New Interview Reveals TRUE AUTHOR OF BORUTO

Since November 2020, Masashi Kishimoto, the original author of Naruto, has taken a more direct hand with the production of the Boruto manga franchise after the original writer, Ukyo Kodachi, left to work on a different series.

But does this mean he is the real author of the Boruto series?

During a mini-interview on August 24 for the signing event with French manga publisher Kana and Animation Digital Network, Kishimoto and Boruto artist elaborated on important details about the creation of Boruto and its plot

Kishimoto’s Role

What exactly does Kishimoto handle in the Boruto story?

Kishimoto was asked his thoughts on switching  from Bonito’s supervisor to its scriptwriter. However, Kishimoto clarifies that he is not the actual scriptwriter for the Boruto series. Rather, it is the illustrator Mikio Ikemoto who handles most of the storyboarding directly while Kishimoto checks up on him every month. This has been the case even under Kodachi’s time.

Masashi Kishimoto: "I wrote the major points of the story draft which acts as a template for the story. If there are points to modify, we discuss them. Ikemoto creates storyboards every month, with ideas and development that SURPASS my story draft"

MIKIO IKEGOATO 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/88BvvSeVOr

— Hσwl (@howlxithree) August 24, 2024

Kishimoto: Concerning Boruto, I have no worries because I wrote the major points of the story draft, which acts as a template up to the end of the story, and I’ve already handed it over to Ikemoto-san. If there are points to modify, we discuss them together and continue on by agreement. So there’s no problem. Above all, lkemoto-san creates a nemu (draft storyboard, with dialogue) every month. With ideas, development and characters that surpass my story draft. So even though I check it every month, I hardly have anything to say. lkemoto-san is someone I trust and who has helped me a long time in the production team for Naruto. So I knew he was amazing in drawing as well as storytelling. I wouldn’t have done Boruto if Ikemoto-san hadn’t agreed to take over.

Ikemoto further corroborates Kishimoto’s point:

Ikemoto: Even if the prior idea was to make the manga even more interesting, we are very far from what was initially planned. Currently, I am in the situation of developing the story alone. So, I think the biggest challenge in producing Boruto, including for Kishimoto-sensei who gives me his approval, is to continue to respond to successive unpredictable changes.

In other words, majority of the plot of Boruto during Kishimoto’s turn has been modified because Kishimoto chooses Ikemoto’s improved draft, even if said draft has changed the direction of the synopsis Kishimoto provides. Not only that but Boruto would not have existed if Ikemoto did not agree to help Kishimoto with the project.

NEW INFO FROM THE MINI INTERVIEW‼️

-Kishimoto checks Ikemoto's work every month

-He planned not to make Boruto if Ikemoto did not accept the role

(@snwflll) pic.twitter.com/ySKPggO6x4

— Hσwl (@howlxithree) August 23, 2024

Another question was on how the dynamic between Ikemoto and Kishimoto had changed

Kishimoto responds, saying that while Ikemoto was the one who drew the backgrounds and clones for the Naruto series, in Boruto, Ikemoto  “writes and draws the story”.

Some users clarified exactly what this is about.

This caused a lot of discussion and I can’t reply to everyone I’ll just say it’s not really different from the statement made when Kodachi left imo ? Kishimoto kept his position as a supervisor while Ikemoto write and draw the sequel. Kishimoto made the draft of the story at the…

— daily naruto (@dailyhokage) August 25, 2024

This is not the first time a manga’s artist takes the lead in directing the story. Ajin: Demi Human, a manga serialized in Kodansha’s Good! Afternoon monthly magazine from 2012-2021, was originally penned by Tsuina Miura. After the first volume, the illustrator Gaimon Sakurai took over the entire story. Although the situation is different for Boruto, it is clear that Kishimoto only has a supervisory role, just as it was done when Kodachi was still the scriptwriter for Part 1 of Boruto.

Weekly vs Monthly Serialization

Kishimoto reveals that Naruto’s weekly serialization took a major toll on his physical health. For example, during the fight against Pain, Kishimoto had to resolve an issue with the plot but faced difficulty in the process due to his physical condition. Ikemoto explains that the biggest challenge to any serialization is the need to adapt to constant changes.

Creative Differences for Boruto’s Plot

Kishimoto reveals that the biggest challenge in producing Boruto was in the fate of an undisclosed character. Ikemoto elaborated further how serial publication works like a living being that must grow and adapt to trends. There will always be changes that alter the story’s direction from that of Kishimoto’s original plan.

For Ikemoto, the biggest factor in changing the “Shonen” (teenage) plot midway was the need to create a new idea for the “Seinen” (young adult) part of the story (Boruto: Two Blue Vortex). Because of this difference in mentality that Ada and Daemon were written into the story and Kashin Koji’s role was renewed for the Boruto sequel and Amado would escape to the Leaf Village. Even Code’s fate was altered because of this philosophy, as the original plan was to remove him sooner.

How to Create a Boruto Character

Ikemoto elaborates on the process of building a Boruto character is based on the idea of giving them a “gap moe”. Simply put, he makes sure the character has a reason to exist and that they have an unexpected side to them. Ikemoto cites Ada and Hidari as examples. Ada has the power of Omnipotence to rewrite the world and its memories to dominate everyone but instead she chooses her love for Kawaki and she sometimes acts silly.

Hidari is Sasuke’s clone, in a sense. While he has Sasuke’s techniques, Hidari has no relation to Sasuke’s history, creating an empty slate for the Sasuke archetype.

Boruto’s Character

When asked about how different Naruto and Boruto are, Ikemoto reveals that while Naruto is someone who has nothing and is intended to gain everything by the end, Boruto is the opposite. The story of Boruto is about someone who once had everything and must endure after starting from nothing.

The interview made it more clear that Kawaki is being written like an MC and Boruto is being written like a Deuteragonist, like their positions literally changed

Boruto is Sasuke who seemed unbeatable at the start of Shippuden, and Kawaki is Naruto who has to catch up with time pic.twitter.com/8NSz1X3EMF

— Hσwl (@howlxithree) August 23, 2024

Another comparison often brought up by the fandom is the comparison between the Naruto and Sasuke and Boruto and Kawaki rivalries. Kishimoto remarks that both Naruto and Sasuke are actually quite similar but Boruto and Kawaki are complete opposites. Kishimoto focuses on the idea of loss and gain throughout the discussion.

Ikemoto elaborates more on Kishimoto’s points, saying that Kawaki is written as someone who lacks self-worth, as opposed to Boruto, who is a fully-realized character. Ikemoto also leaves the potential for Kawaki to develop more as a character in the story of “Two Blue Vortex” because Kawaki is not as fully realized.

Because of Omnipotence, as one user notes, the “writing approach” seemingly swaps for Boruto and Kawaki. Kawaki is framed as a main character like his idol and adopted father Naruto, slowly gaining and catching up to Boruto while Boruto used to be the unbeatable Sasuke in early Shippuden.

Boruto is the sequel to the successful Naruto series (1999-2014) written in 2016 and ended in 20 volumes in 2022. The story follows the Seventh Hokage Naruto’s son Boruto as he follows a different path from his father while facing the threat of the Kara organization. In 2023, the Boruto sequel “Two Blue Vortex” premieres and continues the story with a runaway Boruto, who has become an enemy of the Leaf Village.

Source: Twitter