Summary
Kakashi’s absence from Boruto became increasingly strange, especially since Shikamaru had become Hokage at the start of Two Blue Vortex. While the creators have given a reason for Kakashi’s absence, Boruto still needs an in-universe reason to avoid being considered a plot hole. The lack of presence of the former Hokage is a growing plot problem that needs to be resolved sooner or later in Two Blue Vortex.
Put Shikamaru in the Hokage chair at the start Boruto: Two blue whirlwinds unfortunately that makes it even more obvious that Hatake Kakashi is absent from the plot. Despite being an important character in and out of the series, the former Team 7 teacher and later Hokage has not appeared since Boruto began. His whereabouts need to be answered definitively in this sequel.
It’s understandable that the older characters will retreat as the timeline goes on, but Kakashi was strangely underutilized in the first half of Boruto. Now, with Shikamaru becoming Hokage at the start of Two Blue Vortex, the Copy Ninja’s continued absences become even more eerie, seemingly without even consulting his replacement. . While the creators have given their answer, Boruto still needs a clear excuse in the universe, otherwise it would simply be a hole in the plot.
Boruto’s timeskip only made Kakashi’s absence worse
The main problem is that Naruto’s plot is punctuated by a Hokage about to retire, a precedent that Boruto is trying – and failing – to ignore. The story made Hiruzen Sarutobi ubiquitous, along with his strange return as the Third Hokage; Obviously, the old leaders can retake their positions if their replacement leaves. While Kakashi left Konoha to pursue his own interests, he should have found Naruto’s “death” one way or another and consulted as a former Hokage. Instead, he appears to be trapped in another manga, while Shikamaru becomes the Eighth Hokage without the Sixth’s interference.
Masashi Kishimoto and the other creative heads behind Naruto and Boruto gave a reason for leaving Kakashi out of the story: Boruto was about a new cast and there was no obligation to reintroduce each character. While this was an acceptable explanation, one still could not pretend that the last leader in Konoha’s political and military structure was suddenly no longer relevant. Even a brief panel, just Kakashi saying he was too old, too injured, or too “something” to be Hokage would have been enough. As it is, his absence is a growing plot hole that needs to be filled.
Of course, Two Blue Vortex is just getting started. There will be plenty of time to resolve these unanswered questions, but clearly the sooner the better. With Boruto’s quick return in the sequel and Shikamaru’s on-screen presence in the first chapter, there will certainly be enough people to ask and answer about the whereabouts of the man who should have been the replacement Hokage. However, if Kishimoto and his team continue to lock up Kakashi for no in-universe good reason, readers will think that Boruto: Two blue tornadoes won’t fix the narrative problems of its predecessor.
Boruto: Two blue whirlwinds is now available to read on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump app!
