Hello again, everyone!

Well, you know, there are some long-running franchises that continue to grow even after their original story has concluded. And when it comes to their fan following, sometimes it feels like the story never really ends! Years may pass, but fans will still find something new to discuss, debate, and occasionally fight about. 😂

And recently, a new project from the franchise was announced. But guess what? Alongside the new announcement, some fresh discussions and rumors about the franchise’s existing story also started making the rounds.

Yep, you guessed it right! Today, we’re talking about Naruto — or, more accurately, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

Well, a familiar debate has started again, and this time, the question is: Is Boruto even canon? 🤔

Short answer: Yes, Boruto is canon. But if that’s the case, then why are people questioning its place in the Naruto universe all over again? Let’s find out!

Now, if you’re wondering what canon means, don’t worry! In simple terms, canon refers to the officially recognized story and events that belong to a franchise’s continuity. So, in this case, the question is whether Boruto is an official continuation of Naruto’s story or whether it exists separately.

And here’s where things get interesting.

Following the announcement of Naruto: Shadow Rising, a new manga project by Masashi Kishimoto, an older interview discussing Kishimoto’s and Mikio Ikemoto’s roles in creating Boruto also returned to the spotlight.

And apparently, one statement was enough to get people asking questions all over again! Is Boruto really continuing Naruto’s story, or is it somehow taking place in a different universe because Kishimoto isn’t directly handling every part of it?

Well, hold on a second! Before we start sending Boruto into another dimension, let’s take a closer look at what was actually said. 😂

How did this discussion start, what did Kishimoto actually say, and why are people talking about it again?

That’s what we’re going to explore today. So, let’s get started!

Wait… how did the rumor that Boruto is not canon even begin? 👀

How Did The Rumor That Boruto Is Not Canon Even Begin? 👀

The current discussion revolves around whether Boruto is actually canon to the original Naruto story. 😅 But here’s the interesting part: this discussion didn’t begin yesterday. The statement behind it dates back to an interview published in 2025.

If you guys don’t know who Mikio Ikemoto is, let me give you a little context. Ikemoto is the manga artist behind Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and its sequel, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. He previously worked as an assistant to Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto. However, their responsibilities changed when they began working on Boruto.

In an interview published on the official Naruto website on July 17, 2025, Kishimoto discussed the difference between his working relationship with Ikemoto on the two manga series. While Kishimoto was responsible for the original Naruto story and its main illustrations, Ikemoto took the lead on the story and illustrations for Boruto.

In other words, Kishimoto explained that Boruto was Ikemoto’s manga, with Ikemoto taking responsibility for its creative direction.

And this is where the discussion gets interesting. 🤦‍♂️

For some fans, this statement was simply an explanation of how the sequel was being created. For others, it raised questions about how closely Boruto’s story was connected to Kishimoto’s original vision for Naruto.

Now, speaking personally, 😅 I can understand why some longtime Naruto fans have mixed feelings about the sequel. The futuristic technology, changes in the shinobi world, and the direction of the story have all been subjects of debate. Some fans feel that Boruto moved too far away from the atmosphere and storytelling that made Naruto special to them.

But disliking the direction of a sequel and questioning whether it is canon are two different things.

The discussion received renewed attention following the announcement of Naruto: Shadow Rising at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026. With Kishimoto returning to a new manga project in the Naruto universe, fans began revisiting his relationship with Boruto and the older interview about Ikemoto’s role.

That brought the old statement back into the conversation, and some people began interpreting the difference in creative responsibilities as evidence that Naruto and Boruto existed in separate continuities.

However, there is an important distinction here: Kishimoto saying that Ikemoto is responsible for Boruto’s story is not the same as Kishimoto saying that Boruto is non-canon.

The interview explained who was creating the sequel. It did not announce that Boruto had become an alternate-universe story or that it had been removed from the official Naruto continuity.

So, while the renewed discussion has given fans another reason to debate Boruto’s relationship with Naruto, we still need to examine what the statement actually establishes.

And honestly, if every sequel became non-canon simply because its original creator wasn’t personally responsible for every creative decision, the anime and manga industry would have a lot of continuity problems to deal with! 😂

But jokes aside, let’s get to the actual question.

The Actual Answer: Is Boruto Really Non-Canon?

Well, the answer is… I already gave it to you twice! 😂 But if you’re still confused, let me explain it one more time in the simplest way possible.

