WhileBoruto: Two Blue Vortexshowed just how lonely life could get when Ada’s Omnipotence instantly turned Boruto Uzumaki’s life upside down, theBorutoseries drives home the hurt with the realization that the young protagonist has had quite the illustrious social life. Despite his penchant for mischief, Boruto had a lot of people to consider friends - some of which may even be called his best friends.
Among the people in Boruto’s life, just who could he consider his best friends? Moreover, which among these best friends would Boruto need to cross blades with in the newBorutostory arc, now that Kawaki’s life changed with his?
10Iwabee Yuino
Disdain Initially Turned Into Friendship
Despite hisexclusivity in theBorutoanime,Iwabee Yuinoforms an early rivalry with Boruto when the older student thought of the Hokage’s son as a mere privileged brat. When a fight between the two of them showed Boruto’s resolve in not giving up, the proclamation left an impression to Iwabee’s own code towards self improvement.
Boruto’s biggest impact to the youngster was when he pointed out Iwabee’shypocrisy in his belief that only the strong can do as they wish, especially when Iwabee runs from his fears. Such was Boruto’s impact that not only do the two have a more civil relationship, Iwabee has possessed a more positive and helpful attitude. While Iwabee has his own moments of character development outside interactions with Boruto, he’s among the rare few who was both changed by Boruto and capable of being blunt with him.
9Denki Kaminarimon
One Of Boruto’s First Friends, Always Ready To Defend Him
While still hailing only from the anime,Denki Kaminarimonhas become one of Boruto’s newest friends before joining the Ninja Academy. Originally a meek and shy kid, Boruto helped Denki regain his confidence and dissuaded him from taking revenge from his bullies. After saving Denki from a rampaging Nue, Denki started admiring Boruto and his resolve to make a name for himself outside being the Hokage’s son.
Denki’s early appearance in the anime involved standing up for Boruto when he was criticized by Iwabee, resulting in a confrontation and a friendly rivalry between Denki and Iwabee.Denki eventually showcases his genius intellectwhen he spends time developing new gadgets and coordinating with others seems to constantly reflect Boruto’s advice about trusting himself, showing the Hokage’s son impact to his classmate.
8Konohamaru Sarutobi
Mentor, Brother Figure To His Idol’s Son
Despite officially being the protagonist’sTeam 7 Captain, Boruto still treatsKonohamaru Sarutobimore of an older brother than a direct teacher. Konohamaru’s great respect for Naruto extends to Boruto, eager to see him grow and become a ninja of his own. While he often has to go after Boruto and scold him for his pranks and hardheadedness, his relationship with the protagonist is similar to how Naruto treats Iruka Umino as a father figure.
Konohamaru is quick to come to Boruto’s aid and even helped him master the Rasengan, a technique that Naruto also taught Konohamaru. Being both Boruto’s mentor and brother figure, Konohamaru is one of the few capable of getting through Boruto at times of stubbornness.
7Mitsuki
Boruto Is His Sun, Willing To Risk His Life For Him
Secretlythe “young clone” of reformed Sannin Orochimaruthat he created in his experiments,Mitsukifound himself pursuing independence after an elaborate plan concocted by Orochimaru himself. Upon witnessing Boruto’s desire to escape his father’s shadow and become his own person, Mitsuki decides Boruto is “his sun.”
Orochimaru’s child is among the most loyal of Boruto’s friends, willing to risk his life and reveal his access to forbidden techniques like Sage Transformation if it meant being able to continue following Boruto. Mitsuki’s actions reflect Orochimaru’s change of heart after seeing Sasuke decide to spare Konoha in the Fourth Great Ninja War - all the more so when Sasuke-like Kawaki becomes Mitsuki’s new “sun” inTwo Blue Vortex.
6Sumire Kakei
Attracted To Boruto, Aware Of Pre-Life Switch Events
Class representativeSumire Kakeihailed from a line of former Root members, whose ostracization by the village developed into a desire to exact revenge. However, despite Sumire’s assault of Konoha, she develops a change of heart after seeing Boruto’s steadfast loyalty towards her and belief that she’s more than what her family tells her to be. Seemingly the poised equivalent of the meek Hinata in theBorutostory, Sumire eventually develops feelings for Boruto.
While she is slower to realize this in the anime, Sumire is open towards her interest in him with her friends, though is reluctant to let the protagonist know. Although their interactions are few, Sumire shows great concern for Boruto, especially when her membership in the Scientific Ninja Weapons Team put her in a front row seat in Boruto’s dealings with the Otsutsuki. Such is Boruto’s impact to her that she’s one of the few unaffected by Ada’s Omnipotence, alongside Sarada.
