Boruto: Naruto the Movie

It is based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga and anime Naruto, and is the second film to be a part of the canonical Naruto storyline, being a sequel to the manga series. It stars Yūko Sanpei, Junko Takeuchi, Kokoro Kikuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama.

Set after the finale of Naruto, the film focuses on the title character Boruto Uzumaki, son of Naruto’s protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, who cannot stay with his family due to being the leader of his ninja village.

Vigilante Sasuke Uchiha returns to the village with warnings about two beings who might become a big threat to the world peace the ninjas managed to bring about in the original series.

The film was first teased in the post-credits scene of the previous film, The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014). Kishimoto took a large role in the making of The Last, handling the script and character designs.

However, Kishimoto took an even larger role in the making of this film, handling the script, characters designs and screenplay.

This brought him difficulties, because of which he required help from other staff members, such as the writer Ukyō Kodachi and director Yamashita. They created new scenes that left a deep impression on Kishimoto.

Released in August 2015, the film became the franchise’s highest-grossing film, and its home media versions had good sales to the point of becoming Japan’s best-selling releases in 2016.

Critical reception of the movie has been mostly positive, with writers praising the animation, well-animated fight choreography as well as Boruto’s growth, but it was criticized for its unmemorable antagonists along with Boruto’s relationship with his father not being explored deeply.

Ukyo Kodachi and artist Mikio Ikemoto adapted the film as the first story arc of Boruto (2016), a manga sequel of Naruto, with both it and its anime adaption (in which it is the seventh story arc) altering some details with added content.

Meanwhile, in the 15 years since the Fourth Great Ninja War, the village of Konohagakure is thriving under the Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki. He is married to Hinata Uzumaki and has two children, Boruto Uzumaki and Himawari Uzumaki.

Boruto, Sarada Uchiha (Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha’s daughter), and a child named Mitsuki have become an elite ninja team under their teacher, Konohamaru Sarutobi. Boruto is upset at Naruto for focusing more on his job as Hokage than on their family.

Sasuke returns to the village to warn Naruto about the powerful opponent he faced earlier. After Naruto misses Himawari’s birthday, Boruto meets Sasuke and asks him to train him so that he can become strong enough to surpass Naruto.

Sasuke agrees only on the condition that Boruto performs the Rasengan technique, which he then learns from Konohamaru. Frustrated with the difficulty of learning the Rasengan, Boruto uses a Scientific Ninja Tool to impress Sasuke.

The tool was given to him by the arrogant scientist Katasuke, who wanted his experiment to gain publicity for marketing purposes before Naruto rejected the proposal.

Despite Boruto’s dishonesty, Sasuke honors his promise and helps him prepare for the upcoming Chunin Exam, a test taken by young ninjas.

Boruto, wishing to be acknowledged by his father, passes the Chunin Exams by using the Scientific Ninja Tool to cheat. Despite the victory, Naruto realizes immediately that Boruto was cheating and publicly disqualifies his son.

Tired of his father prioritizing his job, Boruto snaps, making Naruto realize it’s his fault the situation happened in the first place.

The moment gets interrupted however, as the two figures Sasuke previously encountered, Kinshiki Otsutsuki and Momoshiki Otsutsuki, appear.

The duo are after Kurama, the Nine-Tails creature that lives within Naruto’s body, as their objective is to create a chakra fruit in order to become immortal.

Ensuring nobody stands in their way, Momoshiki destroys the surrounding area, though Naruto sacrifices himself to protect Boruto and the civilians.

Once Boruto awakes, Sasuke reveals that Naruto is still alive in another dimension, and allies himself with the other Kage to rescue him. Finally understanding Naruto’s role, Boruto insists on joining them to make amends with his father.

They arrive in the other dimension and find Naruto bound by the Otsutsuki duo, and a battle begins. With Naruto freed, he and Boruto pause for a moment to bond and acknowledge fault on both sides for how their relationship suffered.

Momoshiki soon finds himself cornered, and devours Kinshiki to increase his strength, only to be quickly defeated by the combined might of Naruto and Sasuke.

Having sneaked along, Katasuke attempts to kill Momoshiki with a Scientific Ninja Tool, but it inadvertently restores his strength.

Placing his trust in Boruto, Naruto shares his chakra with his son to create a giant Rasengan, an attack which obliterates Momoshiki.

In the days following the victory, Naruto improves his relationship with his family by making sure that he always has time to spend with them.

Boruto resolves to become like Sasuke, a ninja who protects the village from the shadows, and supports Sarada’s dream of becoming the next Hokage.

After the credits, the conversation continues with Mitsuki revealing he is the son of a former enemy of the Village, Orochimaru, surprising both his teammates.