10 Missing Naruto Characters Boruto Needs to Revisit ASAP
The success of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is impressive, with dedicated online readership even recently cracking Manga Plus’ Top 10 chapters in 2025. But even as the tension begins to mount while Konoha’s heroes face the Ten-Tails threat in a way they could never have conceived, they feel somewhat isolated. Almost as if Boruto needs some classic Naruto characters back. The reappearance of classic Naruto characters is far from superficial. Shikamaru is now Hokage, Ino Yamanaka and her husband, Sai, continue having supporting roles, and even Sakura returned in chapter #14. But while it’s easy to crave other returns in the form of cameo, it’d be excellent to see similarly important roles for the beloved characters of Naruto.
Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi Hatake in Boruto Naruto Next Generations anime
While it’s perfectly reasonable that Kakashi himself may prefer being in the background, he may find himself having to answer for a lot in Naruto. After all, part of his terms for releasing Sasuke Uchiha at the end of Naruto’s original story is that, were he to ever go rogue, Kakashi would take responsibility. It’s thus uncertain about why Kakashi has at this point remained absent, unless, instead of seeking out Boruto due to his links to Sasuke, he is bearing the cross in a different way. After all, he trusted a known criminal to be released; whether this means he’s genuinely serving his penance like at Hōzuki Castle (yes, from the movie), remains to be seen.
Iruka Umino
Iruka and Kakashi in Naruto Shippuden Episode 500
Naruto’s first teacher to believe in him, Iruka even attended Naruto’s wedding as his father, upon the future Hokage’s request. While his role for virtually the entire series was as counsel, rather than as a powerful member of society, or perhaps directly because of it, it’s still frustrating that Iruka is absent. What’s worse is, Iruka’s beloved pupil, Lord Seventh, is missing and presumed dead. Iruka would have every right, thanks to Eida’s Senrigan, to believe Boruto to be responsible and condemn his behavior. But Iruka instead remains absent, a perplexing choice for Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto, even if it would paint a better portrayal of Boruto’s altered Konoha standing.
Killer B
Naruto-Shippuden-Killer-Bee
While the anime has incorporated Killer B for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, following the incident with Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, Killer B is powerful, yet somewhat more limited in ability. What’s especially important, though, is that B is also currently the primary living jinchūriki aside from Himawari. This also puts him in a neat position. Given Himawari’s unusual position as more of a human-Tailed Beast hybrid than her predecessors, she will need careful guidance. Kurama has so far given just that, but, to flip the script on Naruto’s training arc with Killer B, it’d be fascinating to see Gyūki offer additional perspective on the levers of power she can turn to be at her best.
Chōji Akamichi
Shikamaru Choji and Ino Fight A Reanimated Asuma in Naruto Shippuden
Ino is back in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, as is Sai, although their roles, being connected to intelligence, defense, and analysis, are more relevant to the plot. While it’s great to see the newest iteration of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, the generation from Naruto is simply untouched in terms of their teamwork. One of Konoha’s proudest defenders, Chōji would be an asset in moments such as Mamushi’s current rampage, or multiple future instances of peril in Konoha. He appeared in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and while it’s important that the legacy characters take a backseat in the new era, it’s bizarre that he and other Jonin are so absent from the frontlines.
Rock Lee
Rock Lee from Naruto putting his fists together.
It wouldn’t be a list of Naruto characters overlooked in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex without Rock Lee. What’s especially painful with his omission from the new sequel manga, aside from his passing roles in Naruto Next Generations, is that his son, Metal Lee, seems to have this curse too.
However, at least Rock Lee got a spinoff anime, and he’s in far better shape representation-wise than Tenten, the shinobi Naruto forgot.
As discussed before, with Might Guy being a fascinating hypothetical Divine Trees addition should they absorb his affinity for Taijutsu, Rock Lee would be among those most devastated that his mentor was captured. However, at least Rock Lee got a spinoff anime, and he’s in far better shape representation-wise than Tenten, the shinobi Naruto forgot.
Tsunade
Tsunade training Sakura during the time Naruto was out of Konoha.
It was puzzling that Kakashi was not apparently more pressured to return as Sixth Hokage in Naruto’s absence. The same may not be said about Tsunade, though, who has been retired for far more long, by comparison. Tsunade’s return doesn’t have to be an impactful death like that of Ōnoki, but she should at least show signs of life. It’s clear that Boruto’s new tighter narrative doesn’t have as much time to linger on characters not actively serving a major role in the story. But it’s still somewhat sad; it’d be fun to see Tsunade living her best life, gambling the house on a sucker’s bet, casually passing by Jura as he enjoys his tea in the village.
Chōjūrō
Chojuro in Boruto
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex already tiptoed out of Konoha when the Divine Trees captured Shinki in the Land of Wind. Branching out to the other villages feels to some extent inevitable, as they’re unique opportunities for the manga’s villains to absorb. Chōjūrō had one of the best Kage glow-ups of anybody in the modern era, his meek personality giving way to his more confident outlook as the Sixth Mizukage. Generally speaking, the Village Hidden in the Mist is one of the biggest missed opportunities to explore in the Naruto and Boruto manga worlds, especially after the Ao incident.
Darui
Darui in Boruto
The Fifth Raikage, Darui is a formidable fighter as noted by Momoshiki in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Much like Chōjūrō, Darui represents another separate village with valuable knowledge the Divine Trees may sometime seek.
Darui, much like the other Kage, holds a great deal of respect for Naruto, and his reaction, alongside others, is important to consider. Boruto is public enemy No. 1 after the Omnipotence Arc, with the world at large seemingly believing he killed his father, and is an Ōtsutsuki. It could have geopolitical implications should Boruto encroach on Hidden Cloud territory.
Kurotsuchi
Kurotsuchi Naruto Boruto Fourth Tsuchikage
Finally, the fourth Tsuchikage, succeeding the late Ōnoki, would be fascinating to witness as she’s had to grow into her role in the past three years. In fact, she has taken to the role of Tsuchikage with pride, taking great stock in the honor of such a title. As such, Kurotsuchi would be a fascinating character in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s tense, emergent threat of the Ten-Tails and its humanoid incarnations. For a shinobi who once fought to stop the Ten-Tails and Divine Tree’s disastrous threat, it’s surely a frightening prospect. Plus, with how Kurotsuchi views the Kage role, she surely may take issue with Shikamaru’s irregular actions.
Orochimaru
Orochimaru in his past as one of the three legendary Sannin
Orochimaru’s hideouts are constantly in use by Koji Kashin and Boruto Uzumaki. If he were paying rent, he’d have every reason to collect a fee from them, but instead, he has remained absent, only briefly mentioned. With the Divine Trees sprouting from Claw Grimes taking a warped appearance of those they consumed, it’d be a mad scientist’s field day.
With the Divine Trees sprouting from Claw Grimes taking a warped appearance of those they consumed, it’d be a mad scientist’s field day.
Instead, Orochimaru is nowhere to be seen. He could still prove to be vital in future chapters, as the manga appears intent on slowly incorporating Naruto characters only when they serve a clear purpose in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. But Orochimaru could reasonably join in anytime; it’s just a matter of when.
Writer
Masashi Kishimoto
Writers
Masashi Kishimoto
Penciler(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Inker(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Colorist(s)
Mikio Ikemoto
Publisher(s)
Viz Media
Naruto (2002) TV Show Poster
First Episode Air Date
October 3, 2002
Cast
Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
已发布: 2025-12-25 04:56:00
来源: screenrant.com
