Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Volume 3 Reread

We're back with my Boruto 10th anniversary reread. Volume 3 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (NNG) is comprised of the last three chapters of the Versus Momoshiki arc before we begin the Mujina Bandits arc.

Chapter 8: You'll Need to Do It

Chapter 8 begins with an excellent opportunity for us to discuss power scaling as plot. So often, conversations about power creep, nerfing, and power scaling are framed in extratextual ways—meaning outside of the context of the story—when in reality, these elements should be viewed as markers to establish characters' current power levels and what that will mean for future conflicts as the plot progresses.

The previous chapter established the power of the Kage team against the Otsutsuki, three Kage-level individuals (the Tsuchikage, the Mizukage, and Sasuke) able to incapacitate Kinshini while the other three handled Momoshiki. After Momoshiki consumes Kinshiki's chakra, entering his fused mode, he absolutely humbles the other four Kage in front of Sasuke, Naruto, and Boruto. Through this, we can ascertain that his abilities have far exceeded those of Momoshiki and Kinshiki together. Before Momo consumed the Edible Chakra Creation, Naruto and Sasuke were fighting on the same level as the other Kage, but once he powers up, they also begin to demonstrate their full potential.

After whisking his son to safety, Naruto and Sasuke confront Momoshiki together. Through the fight, we'll see that while their Otsutsuki adversary was supercharged by the consumption of his ally, Naruto and Sasuke are also stronger because they fight together—that old theme of teamwork popping up yet again.

Something we'll come across again and again in Boruto fights, especially those that involve the older generation, is the shinobi characters testing the strength of their opponents to determine what level of effort (and chakra output) is needed to defeat them, taking into account their surroundings and the possibility of injuring others. Lest we think this is just a way to prolong fights, think back to the Mamushi fight in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex (TBV) in which Hima immediately tried to deploy a biju bomb in Konoha instead of slowly scaling up her attacks to determine the lowest amount of power needed to take on the enemy.

In this fight with Momoshiki, we see Naruto starting off in his normal form and allowing Momoshiki to kick him out of the ballpark once, both testing his power and setting up a trap to catch the arrogant alien once he enters sage mode with Kurama's chakra, the choreography of which is assisted by a fantastic page turn. Knowing Naruto's moves like the back of his hand (the one he still has), Sasuke jumps into the fight, positioning himself to deliver a blow to Momoshiki right after Naruto.

If you've engaged with this scene mostly through the anime or anime clips, it's worth going back to this chapter to see how abbreviated it is in the manga. There are only two hits from Naruto and Sasuke before Momoshiki uses his Inukaitakerunomikoto technique, creating a series of dog-dragon creatures from the dirt to attack Sasuke, prompting Naruto to fully release Kurama. Thus, we enter the Kaiju phase of the battle, Susanoo-armored Kurama against Momoshiki's massive dirt golem. With their abilities combined, this ends in a massive defeat for Momoshiki, leaving him on the ground, drained of chakra and absorbed jutsu as the other Kage finally recover.

The fight could have just ended there if it hadn't been for Dr. Katasuke and his henchman, still trying to get footage of the scientific ninja tool in action. Determined to be the one who finishes off the Otsutsuki threat, the scientist fires off a massive volley of jutsu at Momoshiki, who manages to sit up and absorb them with his Rinnegan. Refreshed, the alien gets to his feet, then traps all of the Kage and Sasuke in Shikamaru's shadow jutsu, which he'd stored from the Chunin Exam. Showing an ability similar to that of Isshiki, Momoshiki summons a series of black rods, piercing Naruto in the shoulder and leg.

"Dammit... This ain't looking too good," Naruto says as Boruto watches on from his position on the roots of the God Tree. This, again, is a power level marker establishing that Sasuke and Naruto put a great deal of effort into defeating Momoshiki, and they might be outmatched by a more powerful, more skilled Otsutsuki who prolongs a fight (foreshadowing the trouble they have with Jigen and Isshiki).

In this moment, Boruto has a flashback to a conversation he had with Sasuke as they walked up to the roof of Hokage Tower, which reflects the title of the chapter—You'll Need to Do It. Sasuke tells his student that there's a reason why he's being taken along, that there's something only he can do if everyone else is disabled, and that it's something only he can do.

