I can’t believe that this is a real question Naruto stans are asking. Like, whether Boruto is stronger than Naruto, it doesn’t matter. Though, that might be because I’m one of those anime weebs that doesn’t even consider Boruto: Naruto Next Generations as canon half the time. And that sounds harsh, I’m sure but there is just so much that frustrates me about the situation of the franchise post-Naruto Shippuden ending, and the Boruto continuation is 95% of it. But since the mantle has been passed, the question only feels natural right?

Well, if you had to twist my arm and ask whether Boruto is stronger than Naruto, I’d actually have to give it up to Boruto Uzumaki. Solely because after his fight with Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, Naruto ended up losing most of his powers. And right now, Boruto just keeps getting stronger. But Naruto is the Hokage and that experience does count for something. Plus, he’s Boruto’s father, having fought and won an entire war before Boruto ever came into the picture.

In a way, you can’t help but compare the two. At the same time, it’s an unfair comparison to make. There is just so much that has happened to both Naruto and Boruto in the latest chapters that it’s hard to gauge where either character stands. But even if you’re a newcomer to the franchise who started with Boruto instead of Naruto, it’s clear that Naruto has a much more complex history than his son. You do have an idea of Naruto’s peak, but Boruto has only just begun.

In the end, it actually isn’t about whether Boruto is stronger than Naruto. Likely, he will be poised as being the series’s strongest sometime in the future. But how much of that would feel earned, and how much of it is the writer’s nerfing characters like Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha to make Boruto and his cohorts stand out, is something to take a look at. So today, let’s see if the son surpasses the father in another round of Character Versus! 

Naruto Uzumaki: Best Believe He’s An Icon!

I actually struggled with how to start this off but really, what can be said about Naruto Uzumaki that we already don’t know. Seasoned Naruto and Naruto Shippuden fans know that he isn’t just an anime character we liked growing up. The series shaped the landscape of anime for a long time before it ended, and Naruto is just as memorable as some of the greats that came before him.

Part of it is the fact that Naruto is a Shounen protagonist in the most traditional way. He was an underdog who was overlooked by the masses and ostracized for something he couldn’t help. But through stubborn hard work and the Power Of Friendship™, we see Naruto grow from this annoying but empathetic kid into the hero of the Shinobi World. And that journey isn’t done overnight. He had a long way to go before he could achieve his lifelong goal of becoming the Hokage. 

As the protagonist of his series, Naruto obviously ended up becoming the strongest character. Not only was he imperative in the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto also became a beacon of hope for those like him, ostracized children with no one left to love them. In reality, maybe Naruto’s greatest powers are his kindness and understanding. Though that sounds like traditional fare for most Shounen protagonists, Naruto truly embodied it and made the most unlikely allies. 

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Naruto was also born to be the best in the games. As the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, he inherits the massive chakra reserves of the Uzumaki Clan, as well as the legacy of the Will Of Fire that the ‘Yellow Lightning’ was known for. But his ultimate trump card is the Nine-Tailed Fox that was sealed inside him upon his birth, making him the most powerful of the Jinchuuriki.

And if that wasn’t enough, Naruto teachers happen to be some of the most skilled Shinobi in the world, including Kakashi Hatake, Jiraiya, and the Toad Sages, to name a few. Hell, Jiraiya was his Godfather, with the legendary Sanin becoming his mentor and helping him gain more control over Kurama. However, only someone like Jiraiya would’ve been worthy of teaching him, as Naruto happens to be the reincarnation of Asura Ōtsutsuki, the son of the famed Sage Of Six Paths.

I could also talk about the various abilities that Naruto has showcased over the years, like his Sage Mode and the Kurama Chakra form he takes when in sync with the beast inside of him. But really, you know Naruto is the strongest character in his universe, just barely being rivaled by Sasuke, who happens to be an incarnation of Indra Ōtsutsuki himself. Plus, he has years on his side, wars and all, that add to his prowess as a Shinobi.

Boruto Uzumaki: The Heir To The Throne?

Okay admittedly, Boruto is strong. I mean, he has to be. He is Naruto’s son, after all, and the protagonist of his own series. His lineage includes that of his dad and his mother, Hinata Hyuuga. And that’s not to mention how he also has powers of the Ōtsutsuki, thanks to the Kāma seal placed on him by Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, which is similar to the Kurama situation with Naruto in that it is a mysterious but volatile power source. 

And the potential that Boruto shows is more than his father did at the same age. That could be attributed to the fact that Boruto grew up in a much more inclusive environment, one that nurtured him instead of alienating him, like it was with Naruto. Because he was trained fairly and given the same amount of attention and training as other Genin of his class. And so, he flourished. Though, it’s important to remember that because of this, he also grew up to be a different person from Naruto. 

Boruto is much less of a team player, at least in the beginning. He is naturally gifted and takes pride in that fact, showing more tact than Naruto did back in the day. Craftier than his father was at the same age, Boruto shows great promise for being a skilled tactical fighter. Perhaps that’s why Sasuke decided to take him on as a pupil, because he does inhabit a lot of the same skill set that could benefit Boruto in the long run. Add to that the Byakugan bloodline, alongside an intellect that is clearly a young Minato in the making, and it’s no wonder Boruto is often considered a sort of prodigy. 

With his clear prowess in almost every type of combat he picks up, it’s easy to see how quick Boruto is when it comes to learning. In the Ryūchi Caves, the snake even commented that, with the proper training, he can easily master Senjutsu. And of course, he’s the only person we know off that can use the form of the Jōgan, which is a Dōjutsu similar to the Sharingan and Byakugan and enables him to see beyond dimensions? Like that’s insane. 

So, it’s not like Boruto is a lightweight either. And he’s still so young, all things aside. Not only does he have the family background, but his intellect and quick thinking is above and beyond most Genin his age. As we speak, he is clearly one of the more powerful individuals of the series, and he’s only 16.

Winner: Boruto Just Might Have Won This!

Look, it’s clear that Boruto is shaping up to be the stronger blonde Shinobi here, but hear me out: That was a given. Naruto has had his story told. We have seen him go from this orange little menace to becoming a war hero that is respected for his loyalty to Konohagakure and his selfless love for the people that he meets. We have seen Naruto hit heights unfathomable to him, and become the best version of himself. 

So naturally, he was going to have to take the backseat at some point if Boruto wanted any chance to escape such a legendary shadow. And honestly, I get it. Boruto had to show more potential than his father for old Naruto fans to be interested in reading Boruto’s story at all. It’s not a replacement, but a passing of the torch.

Sadly that meant the death of Kurama himself and Naruto losing his powers in a battle with Isshiki. But while Naruto might’ve lost a lot in terms of raw power, he still has decades of experience being a Shinobi. For now though, the spotlight is on Boruto and to see what he’ll be doing next.