Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Manga — All 20 Volumes
All 20 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Manga Volumes — Quick Facts
Here’s the quick rundown:
- Status: Completed
- Total volumes: 20 (both Japanese and English editions)
- Art: Mikio Ikemoto
- Original story & supervision: Masashi Kishimoto
- Script: Ukyo Kodachi (volumes 1–13); Masashi Kishimoto (volumes 14–20, after Kodachi stepped down in November 2020)
- Japanese publisher: Shueisha (a major Japanese publishing company) under their Jump Comics imprint
- English publisher: VIZ Media
- First JP volume: August 2016
- Final JP volume: September 2021
The series picks up the story of Boruto Uzumaki — Naruto’s son — in a world where the great ninja wars are over and the Hidden Leaf Village (called Konoha in Japanese) has modernized. Naruto himself is the Seventh Hokage, the leader of the village and its strongest protector. The younger generation is growing up in relative peace. Of course, that peace doesn’t last.
One important distinction: if you’ve seen people talking about Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, that’s a separate sequel series with its own volume numbering. This guide covers only the original completed 20-volume run. Two Blue Vortex continues the story after the events of volume 20, but it’s its own thing — think of it as a direct continuation that resets the volume count at 1, similar to how long-running manga series sometimes split into numbered “parts.”
If you’re a Naruto fan who’s been meaning to check in on the next generation, or a newcomer curious about where the franchise stands now, this is a perfect entry point. Twenty volumes is a manageable commitment, and the series tells a complete story within that span.
Story Arcs by Volume
The 20 volumes follow Boruto and his generation of ninja through escalating conflicts that start small — academy life, family tension, local threats — and build toward universe-shaking battles. In manga, an “arc” is a self-contained storyline within the larger series, usually spanning several chapters. Here’s a broad look at how the story breaks down.
Early Arcs — Volumes 1–3 (Includes the Chunin Exams)
The opening stretch introduces the new cast and establishes how different the world is from Naruto’s era. Technology has advanced, the village feels more like a city, and the children of the original cast are finding their own paths.
Boruto’s strained relationship with his father is the emotional anchor here. Naruto is constantly busy leading the village, and Boruto resents living in his shadow. These volumes also cover the Chunin Exams — a combat tournament that tests young ninja — and introduce key new characters who become central to the plot.
If you’ve watched the Boruto movie or the early anime episodes, some of this ground will feel familiar, but the manga tells it with a tighter focus.
Mid-Series Arcs — Volumes 4–10 (Includes the Kawaki Arc)
This is where the series starts carving out its own identity beyond “Naruto’s kid has adventures.” New antagonist organizations emerge with combat abilities that genuinely threaten the established order. The threats aren’t just recycled Naruto villains — they introduce fresh mythology that expands the world in unexpected ways.
The Kawaki arc, which introduces a major new character central to the rest of the series, is the standout stretch here. The action set-pieces get bigger, the character development deepens, and the stakes move well beyond the walls of the village. Boruto and his teammates start facing situations where the adults can’t simply bail them out, and the series finds a compelling tension between the old generation’s strength and the new generation’s potential.
Volumes 4 through 10 are the stretch where most readers either get fully hooked or decide the series isn’t for them. If you’re still invested by volume 10, you’ll want to tear through the rest.
Final Arcs — Volumes 11–20
The back half of the series delivers the climactic confrontations that the earlier volumes built toward. The main antagonists reveal the full scope of their plans, alliances shift, and several characters face life-altering consequences.
Without spoiling specifics, the final volumes raise the intensity significantly. Kishimoto’s influence on the story becomes more pronounced in the later chapters, and the narrative reaches a conclusion that resolves major threads while clearly setting the stage for Two Blue Vortex.
These last ten volumes are dense with action and plot movement. If the mid-series hooked you, the ending rewards that investment.
A Marathon Reading Plan for All 20 Volumes
Twenty manga volumes is a very doable binge — way shorter than the original Naruto’s 72-volume run. Each Boruto volume runs roughly 180 to 200 pages, so you can estimate your own pace from there. Here’s a suggested breakdown with natural stopping points so you don’t burn out or accidentally stay up until 4 AM (though no judgment if you do).
Session 1: Volumes 1–5
The Setup. This chunk covers the world-building, character introductions, and the first major conflicts. Five volumes is a comfortable single-sitting read — maybe two to three hours depending on your pace. By the end of volume 5, you’ll have a strong sense of whether this series clicks for you.
Natural break point: Volume 5 wraps up enough early storylines that you can put it down and come back fresh.
Session 2: Volumes 6–13
The Core Conflict. This is the longest stretch, but the pacing keeps momentum. The threats escalate steadily, and you’ll likely find yourself reaching for the next volume before you’ve consciously decided to keep going.
If you need to split this session, volume 9 or 10 offers a reasonable pause point. But if you’ve got a free afternoon, the whole eight-volume run flows well as one continuous read.
Estimated time: Four to five hours for the full stretch.
Session 3: Volumes 14–20
The Climax. This is the section where you really want uninterrupted time. The final seven volumes build toward the series conclusion, and the momentum makes it hard to stop mid-arc. If possible, set aside a single session for this — maybe a weekend morning or a quiet evening.
Estimated time: Three to four hours.
Pacing Tips
- Spread across a weekend: Session 1 on Friday evening, Session 2 on Saturday, Session 3 on Sunday. Clean, satisfying, done.