I want to compare this text to what appeared in the anime as I find the anime's wording much more enlightening to the entire arc of the series, especially once TBV begins. While I am going to mostly stick to the manga in this reread, I think it's worth referencing the anime at times for additional clarity. After all, Boruto is a rare series that was written knowing that it was going to be adapted into an anime. As such, we should apply this context to the work when reading. This conversation takes place in the same setting as the pages above.

Sasuke: Boruto, what's your Ninja Way?

Boruto: Ninja Way? I never really thought about it. It's so old-fashioned, and I figure it all depends on your feelings.

Sasuke: I see... And you're right. It may be old-fashioned, but during this battle, and in the battles to come, you'll be confronted with it time and time again.

Boruto: I really don't understand...

Sasuke: You'll understand when the time comes. You'll need to do it, Boruto. I'm saying you can do it. Trust my words.

In the manga, Sasuke's words apply specifically to the battle in front of them. In contrast, the anime takes a much longer look at Boruto's development with Sasuke asking him to define his ninja way. When Boruto is at a loss, Sasuke supplies him with the following: You'll need to do it, Boruto. I'm saying you can do it. Trust my words. To steel his student for whatever lies ahead, Sasuke puts his faith in Boruto and tells him to not hesitate in handling things on his own. To put this in the context of TBV, once both Naruto and Sasuke are gone, Boruto's master has already told him that it is his responsibility to handle whatever happens in their absence. This is Boruto's ninja way. In the closing page, we see Boruto forming a Vanishing Rasengan, setting his sights on Momoshiki.

Chapter 9: You Remind Me Of...

Ever since the Otsutsuki arrived in Konoha, Naruto has prioritized his son's safety while also trying to defend the village. Only Hinata expressed specific concern for her husband's well-being during the attack and was injured defending him. Her last words to her son, "I leave your father in your hands," are finally realized when Boruto winds up his Vanishing Rasengan and lobs it at Momoshiki.

Sasuke's faith in him passes through Boruto's head as his small Rasengan sails through the air, Naruto staring on in shock when he realizes his son has mastered their family jutsu. The confidence his master instilled in him keeps Boruto strong as it disappears, leading to skepticism from the Kage who also witnessed his cheating in the Chunin Exam. Another fantastic page flip sneaks up on us as Momoshiki taunts him for its failure in the final panel on one page, getting hit by a jutsu he couldn't see to absorb on the next one. The small Rasengan is enough to shock him into losing control of the shadow jutsu, freeing the adults.

Sasuke gives both Uzumaki an explainer on Boruto's Vanishing Rasengan and the chakra transformation that created it. What follows is a fantastic father-and-son moment of Naruto actually seeing what his son can do, calling him a cheeky brat, while Boruto finally drops the act of trying to impress his father, admitting he doesn't know how he does it and can't create a regular Rasengan yet. We see how far each of them has come in such a short amount of time, overcoming the walls they'd put up between one another. Unfortunately, after this touching moment, Momoshiki pulls some more chakra pills out of his hand and dopes up for the next phase of their battle.

As Momoshiki is caught in the throes of 'roid rage, Naruto asks Boruto to make another Rasengan, assisting him with his own chakra to create a Super Massive Vanishing Rasengan. As it grows, Boruto finally feels the weight of his father's past, the connections, loss, bonds, rivalry, and familial love that helped his father become the Hokage, finally understanding what Sasuke meant about studying who Naruto was in the past rather than focusing on who he became. This is the moment in which Boruto is finally able to claim his father's pain (to use Sasuke's Naruto chapter 699 framing), shedding a tear while Naruto smiles.

With Sasuke taking the lead, master and student launch an attack on Momoshiki, a battle of ninja trickery utilizing Sasuke's Rinnegan and Boruto's Shadow Clones. Boruto's super-charged Rasengan meets Momoshiki's ball of stolen jutsu, the strength of father and son obliterating an alien who gained power by consuming his kin.

Boruto blows his sleeve apart while delivering the Super Massive Vanishing Rasengan straight to Momoshiki's face, reminding us that he was also missing a sleeve in the beginning flashforward scene, and that Kawaki is also missing a sleeve at the beginning of TBV, a fitting representation for their swapped roles.

The Kage, all of whom knew Naruto as a youth, laud Boruto while Sasuke looks at his student, comparing the child with the clean clothes who cheated to the dirty child, sitting on the ground in a battered jacket, now deciding that he finally reminds him of Naruto.

