Exploring Boruto’s Potential Dark Turn Similar to Kentaro Miura’s Berserk

Boruto has caught many by surprise with the recent Two Blue Vortex time skip. On Reddit, numerous comparisons have been made with the renowned seinen masterpiece, Berserk. Although this might seem like an unexpected comparison, the two series share notable similarities that could be significant for Boruto’s future development.

While a straightforward similarity is the fact that both Boruto and Guts are characters missing an eye, the connections run deeper. Elements like the Shinju clones, Kawaki’s betrayal, and additional themes draw parallels between the narratives. Furthermore, this raises the possibility of a dark turn in Boruto’s storyline, although it remains speculative with no guarantees of this direction.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series.

How Boruto Could Navigate a Dark Twist Inspired by Berserk

Guts as depicted in the manga (Image via Young Animal).

A prominent similarity between Boruto and Berserk is that both protagonists are swordsmen with missing eyes, seen as harbingers of calamity. They have also faced betrayal from trusted allies (Griffith for Guts and Kawaki for Boruto), pushing them toward revenge, albeit Guts is much more driven by vengeance than Naruto’s son.

Furthermore, the Shinju clones share characteristics with the Godhand from Berserk, as both consist of superior beings manipulating humanity’s fate. Additionally, both Kawaki and Griffith began as allies to the main character before transforming into significant antagonists, though there are key differences between their paths.

Thus, it can be surmised that Boruto might draw inspiration from Berserk, leading toward a darker conclusion. While Boruto is fundamentally a shonen series (which typically contains less darkness compared to seinen), one might argue that the storyline could culminate with the protagonist facing solitude and a bittersweet ending.

Key Plot Points in Boruto

The protagonist as portrayed in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot).

Currently, several major plot lines are unfolding in Boruto. A primary focus is Eida’s Omnipotence, which fabricates a narrative that portrays the protagonist as a traitor while elevating Kawaki as Naruto’s true son. Simultaneously, Kawaki’s efforts to eliminate Boruto and his attempts to hide Naruto and Hinata complicate the situation amid the expanding threat of the Shinju clones.

The Shinju have emerged as the most significant threat in the series, and their numbers are on the rise. It remains to be seen how these events will unfold, but Boruto’s ambition to rescue his parents and Sasuke faces substantial hurdles due to the perception of him as a traitor.

Final Thoughts

The upcoming arcs of Boruto could be influenced by the themes found in Berserk, considering the current similarities between the two narratives. However, this remains speculative, and it’s challenging to predict how this might actually manifest in the series.

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