- One-day marathon: Totally possible. You’re looking at roughly ten to twelve hours for all 20 volumes. Stock snacks.
- Slow burn: Five volumes a week gives you a month-long reading experience with plenty of time to absorb each storyline.
There’s no wrong way to pace it. The advantage of a completed series is that you get to choose.
Manga vs. Anime — What the Adaptation Covers
The Boruto anime ran alongside the manga for years, but the two versions are very different experiences. (If you’re new to manga: manga is the original comic, and anime is the animated TV adaptation based on it — though the two don’t always match up.)
The anime included a massive amount of anime-original content — full storylines, character episodes, and plots that don’t exist in the manga at all. “Anime-original” means these stories were created specifically for the TV show and aren’t part of the manga’s storyline. This means the anime is significantly longer than the manga’s 20 volumes of material would suggest. Some of that original content is fun and expands the world; some of it feels like padding that slows the core plot.
The manga, by contrast, is a leaner, more focused experience. It sticks to the main storyline without detours. If you’re the type of reader who prefers tight plotting and doesn’t want to sort through supplementary material to find the main story, the manga is the way to go.
Already watched the anime? The manga is still worth reading. The anime adapted the manga’s core storyline but added so much original material around it that rereading the source gives you a cleaner, faster version of the same story. Ikemoto’s art gives fight scenes a distinct energy on the page that feels different from the animated versions. Plus, some plot details and character moments land differently in manga format.
Haven’t watched the anime? The manga gives you everything you need. You won’t miss any critical plot points by skipping the anime entirely — the anime-original storylines are supplementary, not essential.
Either way, the manga stands completely on its own as a reading experience.
Which Edition Should You Buy
Standard Paperback Volumes
The English edition is published by VIZ Media as standard paperback volumes — 20 individual books matching the Japanese release. These are the standard manga-sized paperbacks (roughly 5 by 7.5 inches) you’ll find at any bookstore or online retailer that stocks manga. Each volume has a retail price in line with typical VIZ manga singles.
The full 20-volume set is a manageable shelf commitment — about the same width as a single row of a typical bookshelf. They look great lined up together, and the artwork along the book spines creates a cohesive visual across the collection.
Box Sets and Omnibus Editions
As of the verified information available for this guide, there are no confirmed box sets or omnibus editions for the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga in English. The individual volumes are the standard way to collect the series.
If a box set does appear in the future, it would likely offer savings over buying all 20 volumes separately at list price — that’s the typical pattern for completed manga series aimed at younger readers. But for now, individual volumes are the path.
Digital vs. Physical
Both options exist. Digital editions are available through major manga platforms, and they’re a great choice if you want instant access or prefer reading on a tablet. Physical volumes are the way to go if you like building a shelf collection or want that tangible reading experience.
For a 20-volume series, the cost difference between digital and physical can add up. Digital editions sometimes have lower list prices per volume, so it’s worth comparing before committing to one format.
Collecting Tips
- Buy a few volumes first. Grab the first three to five volumes and make sure you’re enjoying the series before committing to the full set. Twenty volumes isn’t a huge investment, but there’s no reason to buy blind.
- Check multiple retailers. Prices for individual manga volumes vary between bookstores, online shops, and manga-specific retailers. Shopping around can save you a meaningful amount across 20 books.
- Look for the latest printing. Earlier printings occasionally have minor translation differences. Later printings tend to have any corrections applied.
Volume 1 — the natural starting point — is where your collection begins.
Volume 20 — the final volume in the series — is a satisfying conclusion that completes your set.
boruto naruto next generations, Vol. 20 (final volume)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many volumes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations are there?
20 volumes. The series is complete in both Japanese and English. All 20 volumes are available to purchase right now — no waiting for future releases.
Is Boruto: Two Blue Vortex the same series?
No. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is a separate sequel series with its own volume numbering that starts at volume 1. Think of the original 20-volume Boruto as the first part of the story and Two Blue Vortex as the second part. This guide covers only the completed first run.
Do I need to read Naruto first?
If you’re new to the franchise, read or watch Naruto first — it’s worth it. The series is technically designed to be accessible on its own, and you’ll follow the plot without prior knowledge. But a lot of the emotional weight comes from knowing the original cast and their history. Major character moments and references to earlier events will hit much harder if you’ve experienced the original series.
If you have the time, Naruto first makes Boruto a richer experience. If you don’t, you can still enjoy it and fill in the backstory later.
Is the English edition complete?
Yes. All 20 English volumes are published by VIZ Media and available. You can collect the entire series right now without waiting for future releases.
Who created the manga?
The series is a collaboration: Mikio Ikemoto handled the art, Ukyo Kodachi wrote the script for volumes 1–13, and Masashi Kishimoto — the creator of the original Naruto — provided the original story, supervised the project, and took over as writer from volume 14 onward after Kodachi stepped down in November 2020. It was published by Shueisha in Japan and by VIZ Media in English.
How long does it take to read all 20 volumes?
Plan for roughly ten to twelve hours if you’re reading at a comfortable pace without rushing. Each volume runs about 180 to 200 pages, so faster readers may finish sooner. That’s a single-day marathon if you’re ambitious, or a very pleasant weekend spread across three sessions. Check the reading plan section above for suggested break points.