Boruto: Two Blue Vortex's Biggest Weakness Is That Fans Already Know The Ending

Summary Boruto: Two Blue Vortex reinvigorates the Boruto series with grown characters and intense conflicts.

The Flash-forward scene of the Boruto series intro may hinder suspense and surprise in the Two Blue Vortex storyline.

After Boruto's lackluster first part, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has taken strides to re-energize the franchise and once again make it one of the most anticipated manga each month. Indeed, with an older, more mature Boruto, and the Next Generation, facing off against what is arguably the Naruto-verse's most powerful supervillain team ever, Two Blue Vortex has ramped up the narrative tension, conflict, and intrigue that originally imbued the series with such great promise. However, the way the first part began threatens to derail Two Blue Vortex's increasingly interesting storyline.

Coming on the heels of the iconic and game-changing Naruto series, few new series had as much build-up and fanfare as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Indeed, whether it was the fandom's excitement to see the return of their favorite characters or its anticipation to see the shinobi of Konoha "ace off against new challenges, the manga community eagerly awaited Boruto's debut with great excitement.

Initially, the series seemed to conform to the expectations of many fans. It extends the Naruto saga by continuing the storyline introduced in that series' epilogue, namely the story of Naruto, Sasuke, and other adult shinobi dealing with the joys and sorrows of being "married with kids" in a world at peace. However, what fans found most interesting was the flash-forward scene in the first few pages depicting Boruto preparing to engage in what seems likely to be an epic battle against a previously unknown adversary named Kawaki.

Boruto's Time Skip Reset the Series for the Better

Two Blue Vortex Has Improved the Sequel in Many Ways

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Despite its initial positive and hopeful vibe, the series failed to take advantage of its honeymoon period. Much of the criticism it received argued that it wasn't as good as Naruto. Indeed, where the earlier series was complex, deep, and exciting; Boruto was shallow, simple, and boring. Many fans disliked the fact that Boruto was depicted as stuck-up, cheeky, and entitled, even if these were perhaps the most original aspects of the character. Moreover, Boruto and his teammates Sarada and Mitsuki were seen as lacking the depth of their parents.

Additionally, more than a few fans felt that the plot was just a repackaging of Naruto stories, but with less creativity. Of course, Boruto was not completely bad. There were plenty of great stories, characters, and innovations. For instance, Boruto popularized the idea of "ninja tech" or combining traditional ninjutsu skills with cutting-edge technology. To be sure, the series did attract a sizable following whose first interaction with the Naruto-verse was Boruto.

Whether as a response to the years of complaints about the series or simply as the result of an organic in-house decision, Masashi Kishimoto decided to give the series a major shakeup in the Summer of 2023. This took the form of a three-year time skip, which reinvigorated the series by focusing extensively on an older Next Gen dealing with a new threat environment, and a new set of devastating villains. The reboot - for most intents and purposes - began to realize the promise the series always had, making the Boruto series exciting again.

The Boruto Series Intro Undermines the Suspense of the Saga

The Initial Flash-Forward May Be Detrimental in the Long Term

Unfortunately, as compelling as the story of Two Blue Vortex is proving to be, the Boruto and Kawaki fight foretold in the first pages of the series hinders its impact and ability to move the narrative forward. The main reason for this is that the series' intro causes a significant lack of suspense. Suspense has been one of the key elements that have made Two Blue Vortex such a joy to read.

However, since the intro shows that the most likely people left standing at the end of the story are Boruto and Kawaki, there's little suspense or tension in whatever confrontation they get into presently to truly keep readers engaged. Will Kawaki survive a confrontation with Jura? The answer is more than likely - yes, otherwise how could he face Boruto on the debris of a demolished Konoha?

Similarly, knowing that Boruto will ultimately face off against Kawaki reduces the emotional impact of the current storyline. While it's unlikely that a traditional shonen like Boruto could kill its protagonist, the scene seen in the flash-forward anticipates that the series will end just like Naruto, with two conflicting friends that will solve their issues with a fight, before their likely reconciliation. Indeed, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has already hinted that this is how things will go. Since readers can foresee the outcome, it's hard as a series to overcome the necessary loss of interest in the story that will result.

Boruto's Series Intro Diminishes The Surprise Factor

It's Unlikely that Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Will Get a Surprise Ending

So far, Two Blue Vortex has dropped a number of surprises that have served to boost reader satisfaction through the addition of the elements of uncertainty and unexpectedness to the narrative. These surprises and unexpected events help Boruto regain the attention of its fan base and convince them to give the story another try. While the element of surprise has been a welcome add-on to the storyline of some characters, its effect is limited on the series' two many characters, Boruto and Kawaki.

Whatever situation they may find themselves in, or the opponent they may be forced to confront, readers know that they will not die, be seriously injured, or otherwise incapacitated prior to the confrontation foretold in the first few pages of the story. Accordingly, at least for Boruto and Kawaki, there are few surprises or well-executed plot twists that will effectively add to a reader's satisfaction.

Naturally, Kishimoto is not beholden to the story told in those first few pages. He could ignore it, or explain it away using a narrative device. However, if he chooses to stick with what was seen in the flash-forward as it is, this means that while Two Blue Vortex has helped the Boruto franchise regain some of its lost fan base, the initial sparkle of the series' first scene is also becoming its greatest weakness.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generation and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex are available on Manga Plus and from Viz Media.