staple of everyone's childhood, with everyone interested in the franchise growing up along with the titular character as he fought to bring peace to the ninja world, become Hokage, and save his friend from the clutches of darkness.
The show was so immensely successful that Boruto is a better protagonist than his father.
While this statement might sound ridiculous, the five reasons mentioned below do make a strong case in favor of this viewpoint. However, Naruto will always be one of the greatest shonen protagonists of all time, and there are five more points listed below that add weight to this notion.
BORUTO: His Tale Seems Fresher And More Energetic
Naruto had touched upon a number of story beats that, while fresh at that time, have certainly become somewhat stale over time.
This is not the case with Boruto, whose power level and motivations are completely different from the usual run-of-the-mill shonen protagonist. This can certainly set up some interesting scenarios indeed. Of course, not like there's anything wrong with an established formula...
NARUTO: The Quintessential Shonen Protagonist
While the idea of a generic protagonist might seem somewhat uninteresting, it must be said that Naruto has enough unique qualities to set him apart from the rest of his contemporaries.
As the classic shonen protagonist, Naruto is an easy character to relate to and one of the major reasons why the show was so popular in its heyday.
BORUTO: Access To A Whole Slew Of New Powers
The shinobi world was still pretty fresh at the inception of Naruto, and it took several episodes and moments to help build the world everyone knows and loves to this day.
Boruto is now smack dab in the middle of a fleshed-out world, with the potential to access a slew of new powers that can contribute to some truly excellent fights.
NARUTO: His Trademark Jutsu Have Become A Series Classic
However, as interesting as it might be for Boruto to explore an improved ninja landscape and develop unique powers, one can't deny that one of the biggest highlights in Naruto was watching the titular ninja working his butt off to develop ninjutsu that has become the stuff of legends.
From the classic Shadow Clone Jutsu to his patented Rasengan that he improved over time, there's no ceiling that Naruto wasn't able to transcend in his quest to become Hokage.
BORUTO: The Scientific Ninja Weapons Have Potential
While the idea of having fabricated ninjutsu might not sit well with the purists of Naruto, one can't deny the fact that combining scientific principles with the laws of ninjutsu can prove to be quite interesting.
The sheer number of ways in which these scientific ninja weapons can turn the tide of battle in Boruto can be quite staggering, and it's a given that fights will only be improved with these dynamic qualities.
NARUTO: The Powers Of A Jinchūriki Are Nothing To Trifle With
Being a jinchūriki is no laughing matter, carrying with it a ton of responsibility and grief as people pretty much turn this person into a social outcast of sorts.
However, being a jinchūriki also means gaining access to Tailed Beast Chakra and accessing a slew of unique abilities, which can lay waste to anything in the jinchūriki's path.
Suffice to say, Naruto's relationship with the Nine-Tails was a treat to watch, and its impact in battle was even more eye-catching.
BORUTO: Gaining Access To A New Dōjutsu Can Be Promising
However, Naruto is not the only character with some unique tricks up his sleeve. Over the course of the show, Boruto also gains access to a form of dōjutsu called Jōgan.
The fact that the full potential of the Jōgan hasn't really been explored yet is a promising sign of the things to come in this new chapter of Naruto.
NARUTO: His Relationship With Sasuke Is The Heart Of The Series
The bond that Naruto and Sasuke share is one of the defining pillars that Naruto stands on, and for good reason. Starting out as rivals, both Naruto and Sasuke form a deep bond that is severed by the latter in a bid to attain more power.
The subsequent promise by Naruto to Sakura and his one-track mind to pull Sasuke back from the jaws of darkness is truly compelling, and one of the highlights of Naruto.
BORUTO: His Strained Relationship With His Father Is Interesting
Of course, Naruto isn't the only character with a special relationship that needs to be preserved. Boruto also experiences a similar type of emotional turmoil... in the form of his relationship with his father.
While this might be a point of contention in the series, one can't deny the fact that watching Naruto engage with a son who feels ignored is quite interesting in every sense of the word.
NARUTO: His Unwavering Goal To Become Hokage
From the very first episode of Naruto, the protagonist declares his goal that he would achieve no matter what — to become the Hokage of the Leaf Village.
The fact that he never backs down on his word and always tries to gain the approval of his peers and become a leader goes to show just how dedicated Naruto was to this seemingly impossible goal, and fans couldn't help but be enraptured by this brilliant tale.
