For many years, fans of the the strongest characters in the series and the rest of the cast. Besides Boruto or Kawaki, none of the other heroes have a chance of ever surviving against the villains who threaten the Shinobi World.

Although the manga has never truly addressed this issue, there is a noticeable difference in the way Genin used to be trained, and the methods used presently. Unlike in Naruto, where each promising ninja was mentored by a successful elder, the cast in the sequel are never seen truly honing their skills under the tutelage of their superiors. This directly ties into another recurring flaw fans have pointed out for years: almost no one puts in the effort necessary to deserve a power-up.

Boruto Should Give Its Characters Mentors

Konoha’s Ninjas Were Stronger in the Past

During the Naruto manga series, Konoha was regarded by most of the Shinobi World as one of the most prevalent and dangerous villages. The ninjas trained within the walls of this city were expert combatants, each with a defining trait that helped them become legends on the battlefield. Some of the most powerful ninjas ever born were once proud of the Hidden Leaf. These characters were already considered prodigies during their years as academy students, but their greatest feats were not obtained through their efforts alone.

Many fans agree that Boruto's leading protagonists are not as impactful as their predecessors, and the lack of mentors might be why.

Konoha distinguished itself from other villages thanks to its unique view on cooperation and desire to create a better world for future generations. As such, many Genin receive personalized training from a much stronger and more experienced shinobi. The most popular examples of this practice are the world-famous of the Konoha 11, each of whom was trained individually as children. Naruto and Sakura had the privilege of becoming students of two of the Legendary Sanin, almost guaranteeing their success.

The Boruto franchise seemingly forgot this tradition, as the rookies of the Hidden Leaf have not been shown to have any specialized training at any point in the franchise. Besides their short time under Konohamaru’s guidance, Team 7 did not have anyone to help them achieve new heights. While this might seem like an unimportant detail, the reality is that forgetting about training the main heroes causes readers to regard them as weaker. Many fans agree that the protagonists of the sequel are not as impactful as their predecessors, and the lack of mentors might be why.

Boruto’s Power-Ups Feel Unearned Because of a Lack of Training

None of the Heroes Are Ever Shown Preparing for Combat

It is no surprise to Boruto fans that the most criticized issue of the manga series is how fans perceive most power increases as unearned. This problem is in great part a consequence of the overreliance of the story on the mysterious but powerful of the Otsutsuki clan. Whenever the titular hero or his rival becomes stronger, the reason behind that would be the alien genes gifted to them at the beginning of the plot. Nonetheless, this is not the only reason why fans believe Boruto’s boosts in power are not warranted.

Even though it might not be talked about, the fact that the heroes have not been seen training at all might be a part of the issue. After Konohamaru’s teachings, the of the new team 7 have not been seen enhancing their skills, besides the occasional filler arc in the anime. Naruto, in contrast, continuously depicts its characters' training, even after outgrowing their original team leader. After the preliminary tournament of the near-perfect tournament arc of the original manga, the Chunin Exams, the main character meets his next mentor, Jiraiya.

From that point onward, Naruto would be seen training and learning new techniques before every major battle, always looking to hone his abilities. Each of Naruto’s incredible mentors helped him on his journey to become the savior of the Shinobi World. The Boruto series has failed to portray such moments, instead opting to explore the lore behind the alien race that is attacking the planet. Because of this, the manga cannot justify the introduction of new techniques or the sudden increase in power its characters go through.

Boruto’s Training Is Effective Because He Has a Mentor

​​​​​​​Kashin Koji Helped the Protagonist Become Widely Accepted

When the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga began, fans were introduced to a completely new and powerful version of Naruto’s son. After three years away from home, the titular hero returned to Konoha as a true force of nature, dominating each of his opponents with relative ease. While this was a questionable decision at first, the manga quickly explained that Boruto’s power came from harsh and unrelenting training done with the help of his mentor, Kashin Koji. The techniques and Jutsu used by the boy during the early chapters were the result of his determination and hard work.

Fans loved this new version of Boruto because there was a justification behind his massive boost in power. The hero did not achieve his level by relying on his Otsutsuki genes or by training on his own. He had the help of a lore-experienced mentor, like the powerful ninjas in the prequel used to. Lamentably, this is the only example of a Genin finding someone willing to train them, as neither Sarada nor the rest of Konoha’s rookies have had similar experiences.

The Series Should Reintroduce the Concept of Mentors

​​​​​​​The Characters Would Greatly Benefit From This

​​​​​​​ Now that the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga seems to be heading to an all-out war against Jura and the Divine Trees, the strongest villains in the franchise’s history, the series would greatly benefit from mentoring its characters. There is no denying that regular ninjas have no opportunity to win against these creatures and their overwhelming power by using raw strength alone. Nonetheless, by following in the footsteps of its predecessor and making the heroes train new abilities in imaginative ways, they could become the saviors of Earth that fans have been waiting to see in action.