A time skip is often a significant event in a shonen anime, especially when it involves training. The young heroes in the cast come out of it older and stronger than ever. With this, new opportunities open up, and they can explore new parts of their world and battle more powerful enemies. For some anime, the changes are so great that it almost feels like a new series. This happened in Naruto's second part, or at least it should have. The start of Naruto: Shippuden was supposed to mark the beginning of its titular character being a better ninja than ever, but he got a relatively slow start. His two years of training didn't amount to much, and he needed additional training arcs to make up for it. Part II eventually picked up steam, but it took its sweet time doing so.
Time skips may be the few places Boruto has surpassed its successor. From what's been shown so far, Boruto's three years of training away from the village might have done more for him than Naruto's did for him. Additionally, the story is much faster by giving its protagonists more to do in a shorter period. This sequel series to Boruto, subtitled Two Blue Vortex, may have a better start than Shippuden ever did.
How Did Naruto's Time Skip Fall Short?
There are two kinds of time skips in shonen anime. One is where the protagonists have beaten a powerful villain and experience an extended period of peace. They may keep up with their training, but it's more about maintaining their edge or refining their craft rather than preparing for the next Big Bad.
The other kind of time skip sees its protagonists take an extended leave to train for an enemy that's present or on the way. During these training sessions, they grow exponentially stronger and gain new skills. If they grow noticeably older, they may also gain a new look or outlook on life. Naruto's time skip was supposed to accomplish these things, but it didn't.
When Naruto returned to the Leaf Village after two years of training with Jiraiya, his fighting style hadn't undergone any helpful upgrades. He learned to make a bigger Rasengan, but he still relied on the palm-sized variant of the technique. He also managed to summon a giant shuriken, but he used it once, failed, and never used it again. His most impressive power-up was using the Nine-Tails' chakra to sprout up to four tails and shoot Biju Bombs, but he was discouraged from using it (for good reason). Other than this, Jiraiya only helped him master his fundamentals.
To make matters worse, Naruto had a poor win streak following the time skip. A shonen hero returning after years of training should have the upper hand against their first few enemies. However, Naruto's ability to handle his first few opponents was highly debatable. He could beat Kakashi with a cheap trick. He also won against an Itachi impersonator and an armless Deidara clone. However, his lack of progress showed when he failed to beat Orochimaru and Sasuke in the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission Arc. After this, he needed more training to earn a decent win.
How Boruto's Time Skip Was Better
As for Boruto, he's doing a much better job showing off the fruits of his labor. His debut has him stand up to Code and warn him to stop his attack on the Leaf. His confidence suggests he will have the upper hand in this first major fight of the time skip.
Boruto's win in this scenario would cement his progress. Code is a formidable opponent, so much so that he never got him to take a fight seriously. The Kara Inner has only gotten stronger with the removal of his limiters. Even if Boruto only forces Code to retreat, that would say plenty about how far he's come.
Additionally, Boruto has showcased some moves much different from what he used before the time skip. To start, he has a sword, which he uses to cut through a horde of Claw Grime. It's yet another way he's taken after his master, Sasuke.
The Chapter ended with him getting ready to use a technique not previously seen in the Naruto franchise. He calls it the Rasengan Uzuhiko (螺旋丸「渦彦」), which roughly translates to "Spiraling Sphere 'Vortex Boy.'" It's unknown what this technique does, but the name, stance, and chakra flow suggest Boruto will create a Rasengan that encases his body. If it goes well, this could become his signature attack to replace the standard Rasengan.
Something also needs to be said about Boruto's change in demeanor. Naruto returned from training the same loveable goofball he was before, and that's fine. However, Boruto has changed from a lax and happy boy into someone who takes things more seriously. This could be a temporary change in light of the attack on his village (Naruto did the same thing when he battled Pain). However, it wouldn't be surprising if his exile and time with Sasuke altered something about his personality and worldview.
Other Ways Boruto's Time Skip Is Different from Naruto's
Something also needs to be said about how the start of each time skip unfolds. Naruto took its time reintroducing familiar characters and discussing what changed about them. Fans wouldn't know most of the Rookie Nine's post-time skip appearances until the first arc of Shippuden was over.
As for Two Blue Vortex, many principal cast members were reintroduced within the first two chapters (roughly five chapters worth of the Naruto manga). Fans have seen Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and even Himawari in their new outfits. Even Kawaki had a quick reveal compared to Naruto's rival, Sasuke. With all these characters ready, an action-packed plot can get underway immediately, which is precisely what happens.
Two Blue Vortex wastes no time and throws its cast into an intense battle. Naruto had an off-screen match with Kakashi before being sent on a mission to deal with the Hidden Sand Village's crisis. As for Boruto, Code launched a direct attack on the Leaf to lure him out. In other words, Boruto's showcase for what he's learned will be an immediate trial by fire.
Another plot point that could be sped along will be Boruto's reunion with Kawaki and all his old friends. Since all these ninjas are in the Leaf, they will likely converge on Boruto's location once they've dealt with the Claw Grime on their respective battlefronts. Sarada is already there, so even if he makes quick work of Code and retreats, she should at least have a meaningful interaction with him. Either way, this scenario has the ideal setup for some good character drama, unlike anything from the start of Shippuden.
Two Blue Vortex is shaping up to be a worthwhile sequel so far. At the very least, it does more in its first few chapters to build up expectations than Shippuden did in several times that length. There's no telling how well this new Boruto series will do compared to its predecessor, but if it maintains this fast pace and hype, it should have a bright future.
