Theory by Chloro on 01/03/2023
The reason there are no cars or normal guns is because of a conspiracy with the Kage and Daimyo
The Kage and Daimyo are close, as we’ve seen with Naruto’s relationship with the Land of Fire’s Daimyo (who is filthy rich). The Daimyo and the Kages have a vested interest in the continuation of the Ninja Village/Kage system. As we see in Boruto the wealth is mainly concentrated around the Ninja villages, who enjoy the best technology and quality of life, while other villages are quite poor, which is a fact Boro used to justify the existence of his cult.
Naruto was extremely against Boruto’s use of ninja tech in the Chunin exams, but later he seemed to be less against it after seeing how it had major drawbacks. But still we have yet to see guns, which would be far more useful than a kunai/shuriken to an ordinary citizen, or cars, which would also help ordinary citizens get around much faster, just like in real life. My theory is that the Kage and the Daimyo, who basically serve as the federal government, work to ensure the Ninja system remains in place and that companies, which answer to them at the end of the day, as they have a monopoly on force, don’t develop any technologies that could “upset the balance” of the current system, which relies on Ninja and keeps the Ninja villages rich and in demand. Without cars, people need bodyguard for long journeys. Without guns, normal people who have not trained in ninjutsu cannot defend themselves, and must buy ninja bodyguards from the villages.
Basically any technology that could diminish the role of ninjas in society is banned by the Daimyo and the Kages behind the scenes, with top down orders to technology companies. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Kawaki wants to undo the age of shinobi in the future, because it’s actually corrupt and holding back technological progress as well as acting as a way to consolidate wealth for the Daimyos and the Ninja villages, while the rest of society remains impoverished and at the mercy of the Ninja.
