Although Boruto is the son of Naruto Uzumaki—the Seventh Hokage and hero of the Hidden Leaf—it doesn’t mean he’s simply a carbon copy of his father. Yes, he shares the same blond hair, boundless energy, and ability to draw people to him, but Boruto’s journey is shaped in a very different way. Whereas Naruto’s story was about clawing his way up from nothing, Boruto begins his tale with everything—and slowly learns what it means to lose.
That key difference is what makes Boruto feel more like Sasuke than Naruto, a point that Boruto illustrator Mikio Ikemoto has even spoken about. While it might seem strange on the surface, Boruto and Sasuke connect deeply in both the anime and manga, with Ikemoto shedding light on why their bond works so well.
Sasuke as Boruto’s Mentor
From the start of the series, Naruto has little time to devote to his son. His responsibilities as Hokage keep him buried in paperwork and political duties, leaving Boruto feeling ignored. Craving his father’s attention, Boruto lashes out, sometimes even putting himself in danger.
Instead of Naruto, it’s Sasuke—his father’s former rival—who steps in as Boruto’s mentor. Sasuke not only teaches him how to fight and survive, but also shows him the unspoken responsibilities of being a shinobi. Ironically, it’s Sasuke who helps Boruto understand and respect Naruto’s role, even though the two men had such a turbulent past themselves.
A Shared Story of Loss
Ikemoto has explained the fundamental difference between Naruto and Boruto’s arcs. Naruto began with nothing: no family, no friends, no respect from the village. Through sheer effort, he gradually built a life for himself and achieved everything he dreamed of.
Boruto’s story is the reverse. He starts out privileged, surrounded by friends, family, and comfort—only to have those things stripped away piece by piece. This reversal gives Boruto a cockier, more brash personality compared to his father’s desperate longing for connection. Over time, however, Boruto learns humility and responsibility.
“Boruto resembles Sasuke in terms of loss, and Naruto in terms of gaining,” Ikemoto noted in an interview, underlining the intentional parallels.
For Sasuke, the comparison is obvious. His clan was annihilated by his brother, Itachi, leaving him to grow up consumed by grief and vengeance. While Boruto hasn’t suffered to that extreme, he understands what it feels like to have his world shaken apart. That shared sense of loss is what allows him to bond with Sasuke so naturally.
Why Sasuke Was the Right Teacher
Sasuke’s own life makes him the perfect mentor for Boruto. He knows what it’s like to lose everything and to be manipulated by darker forces, from his obsession with avenging the Uchiha to his years under Orochimaru’s influence. Having eventually made peace with his past and his brother’s actions, Sasuke is in a position to guide Boruto away from that same destructive path.
In the end, Sasuke isn’t just teaching Boruto how to fight—he’s showing him how to endure loss, resist manipulation, and grow stronger without losing himself. Their relationship is less about bloodlines and more about survival, resilience, and the bond forged between two characters who began life with everything, only to learn the hard way what it means to have it all taken away.
