The Naruto saga captivated millions with its rich lore, unforgettable characters, and epic battles. When Boruto: Naruto Next Generations was announced, fans eagerly anticipated seeing their beloved heroes as adults, passing the torch to a new generation. Instead, many were met with a phenomenon all too common in long-running franchises: the glow down. Whether through questionable design choices, severe power nerfs, or outright sidelining, several iconic figures from the original series have lost their luster in Boruto. Here, we break down five of the most disappointing declines that have left the fandom divided.
Sasuke Uchiha: From Coolest Shinobi to Questionable Hair Choices
Sasuke Uchiha was the epitome of cool in Naruto Shippuden—a rogue avenger with a devastating moveset and a sharp, angular design that screamed elite shinobi. In Boruto, however, his glow down is both visual and power-related. First, the hair: his once-spiky locks have been flattened and slicked back into a style many fans uncharitably compare to a wet mop or even a chicken’s backside. The loss of his signature Rinnegan—poked out by Boruto in a moment of possession—not only stripped him of a visually striking trait but also of a huge chunk of his combat versatility. Without the Rinnegan’s spacetime portals and multiple abilities, Sasuke feels like a shadow of his former self, often reduced to a chakra-depleted mentor figure who gets saved by his student. It’s a heartbreaking downgrade for one of anime’s most beloved rivals.
Gaara: The Terrifying Jinchuriki Turned Dad with a Bowl Cut
Gaara’s introduction in the original Naruto was nothing short of terrifying. The sadistic jinchuriki of the One-Tail, with his dark-rimmed eyes and sand coffin technique, gave us some of the series’ most brutal moments. By the end of Shippuden, he had evolved into a calm, respected Kazekage, but he still retained an air of quiet power. In Boruto, that air has evaporated. The most immediate culprit is his hair: the sleek, gelled-down style has been replaced by a bizarre, unflattering comb-over that makes him look decades older and significantly less formidable. Power-wise, Gaara rarely gets a chance to shine; he is often seen in administrative meetings or getting overpowered by new threats that old Gaara would have handled with a flick of his wrist. The man who once buried opponents alive is now little more than a diplomatic figurehead, and fans can’t help but mourn the loss of his edge.
Hinata Hyuga: Reduced to a Housewife Archetype
Hinata’s journey from a shy, stuttering heiress to a confident kunoichi who stood against Pain was one of Shippuden’s most rewarding arcs. In Boruto, however, that progression has been completely discarded. Her entire identity now revolves around being a homemaker; she cooks, cleans, and gently scolds her children, but rarely displays any of the combat prowess she once honed. Her signature Gentle Fist style? Virtually unseen. Her Byakugan? Only brought out to check on the kids. This domestication of a once-strong female character has drawn justified criticism, as it perpetuates the tired trope that a kunoichi’s ultimate role is to support her husband’s legacy. For many fans, seeing Hinata reduced to a background mom who exists only to provide warm meals and worried glances is one of Boruto’s most glaring failures.
Orochimaru: The Menacing Snake Sannin Fades into a Comic Parent
Orochimaru was, without exaggeration, one of the most chilling villains in anime history. His pale, serpentine visage and twisted experiments gave the original Naruto a constant undercurrent of dread. In Boruto, this legendary antagonist has been reduced to a quirky, almost comical parent figure who pops in for parent-teacher conferences and provides occasional scientific advice. While his experimentation continues off-screen, the aura of menace is gone; he is now a neutered shadow of the snake who once killed the Third Hokage. The decision to turn Orochimaru into a comedic relief character is a creative misstep that robs the universe of a compelling wild card. A character of his depth deserved a more nuanced handling—perhaps an uneasy, unpredictable ally—instead of the defanged eccentric we got.
Konohamaru Sarutobi: The Hokage Dream That Never Was
Konohamaru was introduced as the bratty grandson of the Third Hokage with a single-minded dream: to become Hokage himself. Throughout Naruto and early Shippuden, we saw glimpses of his potential—saving his village during Pain’s assault, mastering the Rasengan at a young age. In Boruto, however, he is meant to be a jounin sensei to Team 7, yet he is constantly outshone by his own students and humiliated by opponents. His character has been relegated to comic relief and damsel-in-distress moments, turning his once-inspiring ambition into a running joke. Fans have waited years to see him step up as a legitimate candidate for Hokage, but the series seems content to keep him as a bumbling background figure, never allowing him to grow into the leader he promised to be.
What the Fandom Is Saying
The disappointment over these glow downs is not just anecdotal—it echoes across online forums. One Reddit user lamented, “Sasuke’s new hair is a war crime,” while another added, “I can’t take him seriously anymore; he looks like a stressed accountant.” Gaara’s hair has spawned entire meme threads comparing it to a dropped ice cream cone. On Twitter, fans frequently criticize Hinata’s treatment, with one viral post stating, “She trained her whole life just to be a dishwasher in her own home.” Even Orochimaru’s transformation has sparked debate: “They turned my favorite psychopath into a silly mom,” a fan blogged. The general consensus is clear: Boruto has mishandled its legacy characters, trading complexity for easy gags and outdated stereotypes.
While Boruto aims to tell its own story with a new cast, it does so at the expense of the very characters that built the franchise. By stripping away their aesthetic appeal and narrative importance, the series alienates longtime fans who tuned in to see their heroes age gracefully. There is still time to course-correct—give Sasuke a haircut and his dignity, let Gaara unleash his sand again, and allow Hinata to demonstrate why she was once a clan prodigy. Until then, these glow downs will remain a sore spot in an otherwise promising sequel.