Boruto Uzumaki is already an impressive shinobi at his young age. As the son of the Hokage, Naruto Uzukami Uzumaki, Boruto has massive chakra reserves and is well on his way to becoming one of the most powerful ninja of his generation like his father before him.
The question is whether Boruto will become strong enough to actually surpass Naruto. It may seem unlikely, given how powerful Naruto is proven to be. However, there are also many reasons why Boruto can become even more powerful. With Naruto's storied history and Boruto's bright future, there are many possibilities to consider.
10 Won't Surpass: Boruto Doesn't Have Naruto's Ambition
From the early days of the popular Naruto manga and anime, Naruto Uzumaki made it clear that he wanted to become Hokage. That ambition drove Naruto to train hard and increase his power at every opportunity. Everything he did helped him work toward his goal.
On the other hand, Boruto has stated clearly that he has no interest in becoming Hokage. He wants to become a powerful ninja like Sasuke instead. This difference in ambition could mean Boruto will never quite surpass Naruto, as he doesn't want to become Hokage.
9 Will Surpass: Impressive Nature Transformation
Boruto is still quite young and has a long time to go to surpass his father. One advantage he has moving in that direction is his impressive nature transformation at a young age. Naruto didn't succeed with truly impressive nature transformation until later on. Boruto, on the other hand, is a natural, pun intended.
With his nature transformation ninjutsu being so impressive at a young age, it only makes sense that these abilities will continue to grow. This gives him a head start that Naruto didn't have.
8 Won't Surpass: Naruto Has Sage Mode
Naruto's massive chakra reserves led him to train in senjutsu. Naruto was able to learn how to balance natural energy with his own chakra to enter the powerful Sage Mode. Naruto's abilities were enhanced when it Sage Mode, making him much stronger.
While it is possible that Boruto would train in senjutsu later in life, he hasn't expressed an interest in it so far. He may never train in senjutsu to learn the abilities that Naruto utilized so well. If he doesn't, that is one area that keeps Naruto ahead of Boruto.
7 Will Surpass: Boruto's Jogan Dojutsu
Boruto has a unique dojutsu that no one else has seemed to possess. Known as Jogan, his dojutsu allows him to perceive the flow of chakra, as well as its pathways and key points. He can also see through the invisible barriers that connect dimensions.
This unique ability may manifest further in Boruto's future. As it stands, it is already an ability that Naruto did not possess. If he is able to manifest it even further, it may become more powerful and make way for unique possibilities.
6 Won't Surpass: Naruto Has Six Paths
As the reincarnation of Asura Otsutsuki, Naruto was already incredibly powerful. His power increased further when Hagoromo gave him the power of the Six Paths Sage Mode. Six Paths Sage Mode gave Naruto many new and improved capabilities. He was able to fly and manifest Truth-Seeking Balls, as well as increase his combat abilities even further.
Boruto is unlikely to access the power of the Six Paths. It was a power bestowed upon Naruto and likely isn't passed down genetically. This is an incredible power Naruto used that Boruto may never be able to access.
5 Will Surpass: Learning From Naruto
Being the son of Naruto, it only makes sense that Boruto will learn from his father's mistakes as well as triumphs. While Naruto may never officially train Boruto to make him stronger, he can still pass on important wisdom. Being able to learn from his father is an advantage Naruto never had.
Boruto's parents are alive and well, while Naruto's were dead from right after his birth. If Boruto takes advantage and listens to whatever Naruto might tell him, that is one more step to put him on the path to surpassing Naruto.
4 Won't Surpass: Naruto Has Kurama
One of Naruto's greatest powers is the nine-tailed fox sealed inside him. As the jinchuriki of Kurama, Naruto gained access to incredible power. It not only heightened his own power but provided him access to Kurama's chakra, which he could use both offensively and defensively.
Boruto does not have a powerful tailed beast inside of him. This is a source of power unique to the jinchuriki and Boruto is not one. Without Boruto having that power, Naruto can remain stronger than his son.
3 Will Surpass: Boruto's Karma Seal
While not a tailed beast, Boruto does have another presence sealed inside of him in the form of Momoshiki Otsutsuki. The karma seal is the Otsutsuki method of choosing a new vessel to be reincarnated in. Boruto is said to have a rare compatibility for the mark, allowing him to develop it at a faster rate.
The karma seal gives Boruto access to incredible power. Boruto is able to absorb ninjutsu and manifest dimensional portals with the karma. However, the seal is dangerous, as Momoshiki has completely taken over Boruto before.
2 Won't Surpass: Sasuke Pushed Naruto As A Rival
One of the most important parts of Naruto's story was his friendship and rivalry with Sasuke Uchiha. The two most powerful shinobi of their generation fought multiple times, nearly killing each other in the process. Sasuke ended up forcing Naruto to continue getting stronger.
If Naruto hadn't continued to grow, Sasuke could have killed him. This rivalry forced Naruto to continue developing his power to stop Sasuke. While they are mainly friends now, the rivalry served as a driving force in the development of Naruto's power.
1 Will Surpass: Sasuke's Student
Sasuke can have a similar effect on Boruto that he had on his father. While Sasuke may not outright try to kill Boruto in his training, he will push the young shinobi to continue growing more powerful. He will also share the wisdom of his years of one of the most powerful living shinobi.
The tutelage of Sasuke is one of Boruto's greatest advantages in growing his power. There is no better teacher to lead him to surpass his father.