With an inclination towards a more futuristic approach for theBorutoseries,author Masashi Kishimoto has centeredmuch of the sequel around technology and advanced weaponry. From Scientific Ninja Tools to body amplification devices, the series has certainly stepped up its game in terms of introducing new technology, yet the rapid development of such absurdly powerful tools doesn’t sit right with many, especially considering theNarutoFranchise’s core setting of chakra-based abilities.
With the fifteen year timeskip from theShippudenera, it’s perfectly reasonable for technological upgrades to be the next step in the series, yet the overwhelming use of weapons and gadgets has sidelined chakra-based abilities – the series’ core theme. Moreover, the scope of these advancements seems rather out of place, as some technologies are far too advanced considering the two series are set only fifteen years apart, almost changing the narrativeto a semi-mecha anime. These inconsistencies have opened up several questions regarding the incorporation of technology into the mix, further questioning Kishimoto’s intentions with the show.
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Scientific Ninja Tools
Technology has influenced many aspects of the series, yet the most profound impact has been witnessed in the form of Scientific Ninja Tools. Fromsimple Kunai and Shuriken, ninja tools have evolved to chakra blades and laser eyes, turning a traditional concept of shinobi warfare into an all out mecha fight. With the addition of such all-powerful weapons, the series has lost its core theme, making chakra-based abilities almost obsolete. The use of artificially produced jutsu from Shinobi Kote have overshadowed ninjutsu, while body amplification technologies have taken over the field of medical-ninjutsu.
While improving ninja tools seemed like the obvious choice in terms of moving forward with the series, the sheer scale of these advancements makes these futuristic advancements almost entirely forced. Ninja tools initially served the purpose of supporting shinobi-based fighting, yet these tools have shifted the narrative and forced shinobi combat to revolve around theusage of Scientific Ninja Tools. Such a drastic shift in focus further adds to the notion of how incongruous these technological advancements seem in the shinobi world.
Civilian Technology
Another aspect of theNarutouniverse that technology has heavily influenced is communication, something that was previously achieved through messenger birds or messenger shinobi. Suddenly jumping from such traditional methods to using laptops and flat-screens seems a bit out of place, especially with the addition of the internet within a timeframe of fifteen years.Such a futuristic approachnegates the previously set image of pre-modern times, a perspective that perfectly suited a world of ninja.
The previously prevalent method of travel, the famed ‘ninja run’, has also been replaced with the incorporation of high-speed trains. However, such methods of transport seem rather odd in a world of shinobi, taking away the set notion of seclusion and inaccessibility that theNarutoseries had presented. Much of the series' world building was centered around traveling on foot, with many settlements and small towns that came across the way, yet high-speed rails have taken away that impeccably crafted aspect of the series.
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Inconsistencies in Technological Advancements
It is pertinent to note thatthe incorporation of technologyisn’t exactly the flaw in theBorutoseries, rather it’s the inconsistent and forceful implementation that has botched the show’s image. While some aspects of technology may seem quite advanced, such as the internet and cell reshaping nanobots, others are heavily underdeveloped and lag behind significantly. The addition of laptops and flat-screens seems odd without any prevalent use of mobile phones, or the usage of electric trains without any sign of cars. These inconsistencies make technology all the more out of place in the series.
Other examples include body amplification suits and nanobots capable of replacing cells inside the human body – advanced technologies that were previously nowhere to be seen.Kara’s technological advancements are an obvious exampleof the series taking an entirely different direction, as the organizations’ members boast extremely powerful tech, making them stronger than regular shinobi that rely on chakra-based abilities. The franchise has completely stripped off the aspect of training and growth, as a clear precedent has been set that technology will soon triumph over ninjutsu.
The series’ justification of collaboration betweenthe Five Great Nationsleading to such improvements seems plausible, but only till a certain level, as these absurd additions to the show not only seem entirely forced but also shift the focus away from the series' core theme of chakra and Jutsu. At its current rate, new additions to the already extensive lineup of tech is to be expected, however, the possibility of redeeming the damage done to the series is still conceivable through balancing out the powerscaling of newer technology.
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