AlthoughBorutois the continuation of the legendaryNarutofranchise, the series has many differences from its predecessor and one of the biggest ones isthe antagonist and villain cast. The villains fromBorutoattracted a fair share of criticism for being not as compelling as those fromNaruto, and for often lacking motivations that could truly resonate with fans. This is understandable when comparing them to shonen icons such as Orochimaru,the Akatsuki, or even Uchiha Madara.
While someBorutovillains managed to stand on their own, especially Momoshiki due to his connection with the protagonist, others like Code have become infamous as examples of what fans don’t like about the series. However, in a recent interview with Masashi Kishimoto, creator ofNaruto, and Mikio Ikemoto, co-author and artist ofBoruto, the two discussed their villains and antagonists, and why they were the way they were. Ikemoto’s answers explain a lot aboutBoruto’s villains, making them perhaps less questionable.
Boruto’s Antagonists Might Be Different, But They’re Good
Villains Come In Many Different Flavors
The interview took place during the annual “Nuit a Konoha” event, a celebration of the Narutoverse held in France, a country that loves manga perhaps more than any other in the world except Japan. After Kishimoto revealed how he wanted to humanize the “bad guys” in the series by giving them a tragic backstory and justified motivations, Ikemoto talked about how he went a different route andmade the villains truly evil.
The interviews quoted below have been translated by fans so there may have been some inaccuracies.
A defining feature inNarutois how human the antagonists are, showing compassion and care despite their heinous actions. From Zabuza and Haku in the first arc, the series continued a trend whereNaruto’s enemies were given a second chance to atonefor their crimes, while also condemning them. Characters like Itachi, Obito, Nagato, Orochimaru, Danzo, Kabuto, and even Kurama, became much more charming and realistic, and the series' message about atonement was brilliantly demonstrated through them.
In the context of theNarutoworld, this made sense as the world was in constant conflict and war, producing victims-turned-villains and child soldiers willing to do anything to usher in their vision of peace. However, inBoruto, the world enjoyed peace, and while fighting never ended, cooperation between the main and small villages ensured the scale of conflicts was minimal. Thus,it wouldn’t make sense to have tragic heroes in theBorutoseries, as there wouldn’t be a compelling motivation, and it would feel forced and contrived.
Another reason Ikemoto opted for a different route is thatit would feel redundant to repeat the same formula from its predecessor, and this was yet another way to underscore thatBorutois Mikio Ikemoto’s manga, as Kishimoto said. With the encouragement from his mentor to differentiate the series as much as possible,Borutohas produced some memorable villains, such as Momoshiki, and Jigen, and now Jura is looking up to be a fantastic addition to the cast inBoruto: Two Blue Vortex.
Naruto’s Kishimoto Is NOT Responsible For Boruto’s Best Twists (Contrary to What Fans Think)
The creator of Naruto revealed who came up with Boruto’s huge plot twist in the series' first part – and to many fans' surprise, it wasn’t him.
While coming up with proper motivations for the villains was made more difficult, it was certainly a breath of fresh air and allowed for more interesting directions.Borutohas endured more than its fair share of criticism, and much of it was directed at its villains. It’s true that Kara could hardly ever hope to reach the heights of Akatsuki, but it’s comforting to learn that this was due to the creator’s specific vision.Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s current success shows that Ikemoto vision has its merit, and the “pure evil” villain trope can also work.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Borutois the sequel to theNarutofranchise, created by Masashi Kishimoto and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto. It follows Boruto Uzumaki, Naruto’s son, as he navigates the challenges of being the Hokage’s child while forging his path as a ninja. The series explores the evolving world of shinobi and introduces new generations of characters while maintaining the franchise’s core themes of friendship, perseverance, and legacy.
