WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 221, "The Chūnin Exams Resume," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
One of the biggest things fans expected from the Boruto series was that the new generation of Konoha-nin would learn from the mistakes of the past. Many shinobi didn't end up being as altruistic as they could have been, from the Uchiha clan to the likes of Orochimaru. But after Naruto united everyone in an alliance against Kaguya and her pawns, it did seem like a new era had dawned. And while that might be true in terms of science and progression for the Hidden Leaf, there's still one massive problem as the younglings in Konoha still don't quite have that honest, heroic vibe down.
It becomes obvious during the rebooted Chūnin Exams, where we see mistakes of old popping up. Some shinobi used unfair advantages back in the day, but that seemed to be scrubbed -- until Boruto's acrimonious and prominent cheating arc, when he tried to use Katasuke's scientific ninja tools to trick the judges. He was reprimanded and booted by the Hokage, but since then, he's been forgiven after helping fend off the likes of Momoshiki and Isshiki.
But while Boruto is doing things the right way now, his peers aren't so honorable in the Chunin Exams. Sure, it adds comedy but is also truly disconcerting as these big names know right from wrong. Inojin is using his painting talents inherited from his dad, Sai, to send answers to Chōchō; Mitsuki himself is using his snakes to copy answers off Sarada; Wasabi uses her cat powers to sneak answers off others, and one other genin hides on the roof while sending answers to a puppet pretending to be him. Of course, Sai catches the latter and disqualifies the cheat, but the others slip through the invigilators' watch.
It gets worse later, when the web-spinning Kaito Kawanami pretends to be Boruto's friend in the second phase in the Forest of Death. As Boruto rescues a mock victim, Kaito traps them in his spider's web before kidnapping the victim for himself. He doesn't care that he's cheating because he's actually allowed to bend the rules slightly. Not even the victim (a senior ninja) contests it, allowing Kaito to run wild with the deception -- which Boruto ultimately foils.
Still, it's pretty shocking to see youngsters still behaving like this as Konoha is supposed to have a reputation for being the best of the bunch. Also, honesty is something Naruto, Kakashi and Tsunade pushed heavily as leaders, which is why Boruto and Sarada are sticking to the mantra.
Admittedly, it's shocking to see their Team 7 buddy in Mitsuki following this path but as Orochimaru's child, he does get some leeway as he has been heroic for the most part in the field.
But honestly, this isn't the legacy Naruto and Shikamaru want to hand down as Boruto continues. Hopefully the liars who got away with their schemes purify their attitudes later down the line, as this behavior plants seeds for shortcuts and the tainting of Konoha's name.
