Unveiling the Impact of Masashi Kishimoto's Return on Boruto Manga

Boruto manga has garnered more popularity among fans compared to its anime counterpart due to the slow pacing of the anime, which was trying to avoid surpassing the events of the manga series. As a result, many fans have leaned towards the manga, despite initial struggles to get into the series.

The Kawaki Arc marked a turning point for fans, as they began to see the direction in which the story was heading, leading to a newfound enjoyment of the series. It's worth noting that Boruto manga saw a change in writers during its serialization, with Ukyō Kodachi initially writing the script before franchise creator Masashi Kishimoto took over.

So, did Masashi Kishimoto effectively save the Boruto manga with his writing?

Masashi Kishimoto may have saved Boruto manga

Boruto characters as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Ukyō Kodachi initially wrote the Boruto manga, with Masashi Kishimoto serving as the editorial supervisor at Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump. Serialization began in May 2016, with Kodachi responsible for the script and Mikio Ikemoto handling the illustrations.

Kishimoto supervised the story but did not have direct control over it, while also working on Samurai 8. The manga was later transferred to Shueisha's V Jump magazine in July 2019, coinciding with the cancellation of Samurai 8.

Here's Kawaki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The Kawaki Arc had already begun in the manga at this time. However, the series failed to generate the expected hype among fans. This was due to the slow pacing, leaving fans only able to anticipate the events from the flash-forward shown at the beginning of the series.

Thus, in November 2020, Masashi Kishimoto took over the writing duties for the Boruto manga from Ukyō Kodachi. It is speculated that the manga's original creator stepped in to give the series a stronger ending. However, according to Shueisha officials, the change in leadership was actually planned in advance, though it may have been postponed if Samurai 8 had a longer run.

Naruto's Baryon Mode as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Boruto chapter 52 was released around the same time, featuring Naruto Uzumaki's Baryon Mode. Fans of the series can confirm that the story has really picked up since the introduction of the Baryon Mode. It's clear that Masashi Kishimoto's work as the series writer has played a major role in making the manga more interesting and moving it away from its slow pacing.

While some may argue that the manga's story structure was already in place by Kodachi, there's no denying that the manga's popularity skyrocketed after Kishimoto's return. It's safe to say that Kishimoto's return as a writer saved Boruto manga from a potential downfall.

Following his return, the manga creator has not only introduced several developments in the story, but also initiated the timeskip, and begun the sequel manga, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Editor's P/S

As a dedicated fan of the Naruto franchise, I was initially skeptical about the Boruto manga when it first came out. The slow pacing and lack of direction left me feeling underwhelmed, and I found myself more drawn to the anime adaptation. However, everything changed when Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of the original Naruto series, returned to writing duties.

Kishimoto's return marked a turning point for the Boruto manga. He brought back the excitement and intrigue that had made the Naruto series so captivating, and the story quickly picked up pace. The introduction of the Baryon Mode and the subsequent developments in the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Kishimoto's writing also brought a renewed sense of depth and complexity to the characters, making them more relatable and compelling.