Is Boruto canon or not? The straightforward answer is YES, Boruto is canon.

Now, why are people talking about it? Well, I’ve already explained how the discussion started, but let me put it simply.

Naruto was written by Masashi Kishimoto, while Boruto is handled by Mikio Ikemoto, who previously worked as Kishimoto’s assistant. Their responsibilities are different, and that is the main point behind this discussion.

Kishimoto created the original Naruto story, and the sequel continued the franchise with Ikemoto taking the lead on its creative work. When Naruto: Shadow Rising was announced, Kishimoto’s return to a new manga project brought renewed attention to that difference.

And somehow, the conversation turned into a question about whether Boruto was canon in the first place!

But here’s the thing: having a different person handle a sequel does not automatically make that sequel non-canon. The creator’s identity and the story’s official place in a franchise are two different things.

Just because Kishimoto is not personally responsible for every part of Boruto doesn’t mean the story suddenly belongs to another universe. 😂

A series’ canon status depends on its place in the officially recognized continuity, not simply on whether the original creator writes and illustrates every chapter himself.

And in this case, there has been no official statement in the sources examined for this article declaring Boruto non-canon or announcing that it has become an alternate-universe story.

So, yes, Boruto is part of the official Naruto franchise and continues the story through a different creative lead. The claim that it is no longer canon has not been established by Kishimoto’s interview.

At the end of the day, you can dislike Boruto’s story, its direction, or the changes it has made to the Naruto universe. That’s completely fine. But disliking a sequel and declaring it non-canon are two very different things.

Boruto has a different creative lead. That alone does not make it non-canon.

My Personal Thoughts

Well, honestly, this is a rather interesting question, and I can understand why it has confused some fans. But the answer remains the same: whether we like Boruto or not, that doesn’t change its canon status.

Now, according to fans who have continued reading the sequel, including Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, there are plenty of things to discuss about its story and direction. Some readers enjoy it, while others aren’t quite satisfied with how things have developed.

As for me, I actually dropped Boruto somewhere along the way during the original series. 😅 I haven’t caught up with the story, but I’m thinking about continuing it at some point. So, if you’re a regular Boruto reader, I’d genuinely like to know whether you think I should give it another chance!

But putting my reading habits aside, let’s return to the main topic.

The reason I wanted to cover this discussion is simple. I understand that some fans might not enjoy the direction Boruto has taken. Perhaps you miss the atmosphere of the original Naruto, or maybe you don’t like the changes in the story. That’s completely understandable.

However, not liking a sequel doesn’t give us a reason to declare it non-canon without evidence.

As we’ve discussed, Boruto has a different creative lead, with Mikio Ikemoto handling the manga’s story and illustrations. That doesn’t automatically make it a separate universe. The available evidence does not establish that Kishimoto has declared Boruto non-canon.

And honestly, if Boruto isn’t your cup of tea, that’s fine! You don’t have to force yourself to read it. You can always revisit the original Naruto story or look forward to other projects from the franchise.

Speaking of which, if you’re someone who misses Naruto and wants to see more of the original franchise, there’s another project you might want to check out!

A new manga project, Naruto: Shadow Rising, was recently announced. I’ve already covered the announcement in detail, so you can check out that blog here: Read our Naruto: Shadow Rising announcement coverage. We’ll also keep covering further developments as more information becomes available.

And there you have it! I hope this article has helped clear up the confusion surrounding Boruto’s canon status. Sometimes, all it takes is going back to the original statement instead of relying on what people say about it.

Stay Updated

Before you leave, here’s one small piece of advice: whenever you’re wondering whether a particular anime or manga is canon, start by checking its official website and announcements. Look for how the creators or rights holders describe the project and its relationship to the main story. If the information isn’t clear, don’t assume that it’s canon or non-canon based on rumors alone.

Now, I’d love to hear from you!

Tell me in the comments:

• • How old were you when you first watched Naruto?
  • Are you still following Boruto, or did you drop it somewhere along the way like I did? 😂
  • What do you think about Boruto’s story so far?
  • And most importantly, should I continue reading Boruto? Give me your recommendations!

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Well, I guess that’s everything for today.

Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you again in another anime blog, another story, or perhaps another discussion just like this one.

Until then, stay tuned with Anime Addictive! ❤️

This Blog Written by: Prince Sanatan Kumar
(Yuu-kun)