In the world of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the titular character, Boruto Uzumaki, is often depicted as confident, brave, and willing to fight for those he cares about. As the son of Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, Boruto’s life is influenced by a rich legacy. However, despite his outward bravado, Boruto is far from immune to fear. In fact, his fears and insecurities play an important role in his character development, making him one of the more relatable and complex figures in modern anime.
The question of “What is Boruto scared of?” may seem like a simple one on the surface, but it delves into much deeper themes about family, legacy, and personal growth. Boruto’s fears are not necessarily rooted in specific individuals but in the larger expectations placed upon him, the struggles of living in his father’s shadow, and his journey to define his own identity. In this article, we will explore the various fears that haunt Boruto, ranging from the fear of losing those he loves to the fear of becoming a shadow of his father.
The Burden of Legacy
The Weight of Being Naruto’s Son
One of the most significant fears Boruto faces is the weight of his father’s legacy. Being the son of Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, places immense pressure on Boruto. Naruto, having grown up as an orphan and a social outcast, became a hero and the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village. His rise to the position of Hokage was hard-earned and filled with sacrifice, and it set the bar high for anyone who would follow in his footsteps.
Boruto’s fear stems from the comparison between himself and his father. Naruto is revered by the villagers and admired by many, including his own son. However, Boruto sees the Hokage’s job as one that took Naruto away from his family. Despite his father’s good intentions, Naruto was often absent from Boruto’s life due to the demanding responsibilities of the Hokage position. This leads Boruto to fear that he might never be able to live up to the ideals of his father, especially when it comes to balancing work, family, and personal growth.
Boruto’s resentment and fear of his father’s role as Hokage are highlighted in the early stages of the Boruto series. He feels neglected, overshadowed by the legacy of the Hokage, and often yearns for more attention from Naruto. This fear of not measuring up to his father’s legacy causes Boruto to lash out at times, especially when it seems like his achievements are undervalued compared to Naruto’s.
The Fear of Becoming His Father
Closely linked to the fear of living up to his father’s expectations is the fear of becoming too much like him in a way that Boruto deems undesirable. As much as Boruto looks up to Naruto and respects him, he also fears becoming just like him—a hero who sacrifices everything, including personal happiness, for the village. In many ways, Boruto fears the same path that Naruto walked.
This fear is most evident when Boruto rejects the Hokage’s mantle. He wishes to carve his own identity and make his own path. He doesn’t want to be seen as the son of Naruto, but as Boruto Uzumaki, an individual with his own dreams and ambitions. The fear of being trapped in his father’s shadow, unable to live for himself, leads Boruto to struggle with his place in the world. His fear of becoming Naruto is not a rejection of his father’s values but a desire to avoid losing himself in the pursuit of being a hero.
Fear of Loss
Losing Friends and Loved Ones
Another significant fear that Boruto faces is the fear of losing those he loves. As a young ninja, Boruto is well aware of the dangers that come with being part of a world filled with conflicts, battles, and shinobi missions. Throughout the Boruto series, he is shown to deeply care for his friends, particularly Sarada Uchiha and Mitsuki. The trio shares a strong bond that, over time, becomes central to the narrative.
Boruto’s fear of losing his friends is most prominently displayed during the Kara arc, where threats to the safety of his loved ones become increasingly real. The arrival of powerful new foes like the Kara organization forces Boruto and his friends to confront the harsh realities of being a ninja. As the stakes rise, so does Boruto’s fear of losing those closest to him. This fear drives Boruto to push himself further, sometimes recklessly, as he seeks to protect his friends and prevent them from suffering the same fate as many others in the ninja world.
The death of characters in Naruto, such as Neji Hyuga and the loss of comrades during various missions, left a lasting impression on Boruto. He understands the risks involved in being a ninja, and the fear of losing his friends, like those before him, pushes him to become stronger while simultaneously holding him back from fully embracing his potential.
Fear of Losing His Father
Boruto’s fear of losing his father, Naruto, is also central to his character development. While he resents the Hokage’s duties for taking time away from their family, Boruto also has deep admiration and love for his father. Naruto’s position as Hokage is often a double-edged sword—his duties as a leader place him in constant danger, and Boruto understands this.
In the Boruto anime, Naruto faces numerous threats from powerful adversaries, particularly from organizations like Kara. When Naruto’s safety is at risk, Boruto’s fear of losing him becomes palpable. Despite their strained relationship, Boruto cares deeply for Naruto and doesn’t want to see him suffer the same fate as other heroes who gave everything for their village, often at the cost of their personal lives.
This fear grows in intensity when it becomes clear that Naruto is not invincible. Boruto’s father is a target for enemies, and the more Boruto witnesses the battles his father must fight, the more afraid he becomes that one day, he might lose Naruto forever.
The Fear of Failure
Expectations from His Mentor, Sasuke Uchiha
Another prominent fear that Boruto faces is the fear of failing those who have placed their trust in him, particularly Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke, the former rogue ninja and one of the most powerful shinobi in history, becomes Boruto’s mentor in the Boruto series. Sasuke, like Naruto, serves as a father figure to Boruto, and their bond is one of mutual respect and understanding.
However, Sasuke’s mentorship brings with it expectations and pressure. Boruto is acutely aware that Sasuke was one of the most capable shinobi of his time and that living up to his mentor’s standards is no easy task. Sasuke’s experiences and past struggles as a rogue shinobi make him a tough but fair mentor, and Boruto is often left fearing that he will not be able to live up to Sasuke’s expectations.
The fear of failure, especially when it comes to his training and abilities, is a recurring theme in Boruto’s journey. He constantly strives to become a great ninja but is often confronted with the harsh reality that it’s not enough just to be the son of a hero. Boruto must forge his own path, and the fear of failure in doing so is a constant motivator and source of anxiety.
The Pressure of Achieving His Own Goals
Alongside his fear of failing his mentor and family, Boruto also struggles with the pressure of achieving his own dreams. While Naruto’s path was one of becoming Hokage, Boruto does not share the same ambition. Instead, Boruto seeks to find his own way, to step out from under his father’s shadow. However, the journey to self-discovery is fraught with challenges.
Boruto’s fear of failure is magnified by his sense of inadequacy and the complex relationship he has with his own identity. He often struggles with feelings of worthlessness, especially when he compares his own abilities to those of his father and his mentor, Sasuke. As Boruto’s story unfolds, his greatest fear is not just failure in the traditional sense but the fear of losing himself in the process.
Conclusion
Boruto Uzumaki is a character defined not only by his strengths and achievements but also by his fears. Whether it’s the fear of living up to his father’s legacy, losing those he loves, or failing his mentors, these fears drive him to become a better person and a stronger ninja. In many ways, Boruto’s journey mirrors the struggles of many young individuals who seek to define themselves in the face of overwhelming expectations and challenges.
Through his fears, Boruto learns valuable lessons about family, friendship, and what it truly means to be a ninja. While he may fear many things, it is through confronting these fears that Boruto grows into a more mature and capable individual, ready to face whatever challenges come his way.
In the end, the fear of Boruto is not something that will hold him back; instead, it will be the catalyst that shapes his growth, propelling him toward becoming his own hero.
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