5Sasuke Uchiha
Mentor, Sees In Boruto A Bit Of Himself, Helped Him Even After Life Switch
If there’s anyone who understood Boruto’s desire to get out of Naruto’s shadow, it would beSasuke Uchiha. Throughout the Chunin Exams and Momoshiki’s attack, the rivals agreed that Boruto resembled the both of their younger selves: Naruto’s mischief, and Sasuke’s desire for power. WhereasSarada reflected Naruto’s vibrant personality, Boruto’s headstrong but slightly arrogant persona was something Sasuke relates to.
The Time Slip Arc also deepened their relationship as master and pupil, especially after witnessing Naruto’s early resolve to bring back a younger Sasuke during his days with Jiraiya. Even when Sasuke was affected by Omnipotence, seeing Boruto wear his slashed headband and Sarada awaken her Mangekyo for Boruto’s sake likely meant Sasuke realized he had some sort of relationship with the shinobi.
4Momoshiki Otsutsuki
Kama Spirit Resident, Reluctantly Has To Preserve His Host
Since the death ofMomoshiki Otsutsukiat the hands of Boruto, he maintains an antagonistic relationship with the young shinobi. While biding his time with the Kama that will resurrect him in Boruto’s body, Momoshiki likes taunting the boy of his eventual losses, which manifested fully inTwo Blue Vortexas Kawaki switches lives with him. However, Momoshiki’s actions resemble Kurama in his early days of reluctantly helping Naruto.
Even at times whenMomoshiki takes over Boruto, he didn’t lay a finger on Naruto and Boruto’s friends until they physically tried stopping him. Momoshiki offers information to Boruto about Otsutsuki’s Shinjutsu, and he even used up his opportunity to resurrect if it meant his vessel’s survival. While most of his actions seem only to aid in his chances to take over his vessel’s body, Boruto’s determination seems to slowly open up Momoshiki for the same talk-no-jutsu Naruto often uses to soften up his enemies. Deny if he must, but Momoshiki has helped Boruto more times than his closest friends ever did.
3Shikadai Nara
Best Friend Since Childhood
On top of inheriting Shikamaru’s potential for leadership,Shikadai Narainherits his father’s laid-back attitude - a trait highly compatible with Boruto’s own inheritance of his father’s penchant for mischief. Being childhood friends, thetalented Shikadaiconsiders Boruto both as his best friend and rival. Possessing a strong moral code, Shikadai is one of the few who made Boruto realize cheating in the Chunin Exams to earn his father’s respect wasn’t worth it.
However, such is his understanding of Boruto’s frustration that he’s also able to forgive his transgression eventually. Shikadai’s connection with Boruto allows him to not just read his best friend’s strategies, but also understand things he wouldn’t ordinarily explain: when tasked to lead Team 10 in pursuing Boruto and Sarada, who were in turn chasing the branded-traitor Mitsuki, Shikadai’s understanding of Boruto’s distress and inconsistencies with reports made him one of the first to realize something was amiss.
2Sarada Uchiha
Philosophical Rival, Concern For Boruto Activated Her Mangekyo Sharingan
Outside the BoruSara ship,Sarada Uchihahas proven to be one of Boruto’s closest confidants, often clashing but also reconciling whenever their philosophies differ. Whereas Boruto admires Sasuke Uchiha’s skill and capability as the Kage’s Shadow, Sarada admires Naruto Uzumaki’s willingness to defend Konoha and make connections with the entirety of the Village.
Despite Boruto’s disdain over the Hokage position, he openly states wanting to win the Chunin Exams to helpthe prodigious Sarada’s goal of achieving the post. Sarada’s bond with Boruto seems to be more than typical friends, as her concern over the thought of losing him is what awakened her Mangekyo Sharingan. Moreover, she’s also among the known individuals who remembered Boruto and Kawaki’s original lives, the other one being Sumire.
1Kawaki
Adoptive Brother, Fellow Kama User, Life Switch
Due to a rough upbringing, the pessimisticKawakiis perhaps more stubborn than Boruto, often getting in fights due to differences in opinion. Like sibling stereotypes, Kawaki supposes Boruto is too hard-headed, while Boruto, who thinks Kawaki is a jerk, disagrees. The two of them agree, however, that they have to protect Lord Seventh at all costs. Kawaki goes so much as to threaten to kill Boruto should Momoshiki become a threat to his adoptive father.
And Boruto, who resolves not to let his body’s visitor harm Konoha, trusts Kawaki enough to kill him should the need arise. Such is their bond with each other thatAda’s Omnipotence, Boruto understood what Kawaki meant when he said he wished he wasn’t an Uzumaki, as ending the Otsutsuki threat with Boruto’s death wouldn’t hurt Naruto. Even Kawaki seems respectful enough to not actually “pretend” to be Boruto after the event, often showing disdain over Mitsuki following him and asking Himawari not to call him “brother.”
Boruto: Two Blue Vortexserves as the time-skip storyline ofBoruto: Naruto Next Generations, taking place four years after Ada used Omnipotence to switch the lives of Boruto and Kawaki.
