The one major aspect that made Naruto a part of the legendary Big Three was its ability to portray a narrative of almost every character and give them importance and relevance in the story. This helped fans connect with everyone and understand the actions and choices that they made, making the story even more intriguing.
One such character that fans connected with a lot was Konohamaru Sarutobi, who was believed to be the successor of Naruto. Konohamaru and Naruto had a lot in common and he idolized Naruto, to the point that he even learned his techniques and jutsus. He also wanted to become Hokage of Konoha just like Naruto.
However, when the story transitioned into its sequel spin-off, Boruto, Konohamaru lost his touch. Although he became the mentor of Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki, his character saw a downfall that was unexpected. While he got some screentime, it did not justify his importance as the grandson of the third Hokage and Naruto’s alleged successor.
Konohamaru’s Character Development in Naruto
When the Naruto series began, Masashi Kishimoto decided to introduce another character who was an exact replica of the protagonist Naruto and even had similar problems. He also wanted to be acknowledged for his own actions rather than being called the “honorable grandson” of the third Hokage.
Thus, to pursue his goals and make people recognize him, he acted out just like Naruto and ultimately started seeing Naruto as his master. He learned great things from Naruto, like the Rasengan and the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Not only that, he also followed Naruto in his dream to become the Hokage.
Konohamaru’s character saw major development during the Pain Assault arc when he single-handedly took care of one of Pain’s paths. He not only understood his jutsu but also saved his teacher. This was the time when many Naruto fans thought that Konohamaru might succeed Naruto in becoming the Hokage.
Konohamaru’s Downfall in Boruto
When the Naruto series ended and Boruto started, many old characters from Naruto were shifted in the background to focus on the new characters. It was understandable as the story tried to portray the struggles of Boruto and his friends who have their own paths.
However, this was not expected for Konohamaru as he was supposed to be one of the leading characters in Boruto. Although he got a decent role compared to the likes of Kakashi in Naruto, he has not been able to leave the same impression as the Copy Ninja.
Even as the mentor of the main characters in Boruto, Konohamaru got lost in the mix. Granted that the story was supposed to focus on Boruto and his teammates, but considering Konohamaru’s character development in Naruto, he deserved more than what he got in Boruto.
Now that Boruto has entered into its next phase, Kishimoto needs to plan something out for Konohamaru, otherwise, all his endeavors in Naruto as a shinobi and as a mentor in Boruto will be wasted. He needs and deserves some kind of twist that can bring out his true potential.
As of 16th August 2024, you can watch Boruto and Naruto on Hulu.
