Facebook
Reddit
Email
A critical analysis of character development in Boruto, examining how the writers have treated Sarada Uchiha Poorly.
The Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly throughout the series, turning what could have been a groundbreaking character into a footnote in her own story. As the daughter of Sasuke Uchiha and the first female Uchiha to take center stage in the franchise, Sarada’s introduction held immense promise. Her dream of becoming Hokage and her unique position as a Uchiha and a central character in Boruto set up what should have been a compelling character arc.
However, over 80 chapters into Boruto, this promising setup has largely gone unfulfilled. In the meantime, other next-generation characters like Boruto, Kawaki, and even Himawari have received substantial character development and meaningful story arcs. But Sarada’s journey has been marked by missed opportunities and diminished significance.
Sarada Uchiha’s Initial Development in Boruto
When Boruto first began, Sarada Uchiha’s character showed tremendous potential. Her introduction arc explored her family, identity, and the legacy of the Uchiha clan. The writers initially positioned her as a determined young ninja who wanted to forge her own path, different from both her father Sasuke, and her mother Sakura. Her goal of becoming Hokage represented a new direction for the Uchiha clan, traditionally associated with darkness and revenge.
The Boro fight marked one of Sarada’s few moments to shine, where she displayed tactical intelligence and abilities that set her apart. The Boruto writers diminished even her victory by ending it with Boruto saving her, establishing a problematic pattern that continues throughout the series. The early narrative threads suggested Sarada would break the cycle of how the franchise typically wrote female characters. But these promises remained largely unfulfilled.
While other characters received training arcs and power-ups that felt earned through struggle and growth, Sarada’s development began to stagnate. It seems the writers were unsure of how to integrate her into the larger narrative of Boruto.
Sarada Sidelined in Major Arcs
While Boruto and Kawaki took center stage in nearly every major story arc, the Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly by consistently pushing her to the background. Despite being a part of the main trio, her involvement in pivotal moments has been minimal at best. The writers’ focus on the brotherly dynamic between Boruto and Kawaki has come at the expense of other character developments, particularly Sarada’s. This became especially apparent during the Code arc and subsequent major storylines, where her appearances were reduced to brief cameos or emotional support scenes.
This sidelining is frustrating, given that the Boruto writers seemingly forgot about Sarada’s stated goal of becoming Hokage. In Naruto, even secondary characters received dedicated arcs showing their growth toward their goals. But in Sarada’s case, her dream has become little more than an occasional reference.
The lack of progression toward this ambition is striking, especially given how central it was to her early characterization. The Boruto writers diminished even her victory by ending it with Boruto saving her, establishing a problematic pattern that continues throughout the series. The early narrative threads suggested Sarada would break the cycle of how the franchise typically wrote female characters.
The Rushed Mangekyo Sharingan Awakening
Perhaps the most obvious example of how the Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly is the handling of her Mangekyo Sharingan awakening. Traditionally in the series, obtaining these advanced eyes requires deep emotional trauma, typically through witnessing or experiencing the death of a loved one. Regardless, Sarada’s awakening felt unearned and rushed, lacking the emotional weight that made similar moments so impactful for characters like Sasuke and Itachi.
The writers reduced a monumental character moment to what felt like a plot device, primarily serving to help Boruto rather than advance Sarada’s own story.
The chapter featuring her Mangekyo awakening barely focused on Sarada’s perspective or the emotional implications of this significant power-up. Instead of using this moment to delve into her character or showcase her growth, the Boruto writers quickly moved on to other plot points. The rushed nature of this milestone moment signifies a larger pattern of the writers failing to give Sarada’s character development the attention and care it deserves.
Perpetual Damsel in Distress
A frustrating pattern shows how the Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly by frequently relegating her to the “damsel in distress” role. This became painfully evident in recent chapters of Two Blue Vortex, particularly during her battle with Hidari. Despite landing an impressive Chidori at the start of the fight, Sarada ultimately needed saving by Boruto—a scenario that has played out multiple times throughout the series.
This recurring pattern undermines her character’s strength and potential. It also suggests the writers are more interested in using her peril as a plot device to showcase other characters’ abilities rather than developing her own combat prowess. It is disappointing to see that Sarada possesses all the tools to be a formidable ninja in her own right but is not treated the same.
As a Uchiha with the Sharingan and now the Mangekyo Sharingan, she should be capable of holding her own in significant battles. However, the Boruto writers consistently position her as someone who needs rescuing, especially by the male protagonists. This stands in sharp contrast to how characters like Himawari are being written, with the younger Uzumaki sibling receiving substantial power-ups and meaningful battle sequences.
Sarada Uchiha Being the Same in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex
The time skip in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex gave a perfect opportunity for the writers to correct their treatment of Sarada’s character. She received an updated design and showed some initial promise with her tactical thinking. However, the Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly by falling back into familiar patterns. Her recent confrontation with Hidari in chapter 11 exemplifies this issue. What started as a showcase of her abilities quickly devolved into another rescue scenario requiring Boruto’s intervention.
This continued pattern is particularly disappointing, given how other characters have evolved post-time skip. Boruto has mastered new abilities, Kawaki has fully integrated Isshiki’s powers, and even Himawari has shown remarkable growth in her capabilities. Meanwhile, Sarada appears to have made minimal progress in the three-year gap. She still relies on the same techniques she had before the time skip.
The writers’ decision to maintain this status quo rather than use the time skip as an opportunity for meaningful character development suggests a concerning lack of investment in Sarada’s growth as a character within the broader narrative of Boruto.
Conclusion
The evidence is clear that the Boruto writers have treated Sarada Uchiha poorly throughout the series run. They squandered what could have been a groundbreaking character in the franchise. Sarada’s treatment is a disappointing continuation of how female characters have historically been written in the series.
This is frustrating, given her unique position as both a Uchiha and an aspiring Hokage. These two elements should have made her character arc compelling and essential to the story.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
