Boruto’s return with new manga Part 2, Boruto: Two blue whirlwinds, includes a strong reintroduction of main character Boruto – proving to readers that he has finally broken the mold of shōnen protagonists and become a truly unique character. Fans have been waiting years for the Boruto story to hit the timeskip. After the manga took a break to build on the series’ next installment, Boruto changed more than just his outfit.
The Code franchise’s most disappointing villain returns to wreak havoc on Konoha in the first chapter of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex to lure the young Uzumaki out. Like most of Kara’s leader’s current plans, it backfires when Code threatens Sarada and is surprised by an ambush. Boruto makes his grand entrance in chapter #1 by charging into battle against Code while wearing a black jacket, cape, pants, and katana. He appears on the villain’s face, with a smug attitude and dark glare that he may have borrowed from his master, Sasuke. Years of being hunted as the seventh Hokage’s killer have turned Part 1’s unlikeable protagonist into something more akin to an anti-hero than the Hokage’s whining son.
Boruto’s appearance shows that he is now a very different protagonist
Boruto lived a comfortable life throughout his childhood, especially compared to Naruto and Sasuke. However, at the end of Boruto’s first half, that was taken away from him. The once loved and appreciated Boruto is now the Fire Nation’s most wanted man after being accused of murdering his extremely famous father. While chapter #1 only showed a glimpse, Boruto changed from a typical optimistic shōnen hero into something more interesting and unique. He was now despised by the world for all the wrong reasons, and judging from the change in his appearance and attitude, this ordeal had a strong impact on him.
The changes to the series’ main characters are an interesting contrast to the upbeat and energetic style that Boruto often exemplified in Season 1. Although some of Boruto’s new character designs are completely meaning, but Boruto’s new appearance says a lot about the character with just one look. His cold stare, scar, and tired eyes all prove that this storyline now has the potential to be something different. In shōnen series, the “dark and moody” stereotype is often reserved for supporting characters, such as Vegeta and Sasuke. They have a chip on their shoulder or a dark past that affects their outlook on life, making them the perfect counterpoint to the protagonist’s always optimistic attitude. However, in this case, the scenario is reversed and the main character is the one with a dark (and cold) outlook.
Three years of being hated and hunted changed Boruto
Very few shounen stories explore what happens to the hero when they are suddenly looked down upon and how that changes them over the long term. How deeply Boruto’s transformation will affect his personality will likely be revealed in future chapters. However, his pensive appearance and arrogant entrance seem more like Sasuke than Naruto. This is a unique approach that could finally free Boruto from the burden of comparison to his more famous father. With Kawaki, Konoha and Code all chasing him, it was only a matter of time. Boruto could show them – and readers – how the past three years have changed him and how he has become a main character in shōnen.
Read Boruto: Two blue whirlwinds on the Shonen Jump App and Viz Media.
