Chōchō Akimichi’s crush on Tomaru becomes one of the more comedic character stories in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. During a mission to protect the cast and crew of a television production, Chōchō is asked to replace an injured actress and ends up acting opposite Tomaru. The actor’s attention toward Chōchō’s slimmer Butterfly Mode immediately makes her feel admired and attractive. For Chōchō, who often talks about wanting to experience a dramatic romance, Tomaru’s flirting feels like the kind of love story she has imagined. Her excitement, however, quickly starts interfering with her responsibilities as a shinobi.
What makes the storyline important is that Chōchō is not simply distracted because she likes Tomaru. His attention also reinforces her desire to be appreciated for her appearance and personality. As her feelings become stronger, she starts prioritizing romantic moments over the mission, forcing Sarada and the rest of Team 10 to worry about her judgment.
Why Chōchō Becomes Obsessed With Tomaru
Chōchō first becomes interested in Tomaru after being chosen as a stand-in for the injured actress. Tomaru is immediately attracted to Chōchō while she is using her Jutsu to maintain her slimmer appearance, and his flirting makes her increasingly love-struck. The attention is especially powerful because Chōchō enjoys the idea of being treated like the heroine of a romantic story.
Her crush soon affects her ability to concentrate. During the filming, Chōchō becomes excited about a kissing scene and even struggles to maintain her transformation because of her emotions. Later, she hides with Tomaru when his fans break into the studio, nearly kisses him, and becomes increasingly detached from the actual security mission.
Sarada notices the change and becomes concerned that Chōchō is allowing her feelings to interfere with her duties. The situation becomes more complicated when Tomaru reacts negatively after seeing Chōchō in her natural form, revealing that his initial attraction was largely connected to her slimmer appearance. This hurts Chōchō and forces her to confront the difference between being admired and being genuinely appreciated.
The storyline eventually shifts when Tomaru is kidnapped during the production. Chōchō worries about him and becomes involved in the effort to protect him, but the incident also gives her a chance to demonstrate who she really is. After Chōchō saves Tomaru during the confrontation, he becomes attracted to her genuine self rather than simply the appearance created by her Jutsu.
Chōchō’s crush on Tomaru ultimately becomes a lesson about self-image and emotional maturity. Her feelings are genuine, but the experience teaches her that romance should not make her abandon her responsibilities or hide who she really is.