Three points of interest before we move on to our next chapter.

1. It's a little funny that Boruto borrowed his dad's old jacket and destroyed the sleeve, then borrowed his Master's headband for the second time and added a new gash to it.
2. It's also funny that Ikemoto said TBV Boruto dresses well and takes pride in his appearance to honor his master while in the first arc, Sasuke is lauding him for finally getting dirty and tattered.
3. This is actually the important point. The title of this chapter is You Remind Me Of..., ending with Sasuke comparing Boruto's appearance to Naruto. However, in TBV, Sasuke also tells Boruto that he's a lot like Naruto, and it doesn't matter who he really is. What Sasuke is judging both here and later is that Boruto has the soul of a shinobi, not their visual similarities.

Chapter 10: My Story!!

We open with a bird's-eye view of the stump of the Divine Tree, blown apart by the Super Massive Rasengan Boruto used to kill Momoshiki. In TBV, Momo's soul is still suck in this place inside of Boruto's mind, the site of his death existing as a purgatory between life and death, a moment that cursed both of them.

Sasuke helps Naruto up, delivering some snappy dialogue about his friend's sorry state. I think the exchange that follows further illuminates the point I've been trying to make throughout this arc—Boruto is the next proving ground of Sasuke and Naruto's rivalry. I wouldn't be surprised if the end of the series also resolves the remaining tension between the former main characters as well, Boruto's actions during his manga serving as a resounding win for Sasuke's methods as his master.

Boruto is going to need to have the soul of a shinobi for the fate he faces. Led by his injured arm and an eerie feeling, he leaps up to the top of the Divine Tree stump, ignoring his father's summons that it's time to go. What follows is one of those page flips we've been on the lookout for; Boruto stands alone on the empty stump, the words "You can sense me, human child?" floating to his ears. Turn the page and there is Momoshiki, seated high above him. Boruto reacts like a stranger in a white van offered him candy, calling out to his father. Unfortunately, Naruto, as well as the other adults, appear frozen.

On his quest to obtain a vessel, Isshiki went through so many children and scientific experimentation to find one who was compatible for him. Momoshiki, on the other hand, is lucky enough to have a child who inherited Byakugan blood (the anime phrased this differently: You have strongly inherited the power of the Otsutsuki) who is compatible with his Karma and can serve as a vessel.

Momoshiki tells Boruto that he was unable to see his own fate with all his powers—Shinjutsu, we now know—and his Byakugan, but he can see Boruto's fate, speaking the infamous prophecy, "Beware. Those blue eyes shall eventually take everything from you."

Momoshiki grabs onto Boruto's wrist, inlaying his Karma with much more stealth than Isshiki displayed with Kawaki, then imparts more menacing words before disappearing in a wisp of smoke. This ability, to exist for a short period of time as a spirit, is also shared by Isshiki, who uses his moments of incorporeal consciousness to pass the will of the Otsutsuki onto Code.

I don't think it would be a stretch to consider the panels above to be from parallel scenes: Momoshiki cursing Boruto in the last moments of his life, Isshiki blessing Code in the last moments of his, each Otsutsuki trying to find a way to live on in spite of their demise—perhaps that's what Jura meant when he told Boruto that continuing to survive during their fight was very Otsutsuki-like of him. Both boys also find a purpose that sustains them: Boruto's shinobi way (or will of fire, as he invokes at the end of part one) and Code's will of the Otsutsuki, which are handed down by figures they admire (or, in Code's case, worship). These purposes are what sustains them in loss after loss, giving them a guiding light that no amount of lost eyes or lost allies can take from them.

Time begins to move again after Momoshiki's spirit disappears, panels heavily implying that due to his Rinnegan, Sasuke was able to sense some of what happened. We return to Konoha and Team 10, lamenting their increased popularity due to Shikadai's performance in the Chunin Exam.

We get a taste of the difference between Shikadai and Boruto in this scene, who they are as characters at the start of the series and the Hokages' sons in TBV. When Inojin is blaming Shikadai for the work they have to do, he mentions that he had spent extra time training. Shikadai replies, "I gotta try hard every so often or Dad'll lose face. An' I didn't want to lose to Boruto." Through Shikadai's words, we realize that the winner of the Chunin Exam was the one who was training for the right reasons, to honor his father as well as being driven to succeed by his peers. This theme continues when we transition to the Sand ninja who are about to embark on the next train out of Konoha.

