It starts with a destroyed face. Specifically, the stone face of the Seventh Hokage, crumbled and gray under a sky that looks like the end of the world. If you were there on April 5, 2017, when Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episode 1 first aired, you remember the collective "what the heck" that went through the fandom. We’d just spent fifteen years watching Naruto Uzumaki grind his way from a social pariah to a god-tier leader. Then, within sixty seconds of the new series, a teenager named Kawaki stands on the ruins of Konoha and tells Boruto he's going to send him where he sent the Seventh.
Talk about a hook.
The episode, titled "Boruto Uzumaki!", didn’t just introduce a new protagonist. It fundamentally shifted the tone of a franchise that had become synonymous with "never give up." It gave us a glimpse of a future where the shinobi system is dead. And honestly? It was a bold move. Most sequels play it safe by basking in the glory of the original cast, but Studio Pierrot decided to lead with a punch to the gut.
The Prologue That Launched a Thousand Fan Theories
That opening scene between teen Boruto and Kawaki is probably the most analyzed minute of footage in modern anime history. Boruto has a scar over his right eye. He’s got strange black markings—which we now know as Karma—spreading across his arm. He’s wearing Sasuke’s headband. The weight of that imagery was massive. It promised a darker, more technical world than the one we left at the end of Shippuden.
Why does it work? Because it creates immediate stakes. We see a version of Boruto who is battle-hardened and serious, which stands in stark contrast to the bratty kid we meet five minutes later. It’s a classic "in media res" storytelling device, but applied to a legacy series, it feels like a promise: "Stick around, things are going to get bad."
For years, fans debated if Naruto was actually dead. The phrasing "I'll send you to the same place" is intentionally vague. It could mean a different dimension. It could mean the afterlife. That ambiguity is exactly what kept the engagement numbers high for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episode 1 long after the initial broadcast.
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A City Caught Between Ninjutsu and Netflix
The actual plot of the episode is much more grounded, focusing on the day of the Academy entrance ceremony. We see a Konoha that has undergone a massive industrial revolution. There’s a train—the "Thunder Rail"—zipping through the village. Kids have handheld gaming devices. It’s a bit jarring. Seeing Naruto’s world suddenly look like a modern suburban sprawl feels weird, but it makes sense. Peace brings progress.
Boruto himself is a polarizing figure in this debut. He isn't Naruto. He doesn't want to be Hokage. In fact, he kind of hates the title because it’s the thing that keeps his dad away from the dinner table. If you grew up with Naruto, Boruto’s complaining can feel grating. You want to shake him and say, "Your dad lived in a shack and ate expired ramen, get over it!"
But that’s the point. Boruto is a child of privilege. His struggle isn't about survival; it's about identity. He wants to step out of a shadow that covers the entire planet. The episode does a decent job of showing his loneliness, even if it’s wrapped in teenage rebellion.
Meeting Denki Kaminarimon
The heart of the episode is Boruto’s interaction with Denki, a kid being bullied into joining the Academy by his wealthy businessman father. Denki represents the "New Generation" perfectly—he’s tech-savvy, physically weak, and pressured by modern societal expectations rather than wartime necessity.
When Denki gets possessed by a strange, purple shadowy aura (later identified as "The Ghost" or Nue chakra), we get our first look at Boruto’s unique eye ability. Back then, we didn't have a name for it. Fans called it the "Tenseigan" or a weird "Byakugan." Eventually, the creators dubbed it the Jougan. This eye allows him to see the distorted chakra flow, a power that even his father, with all the power of the Nine-Tails, can't perceive.
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The climax involves a runaway train. Boruto and a possessed Denki end up on a collision course with the other students at the Academy. It’s chaotic. It’s flashy. It ends with a train car crashing into Naruto’s face on the Hokage Rock. It’s a literal and metaphorical "I’m here" from Boruto to his father.
Animation and Technical Execution
Visually, the episode was a step up from the late-stage Shippuden filler arcs. Hiroyuki Yamashita, who directed the stellar Boruto: Naruto the Movie, was at the helm, and you can feel his influence. The character designs by Mikio Ikemoto are modernized—shorter hair, more belts, a bit of a "streetwear" vibe compared to Masashi Kishimoto’s more traditional aesthetic.
The color palette is brighter. It feels like a Saturday morning cartoon until that prologue hits you again. The music, handled by Yasuharu Takanashi (who did the iconic Shippuden score), blends traditional Japanese instruments with more modern rock and electronic beats. It reflects the clash between the old shinobi ways and the new technological era.
Why Episode 1 Still Matters in 2026
Looking back from the perspective of the current manga and the Two Blue Vortex era, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episode 1 is a masterclass in foreshadowing. Elements that seemed like throwaway gags or minor plot points are now central to the lore.
- The Jougan: Still one of the biggest mysteries. The fact that it appeared in the very first episode suggests it’s the key to the entire series, yet we still haven't seen its full potential.
- Technological Integration: The "Kaminarimon Company" introduced here becomes the backbone of the Scientific Ninja Tools that dominate later arcs.
- The Karma Mark: That brief flash in the opening was our first hint at the Otsutsuki clan’s true method of immortality.
It wasn't just a pilot. It was a roadmap.
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Common Misconceptions About the Debut
A lot of people think Boruto was cheating with ninja tools in the first episode. He wasn't. That doesn't happen until the Chunin Exams. In episode 1, he’s actually quite skilled, using Shadow Clones and basic Taijutsu with a level of finesse Naruto didn't have at that age.
Another common mistake is thinking the episode is "filler" because it wasn't in the original manga. The Boruto anime took a "simultaneous canon" approach. While the manga started with a retelling of the movie, the anime went back to his Academy days. This was a controversial choice because it led to a lot of "slice of life" content that felt slow to some fans. However, the creator Masashi Kishimoto has gone on record saying the anime’s Academy arcs are essential for character development.
Making the Most of a Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch Boruto: Naruto Next Generations episode 1, keep your eyes peeled for the background details.
- Look at the posters in the village. You'll see ads for movies and products that highlight just how much the world has changed.
- Pay attention to Shikamaru’s role. He’s already acting as the brain behind the Seventh Hokage, managing the transition into this new era.
- Observe the "purple shadow." It’s the first hint of the inter-dimensional threats that define the series later on.
The episode holds up surprisingly well. It manages to introduce a huge cast of characters—Inojin, Shikadai, Chouchou—without feeling like a bloated mess. It feels like a fresh start, even if that start is shadowed by the eventual destruction of the village we spent two decades loving.
Taking Action: Where to Go From Here
If you’ve just finished the first episode or are planning a rewatch, here is how to navigate the massive world of Boruto without getting lost in the weeds:
- Check the Watch Guides: Because the anime started before the manga had much material, there is a lot of "Anime Canon." If you want the core story, look for a guide that highlights the "Manga Canon" episodes, but don't skip the Parent and Child Day arc—it’s wholesome.
- Compare the Opening: Watch the opening scene of episode 1, then jump to the latest chapters of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga. Seeing how the character designs evolved from that initial tease is a trip.
- Support Official Sources: You can find the first episode on platforms like Crunchyroll or Hulu. Seeing it in high definition is a different experience than the grainy clips on social media.
The story of Boruto is a slow burn. It starts with a kid trying to get his dad's attention and ends with a battle for the fate of the human race. Episode 1 is the bridge between those two worlds. It’s the moment the baton was passed, even if the new runner was a little reluctant to take it.
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