The following contains spoilers for Chapter 74 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, "Baptism By Fire," by Masashi Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, Mari Morimoto and Snir Aharon, now available in English from Viz Media.
It's safe to say the Boruto franchise is still dividing fans to this day. As the anime and manga roll on, some are appreciative of it telling the story of the Hokage's son and how Konoha, as well as the free shinobi world, is evolving after the threat of Kaguya. However, some don't see merit in Boruto's story -- especially the boy's rivalry with Kawaki, his version of Sasuke -- and think the Hidden Leaf's journey should have ended when Naruto wrapped.
Boruto has its flaws, but a lot of the hate seems steeped in loyalists who can't let Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry go, and who just don't believe legacy stories can top the foundation that's been laid before. Honestly speaking, both eras can co-exist, bridging the generational gap while telling new stories for new fans. But what's quite ironic about the entire debate is that as epic and iconic as the Naruto-Sasuke feud was, the Boruto-Kawaki one is far more nuanced and easily better.
Naruto and Sasuke's Rivalry Felt Forced
In the Naruto series, Sasuke broke bad after finding out Konoha wanted the Uchiha clan gone -- something that trailed back to the Hashirama-Madara feud. His own brother, Itachi, ended up taking the clan out, so Sasuke made moves -- with Orochimaru, the Akatsuki and Taka -- in order to gain power. Luckily, Naruto redeemed him, so he eventually helped to fight Kaguya and became a beacon of light.
But Sasuke quickly flipped again, capturing the Tailed Beasts and using his Rinnegan to try to kill Naruto. This was such a forced arc, leaving the series uncertain what it wanted to do with Sasuke. One minute he's an antihero, then in the blink of an eye he's a villain again. If he wanted to be a protector, there was no reason to turn on Naruto, who sacrificed so much to protect the world, and whom even Itachi endorsed when Sasuke realized his brother just wanted peace. Sasuke and Naruto's arc ultimately came down to betrayals and shock factor, with both losing their arm and Sasuke, in a rushed finale, deciding to atone by becoming a Ranger.
Boruto and Kawaki Are More Organic as Rivals
Boruto and Kawaki are not reincarnated brothers like Naruto and Sasuke, but there's a sibling arc at play that's more meaningful. Kawaki comes to Konoha as a refugee, with Naruto's family taking him in. He learns more about humanity there, taking to Himawari as a sister and accepting Boruto as a brother. The trust still isn't fully there, but Kawaki doesn't fly off the handle like Sasuke.
It's a patient, clever and grounded approach, with Boruto actually trying to get the Hidden Leaf to accept Kawaki. It's not like Sasuke and Naruto constantly antagonizing each other and alienating the village in the process. Instead, Kawaki actually comes to understand Boruto's genuine nature and motivation, which is why it makes sense when they bond and become closer.
The moments when Naruto and Sasuke did this didn't resonate as they had no emotional connection in their nascent era. Even if Boruto and Kawaki keep bickering, they come off more like brothers as they understand each other's pasts -- an arc that takes way too long to develop with Naruto and Sasuke, who realize too late that they're orphans who need each other and are cut from the same cloth.
Boruto and Kawaki Are Less Predictable
It's known that Boruto and Kawaki will end up fighting at some point in the future, with Kawaki suggesting he killed Naruto when he destroyed the village in a flash-forward. The journey in between, however, is shockingly unpredictable. Kawaki's risking himself to keep Boruto and Co. safe, and even murders Boruto to ensure Momoshiki can't possess the teen. The way Boruto is revived but still possessing Ōtsutsuki DNA makes him just as much a weapon of mass destruction as Kawaki, who's got alien genetics too after Isshiki failed to possess him.
This creates a wildly scientific arc, leaving fans guessing over allegiances while shady decisions actually feel natural. This is in stark contrast to Sasuke, who had no reason to ally with some of the fiends he did. Again, that was done just to paint him as a tyrant to Konoha -- but Kawaki and Boruto keep walking the heroic path, making their relationship a time bomb that'll go off soon as they explore their own power.
It keeps fans constantly guessing what'll be the catalyst that burns this bridge, adding more tension and suspense compared to when Naruto: Shippuden's time-jump teased that Naruto and Sasuke would fight. That felt by-the-numbers as they were already opposing each other, so it was just a matter of time until they leveled up and brawled. But with Boruto and Kawaki, this thread of brotherhood and family adds a lot more flux and intrigue to boys unlocking their destiny and the inevitable collision course.
Kawaki Is Sasuke - But Less Emo and More Interesting
Make no mistake: Sasuke is a badass, iconic character in Naruto, but his sulking and brooding felt like the typical antihero manga and anime put out time and time again. Kawaki often cuts a similar figure in Boruto, but him genuinely wanting to be a hero and the warmth he's secretly harboring makes him more dynamic. In the process, as he becomes less emo, he's much more interesting than Sasuke.
This allows Boruto to interact with him far better, rather than Naruto, who annoyed Sasuke as they were just chalk and cheese. Simply put, a bridge was never there for Naruto and Sasuke to have common ground, but as Kawaki opens up and becomes more vulnerable, his strengths, flaws and personality match well with Boruto's characteristics. This way, they're a way better yin-yang than what Sasuke and Naruto carved out.
Ultimately, this creates a better story of heroic brothers who will fall out rather than polar opposites where one force tries to make the other see the light. The latter's too clichéd, but with the former (Boruto and Kawaki), it's an emotional minefield containing creative depth and flexibility that truly fleshes out a more powerful bond -- both as rivals and as allies.