This arc is the only one in the manga in which Team Shinki receives any development until Gaara is wounded by the Shinju, Matsuri, in TBV. It's hard to glean much from Yodo or Araya, but the exchange between the Kazekage and his adopted son is slightly revealing. Shinki is lamenting that Boruto took down Momoshiki despite being a weaker shinobi, one he most certainly would have defeated in battle. He recognizes that at his current power level, he had no hope of winning against the Otsutsuki, and is bothered by what allowed Boruto to do so.

Gaara tells Shinki, "No need to be impatient... You all have just started on your own paths. Focus on the road ahead, not the steps of those who walk beside you. You need to first learn that your shinobi way stretches far into the distance." If we tilt our heads and squint, we can see the pieces of the future disaster falling into place—Shinki wanting to take on an enemy far more powerful than himself, his father cautioning him focus on the what's to come while his son is determined to focus on him. These are the factors at play when Gaara tries to protect his students from Matsuri, telling them they're the future of the village, and Shinki breaks free to protect him, leading to the younger shinobi getting bitten by a Claw Grime, and, eventually, Yodo's death at the hands of Shinki's Shinju doppleganger.

From one family moment, we transition to another, breakfast in the Uzumaki household with Naruto present. Boruto proudly puts on his jacket with the stitched shoulder when they leave, Naruto heading to Hokage Tower, Boruto ready to start a new mission. Father and son share a fist bump, Naruto's wrapped prosthetic hand meeting Boruto's wrapped injured hand, a symbol that they now recognize one another.

The arc began with Naruto being interviewed on a television program and ends with his son doing likewise, repeating the sentiment that it takes "teamwork and guts" to be a shinobi and adding a third thing—experience. We transition to new Team 7 standing together on Hokage Rock, Sarada pointing out that Boruto has been receiving so much attention in spite of having cheated in the Chunin Exam. Once again, Mitsuki raises the idea of Boruto becoming Hokage in front of their other teammate, knowing it's her dream as well. This time, Boruto has an answer for her. Echoing Sarada's sentiment during the first round of the Chunin Exam, Boruto says he isn't going to follow the same path as his father. After meeting Sasuke and witnessing him fighting alongside Naruto, he's decided that he wants to be a shinobi like Sasuke. Sarada will be the Hokage, and he'll be "your right hand man, and work hard to protect you!"

Sarada blushes at his acknowledgement of her dream and his sudden "coolness," however, in the romantic context of TBV, we should take a moment to analyze their interaction in depth. When Boruto declares his intent to be like Sasuke, he turns his face away from Sarada, looking forward. To steal a phrase from Gaara, he's looking toward his "shinobi way [that] stretches far into the distance." Sarada, in turn, notices him, staring directly at Boruto. While I'm not going to predict how the plot will unfold in TBV at this point, this scene seems like an early harbinger of the romantic dynamics currently at play, the girls focusing on Boruto while Boruto remains so fixed on his goals that he fails to notice them.

The other significant part of this scene is that Sarada notices Boruto, then purposefully turns away from him—in the anime, going so far as to actually leave after experiencing the first flash of feelings for him. This is the start of Sarada averting her eyes from her attraction to Boruto, fearing that it will get in the way of her dream to be Hokage, which leads to her repressing both her emotions and her Mangekyo Sharingan.

Something that's notable about the Boruto manga is that the moments when Sarada and Boruto are closest are always interlaced with tragedy and sadness. As a pair, they don't receive moments purely for the sake of connection. In the novel based on the Boruto movie (and, I'm assuming, in the movie itself), Sarada notices that Boruto's eyes are bluer than Lord Seventh after they win the second round of the Chunin Exam, a moment of closeness disrupted by Boruto's guilt over having cheated. In the manga, it's moved to this scene. Sarada notices Boruto's blue eyes, which immediately transitions into Boruto remembering Momoshiki's prophecy about them rather than focusing on the meaning of Sarada's words.

As his teammates leave for a mission after Konohamaru shows up, Boruto pauses to unwrap the bandages around his hand, revealing a black diamond in the center of his palm, remembering that Momoshiki told him that those who defeat gods cannot remain ordinary individuals. "Fate?" Boruto thinks. "I won't remain ordinary? Bring it on. Whether fate or a curse, go ahead and try to interfere with my shinobi way. I never planned on being ordinary anyway. After all, I'm a ninja."

