The entire premise of the Naruto series is that the titular character has always wanted to become the next Hokage in order to prove himself to the village. After a long journey filled with growth and hardships, Naruto eventually became the capable ninja we know today and earned the title of the Seventh Hokage.
Kishimoto, on the other hand, had other plans for the now grown-up Uzumaki. In Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the Hokage is seen to be busy but still present for his family. He takes care of the children when he’s there but otherwise, he lives up to his duties to the village. While there was some built-up resentment in Boruto, Naruto is a perfectly believable and kind father.
Naruto Can Be Both a Hokage and a Good Father
Naruto’s journey didn’t end with his coronation as Hokage. Masashi Kishimoto set out to show that Naruto’s new role came with more than just titles and respect. He built a life with Hinata Hyuga as well and had 2 children – Boruto and Himawari. Naruto, in the end, portrayed a deeply relatable struggle: balancing the immense responsibility of leading a village and being a good father to his children, particularly Boruto.
Still, Kishimoto paints an honest picture of Naruto as Hokage, especially through the scenes where Naruto is constantly attending strategic meetings and dealing with crisis management. Unlike his childhood, when Naruto’s mind was set on becoming Hokage because of the prestige and recognition, he is now faced with the sobering reality of what the job truly entails. But does his duty mean he was a bad father to Boruto, as much as Boruto complains?
Boruto has a set of expectations thrown at him as Naruto’s son and is consistently neglected by his busy father. This pressure has clearly put a strain on their relationship that even Naruto’s “Talk-No-Jutsu” can’t rectify. When faced with real-life challenges, even Naruto is limited by imperfections. It mirrors real-world scenarios when parents are unable to balance work and life and end up missing milestones for their own children.
Naruto’s Growth as a Parent
The transition into fatherhood is never an easy one, not even for people who have spent their lives wanting to be fathers. Naruto is a realistic example of what it’s like to be a parent with other huge responsibilities. He must navigate the complexities of his role as Hokage while learning to be more present for his children. Kishimoto portrays his gradual growth as a father, particularly in making amends with Boruto.
This Redditor, u/Annual_Blacksmith22, has perfectly summed it up. There are no perfect parents and Naruto is a prime example of it. The fact that Boruto and Naruto reconciled after so much dispute shows incredible growth on his journey as a father. Even before he realized his own mistakes, he was always spiritually with his children and wife. Naruto’s relationship with Boruto evolves, especially as Boruto begins to understand the weight of his father’s responsibilities.
Naruto and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
