Where Are They Now: The Naruto Generation in the Boruto Era

When I first watched Boruto, my first reaction was “oh nice, a new generation,” followed by “wait, what’s this one up to now?”, “what happened to that one?”. Too many questions were bouncing around my head back then. Too many characters that made me curious. Which is fair, really, we’ve been following them since they were kids. They feel like old friends. So naturally you wonder how their lives turned out.

So consider this a little set of notes for anyone curious about the same thing.

Note: The information in this piece refers to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

Team 7

Naruto became the Seventh Hokage. We already knew this, we’d seen it coming ever since the first episode when he was shouting from the academy rooftop. The more interesting one is actually Sasuke, he didn’t take any title, doesn’t sit behind a desk, isn’t just a regular jonin. He chose to become a kind of shadow hokage, operating outside the village, handling threats that aren’t visible from within. It makes sense for his character, but it still makes you miss the days when he was on the same team as Naruto.

Sakura became Head of Konoha Medical. And seriously, this is no small achievement. She built a medical facility recognized even by other villages. People often underestimate Sakura, but here she really found the right place for herself.

Sai, who once didn’t know how to smile without reading a book about it, is now head of intelligence. There’s something both funny and a little touching about that.

Kakashi retired as the former Sixth Hokage. He seems happy. Hopefully.

Team 8

Hinata married Naruto and had Boruto and Himawari. Her storyline in Boruto is fairly… sidelined, if I’m being honest. She’s often relegated to the background. But well, everyone’s life choices are different.

Kiba joined the village police. It fits his ever-loud, protective energy perfectly. Shino became a ninja academy teacher and this somehow feels very Shino. Quiet, patient, meticulous. The kids might be scared of him at first, but they surely end up respecting him.

Kurenai retired. She lost Asuma before the war was over and raised Mirai alone. That’s a heavy load for one person.

Team 10 Ino-Shika-Cho

Shikamaru became the Eighth Hokage.

Makes sense, given he’s the most brilliant among his friends. But it’s still funny to picture him being the one who finally sits in that chair. Yeah, the guy who always says “mendokusai,” who lies around watching clouds. Hokage.

Ino runs the Sensory & Communications Division. Her jutsu is a perfect fit for it, transferring consciousness, reading minds, long-distance communication. Choji remains a field jonin. Still eating chips, I’m sure.

Asuma never got to see any of this. He fell to Hidan and Kakuzu, one of the most impactful deaths in the series precisely because it isn’t overly dramatic. No long speech. He left, and Team 10 had to carry on without him.

Team Guy

Rock Lee became a jonin. This was inevitable, this had to happen, this is cosmic justice.

Tenten opened a ninja weapons shop. I get it, maybe that’s exactly what she wanted? Someone obsessed with weapons since childhood finally has her own collection and sells them to others.

Guy-sensei retired as a war hero. His sacrifice when he opened the Eight Gates against Madara is one of the wildest scenes. He nearly died. His body will never fully recover. But Madara himself said Guy was the strongest opponent he ever faced. The definition of “a life lived fully,” if you ask me.

Neji fell protecting Naruto and Hinata.

It still stings every time I remember it. The one who once believed fate is sealed from birth died precisely to prove the opposite. There’s something both poetic and heartbreaking in that.

Team Konohamaru

Konohamaru, once the kid begging to be taught the Rasengan, is now a jonin leading the Boruto-era Team 7. Full circle.

Udon and Moegi also became jonin, each leading their own team. They aren’t characters who get much spotlight, but they’re there, they grew, and that’s enough.

Ebisu is still around as a senior instructor. This man is truly consistent.

I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or what, but there’s something satisfying about seeing those characters finally land somewhere that makes sense, a place that feels right for who they are. Naruto became Hokage, Lee proved himself over and over again.