How Dragon Ball’s Cell Saga Influenced Boruto: A Detailed Plot Analysis

Since the launch of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga, enthusiasm around the entire franchise has surged immensely. Many fans argue that the storyline is distinct due to the multiple narrative developments introduced by Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto. However, there is a suggestion that its foundational elements were inspired by the Dragon Ball‘s Cell Saga.

Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto have both expressed their admiration for Dragon Ball. Given this context, one might expect the creators to draw inspiration particularly for enhancing fight scenes. Nonetheless, there is a perspective that they may have been influenced by a broader array of narrative elements.

Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers from the Boruto manga.

How Dragon Ball’s Cell Saga May Have Inspired Boruto’s Plot

King Cold and Frieza as seen in Dragon Ball Z manga (Image via Shueisha) — King Cold and Frieza as portrayed in the *Dragon Ball Z* manga (Image via Shueisha)

The Boruto manga can be categorized into various segments, surprisingly paralleling the events in the Dragon Ball Z Cell Saga.

The first significant incident in the Naruto sequel manga was the arrival of Momoshiki and Kinshiki Otsutsuki. This moment aligns closely with the entrance of Frieza and King Cold, who aimed to defeat the strongest fighters in their universe but were ultimately overcome by a new generation.

Kara as seen in the manga (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Kara as depicted in the manga (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The subsequent narrative arc revolved around the Kara organization. The members of Kara are cyborgs created by Amado Sanzu, reminiscent of how Dr. Gero dispatched his Androids to eliminate Goku and his comrades in the Cell Saga.

The upcoming antagonists in the Boruto manga include the Shinju/Divine Trees. The Shinju are a fusion of the Ten Tails‘ chakra, shaped by Code, blended with human genes to form the ultimate lifeform. In a similar vein, Dragon Ball introduced Cell, an Android capable of utilizing the powers of each Z Fighter, making him the apex being of the series.

Kashin Koji as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Kashin Koji as showcased in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The latest significant progression involves Kashin Koji and his newly manifested Prescience ability. While this doesn’t directly correlate with the chronology of Dragon Ball, it is noteworthy that Future Trunks also guided others about forthcoming events within his timeline.

The primary distinction lies in Kashin Koji’s ability to foresee all potential futures, whereas Future Trunks narrated the events from his past. Given the multitude of parallels, it’s plausible that Ikemoto and Kishimoto drew inspiration from Akira Toriyama for the plot of Boruto. If not, it could very well be one of the most remarkable coincidences in anime history.

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