We mentioned Boruto's shinobi way earlier in the context of the anime. Here, he invokes his shinobi way, two panels of Sasuke appearing alongside of him, representing both his desire to be like his master and recalling the faith his master has in him. The conviction Boruto displays in this scene is what carries him through all the tragedies of his plot, his pride in being a ninja no matter what happens to him.

Chapter 11: A New Mission

The Versus Momoshiki arc ends with Boruto finding his ninja way, and the Mujina Bandits arc begins, a proving ground for Boruto's convictions and the lessons he's learned, being tested against the backdrop of a character similar to his younger self. At the same time, Momoshiki's prophecy and the strange mark on his palm continue to menace him.

The arc begins with Boruto and his team on a new mission, Boruto zoning out during Konohamaru's orders as he remembers a conversation he recently had with his master about the black diamond on his hand. Sasuke cautions Boruto that what happened to him wasn't normal, and he should report any changes while Sasuke tries to learn more about it.

The mission continues with Sarada debuting a variety of moves I'd love to see more of in TBV, her taijutsu, shuriken jutsu, and overpowered strength showcased as she takes on members of the larcenous Mujina bandits gang. She ends up in a pinch, facing down a gang member's blade that's dripping with poison. Boruto jumps into the fray, saving her, then attacking with a Rasengan while Sarada stares on in horror. The plan had been for them to allow one bandit to escape, following them back to the hideout so they could apprehend the boss. Unforunately, Boruto's distraction caused him to miss that part of their strategy.

I think it's telling that Sarada first calls Boruto out, jokingly, for stealing the glory, then upbraids him for his rash moves, saying, "You insist you're just backup, but then you keep butting in!" In a way, the story seems aware that Boruto's dream is to stick to the shadows, allowing Sarada to have the spotlight as Hokage, and yet the narrative itself is about him, his story, as he reminds us. And, as such, he continually upstages her as the plot progresses.

The scene transitions to the Hokage's Office where Naruto, Shikamaru, Sai, and Ibiki are discussing Dr. Katasuke. According to Ibiki, leader of the intelligence division, the scientific ninja tool specialist was under a genjutsu during the Chunin Exam and leaked intel about Konoha's technological developments to an unknown enemy.

Mirai arrives to report that the young members of Team 7 apprehended the trio of Mujina bandits. Unlike during the Chunin Exams, during which Naruto suppressed his joy when hearing of his son's success, the Hokage now celebrates in front of some of his closest advisors. The conversation switches to the Mujina bandits' boss, Shojoji of the corpse doppelgangers, a dangerous criminal listed in the Bingo Book. Among his abilities are copying the appearance, voice, and even memories of the people he kills. Once again, we revisit the theme of memories, in this case that they're transferable via jutsu. With Shojoji's introduction to the plot, we have our first preview of stolen bodies, stolen identities, and stolen lives, concepts that will haunt the plot as it progresses.

Despite the danger Shojoji presents, Shikamaru reminds Naruto that he needs to be focusing on his upcoming meeting with the Daimyo. We meet Ikkyu Madoka on the streets of Konoha, talking on a massive cell phone that looks like one of the first ones introduced in the 1970s. He's accompanied by a butler-type named Yamaoka and his son, Tento. Much like Boruto, we see young Tento striving to get his busy father's attention, trying to bond with him over an Extreme Ninja card of the Hokage he's supposed to be meeting. The Daimyo rebuffs his son's bid for attention, leaving his son in Yamaoka's hands. To fill the father-sized hole in his heart, Tento pulls out a black credit card, ready to buy as many Extreme Ninja cards as he can.

Apparently, the Daimyo's son isn't the only one obsessed with a collectible ninja card game. Somewhere else in Konoha, Boruto and the boys of Team 10 are spending their hard-earned mission pay on packs of cards. In a gag about fate, Boruto once again receives the same super rare card he has multiple copies of—one of Lord Seventh—rather than the card he wants. Sarada looks on bored, watching the boys spend their money on X cards, complaining to Mitsuki about it. Boruto's quest for his coveted card is interrupted by Metal Lee (in what I believe is the last time we'll see him in the manga?) racing to inform Boruto that Konohamaru is requesting his presence. His new mission: to escort the Daimyo's son around the village and introduce him to the shinobi world.

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