Konohamaru Sarutobi, grandchild of the Third Hokage and one of Konoha’s best ninjas, has been an iconic part of theNarutofranchise for decades. While he began the series as an annoying and entitled child, he slowly became a reliable fighter, gaining the respect of his peers and audiences alike. Recently, this once cherished character has gained the anger of a large portion of the fandom.
In chapter #18 of theBoruto: Two Blue Vortexmanga, Naruto’s pupil endangers the mission to destroy the Divine Trees after causing Matsuri to become jealous of Moegi, going against Shikamaru’s orders. While this moment of weakness might have caused Konohamaru to be hated by many fans, it proves one thing above all else:he is still honoring Naruto’s teachings.
Konohamaru Learned Naruto’s Most Important Lesson
Konohamaru Proves His Convictions Are Strong
In chapter #18 of theBoruto: Two Blue Vortexmanga, Konohamaru can be seen having a conversation with Matsuri, the Divine Tree who gained sentience after absorbing Moegi. The creature, controlled by the feelings of love and attraction that her host felt for Konohamaru, began calling him by a nickname that only his female partner was allowed to use. Boruto’s teacher politely asked her not to use that name, as it was coined by someone special to him. This causes Matsuri to become violent and jealous of Konohamaru’s feelings for Moegi.
For a large portion of the fandom,this was a fatal mistake that endangered the missionto save Gaara. Instead of following Shikamaru’s orders to take advantage of the Divine Tree’s innocence, Konohamaru allowed his feelings to get the best of him. Yet, it is Konohamaru’s reaction during this moment that makes him such an admirable individual. The Eight Hokage asked him to act ruthlessly, using another person’s feelings against them only to betray them in the end. He was also asked to betray his heart, allowing someone other than the person he loved to use his nickname.
Naruto: New Boruto Preview Tees Up a Long-Awaited Romance for Konohamaru
The preview of Boruto: TBV chapter #18 is teasing a romantic spark between Konohamaru and an enemy, which could lead to unexpected feelings.
Instead of turning himself into a completely different person, Konohamaru stayed true to himself andNaruto’s important lessons. One of the qualities that differentiated the Seventh Hokage from the rest was his insistence on always being kind, truthful, and honorable. Konohamaru, who has admired Naruto for most of his life, would not want to go against his mentor’s ideals. Shikamaru asked him to go against everything he and his idol stand for while gloating about being more ruthless than his predecessor. Konohamaru not being as cruel as his leader is not a mistake, is a perfect embodiment of who he is.
Konohamaru’s Actions Go Deeper Than a Simple Mistake
Matsuri’s Appearance Took Konohamaru by Surprise
One significant detail thatNarutofans do not consider when blaming Konohamaru is the complex feelings the ninja had at the moment. Despite her inhuman traits,Matsuri looks almost identical to Moegi. For Konohamaru, being near the Divine Tree was like having a chat with his childhood friend, the one whom he fell in love with long ago. Matsuri’s behavior must have also contributed to his strong reaction, as his mind could have interpreted this as his crush finally accepting his feelings.
Konohamaru asking Matsuri to stop calling him by a nickname was not him purposefully endangering the mission to stop an awkward situation. It was a genuine human reaction, as he did not want Moegi’s clone to ruin his memories with the original. Most humans in a similar situation would have reacted similarly, not wanting to betray the person they love with someone who looks similar. Even though his reaction was indeed not the most appropriate at the time, Konohamaru is still a human.
Shikamaru Went Completely Against Naruto’s Teachings
The Eight Hokage Has Become a Ruthless Leader
During chapter #17, Konohamaru had a brief flashback to the conversation he had with Shikamaru before departing to the Hidden Sand Village. His memory gave fans a glimpse ofhow ruthless the Eight Hokage has becomenow that the Divine Trees have risen. The strategy proposed by the Nara Clan’s leader was to befriend the creatures, utilizing their naivety against them to find a perfect moment to kill them. After hearing those words, Konohamaru was understandably shocked, as he did not expect someone who worked so closely with Naruto to be so cruel.
Shikamaru himself acknowledged this by asking the Jonin if hearing those words caught him by surprise. Ever since he came across Kashin Koji’s toads, the Eight Hokage has become a much colder leader, justifying any action by claiming that he just has humanity’s best interest in mind. Despite always being somewhat aloof, Shikamaru was never known for being a ruthless person. The only time he has been this determined to end another person was during his vendetta against Hidan, which in fairness wasone of the best battles in the franchise.
If Naruto Wants to Make Boruto Great, There Are 5 Disappointing Details the Sequel Needs to Fix
Boruto hasn’t exactly won the good graces of every Naruto fan, although many have come around. If it wants the rest, the shonen has 5 things to fix.
It is shocking to see someone who Naruto trusted to continue his legacy change his ways so suddenly. In his desire to protect Konoha from the strong villains that are looking to destroy it,Shikamaru has become a much darker Hokage, one Naruto might not approve of. Nevertheless, chapter #17 implies that something more might be at play, as the Eight Hokage acted in a truly suspicious way. His coldhearted behavior might be nothing more than a façade, with Shikamaru pretending to confuse his enemies.
Konohamaru’s Reaction Might Have Been a Part of the Plan
Shikamaru Must Have Known Konohamaru Would Not Follow His Orders
Choosing Konohamaru as a member of the team to save Gaara is, when studied carefully,an odd choice on Shikamaru’s part. Even if he was selected due to his connection with Moegi and Matsuri, the Hokage must have known that his feelings could derail his plans at any moment. Shikamaru is not a man who likes to take risks and, beingone of the smartest characters in the franchise, he must have known that Konohamaru was not the ideal candidate. With this in mind, assuming that he picked Naruto’s pupil on purpose might not be out of the question.
The Eight Hokage is currently following Kashin Koji’s advice, as proven by the toad hidden inside his collar during chapter #17. As such, there is a high likelihood that the Koji found a possible future in which Konohamaru and Matsuri’s conversation led to a beneficial outcome for humanity. Readers still do not know the extent of Koshin’s Prescience nor the events that he has seen thanks to it. There might still be a way for the ninjas to save humanity, and Konohamaru’s feelings for Moegi might be a crucial part of this plan.
Narutofans have a more than valid reason to criticizeKonohamarufor his actions in chapter #18. Still, when seen from another perspective, his behavior fits his character perfectly and serves to honor the teachings of the Seventh Hokage. Future entries in the series will determine if his actions have doomed or saved humanity.
