Naruto: Kishimoto Reveals How He Came Up With The Side Cast

As a die-hard fan of Naruto who has spent countless hours immersed in its captivating world, I can confidently say that Kishimoto’s original idea for the series would have been a masterpiece if it had come to fruition. The concept of four-man cells led by powerful ninjas, each with their unique backstories and abilities, scattered across the Naruto world would have provided an expansive, rich tapestry that breathed life into the series’ characters and settings.

This article contains spoilers from Naruto’s first part.

Summary

Naruto introduced fans to a lot of brilliant side characters.
Kishimoto’s editors played a big role in creating Naruto’s side cast.
Kishimoto’s original idea would’ve given Naruto a broader world to explore.

Masashi Kishimoto is renowned as one of the top manga creators in recent years. Known for writing the globally acclaimed manga series “Naruto“, his work has garnered widespread adoration. Not only does he influence countless individuals worldwide, but he also serves as an inspiration to numerous authors active in Jump today. The success of Kishimoto’s story can be attributed to its captivating main characters like Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who were the heart of the “Naruto” series. However, it was not just the main characters that made Naruto’s story a success; the compelling supporting characters played an essential role as well.

Undeniably, Kishimoto crafted some truly captivating side characters, even if they didn’t always get the attention they deserved. Ultimately, what fans can agree on is that these characters were fascinating and brimming with untapped potential. It’s worth noting that creating them wasn’t a walk in the park for Kishimoto by any means.

Naruto’s Wonderful Cast And Their Potential

Naruto introduced fans to a lot of brilliant characters
Chunin Exams was especially great in this regard

Naruto’s side stories were always highly praised. From the start, viewers met several intriguing students in Naruto’s class, and the Chunin Exams amplified the excitement. The first arc of Naruto delved into the Land of Waves, introducing minor characters like Inari and others. However, as ninjas came back from their mission, the Chunin Exams started, marking a significant escalation in Kishimoto’s storytelling. During this time, we were introduced to teams such as Team Guy, consisting of Rock Lee, Neji, and Ten Ten, as well as other skilled ninjas like Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.

He is a genius of hard work! – Kakashi on Rock Lee

Absolutely, figures like Hinata, Kiba, Shino were consistently present, and the narrative expanded further by introducing ninjas from different villages. Gaara, undeniably, was a character that left a significant impression, but his siblings, Temari and Kankuro, were equally intriguing personalities. To put it simply, Kishimoto’s supporting cast was nothing short of remarkable, particularly in the initial phases of Naruto, where he focused on characters he wanted to highlight. As the story progressed, these characters became even more captivating.

Initially, Naruto and Sasuke were the main focus of the story in Naruto’s initial phase, but the supporting characters managed to captivate fans more and more over time. For example, when the Sasuke Retrieval arc started, the team that aimed to bring Sasuke back provided an engaging spectacle for viewers. The fights between these characters, rather than Naruto, kept things dynamic, ultimately highlighting the impressive depth of the side cast in the Naruto series.

How Kishimoto Came Up With Naruto’s Cast

The Publishers Had A Big Hand In The Creation Of Naruto’s Side Cast

When considering how Kishimoto developed his side characters, it’s often thought that these characters were sketched out from the start and fully realized during the Chunin Exams. However, in reality, Kishimoto hadn’t conceived any of these characters at the beginning. Instead, when it comes to writing, Kishimoto tends to plant seeds for his characters and then carefully observe their growth before moving forward with the storyline.

I don’t quit and I don’t run. I’ll never go back on my word. That’s my ninja way! – Naruto Uzumaki

Masashi Kishimoto often adjusts his plans according to the story’s progression, and this flexibility was also applied to the supporting cast of “Naruto”. Originally, these characters weren’t intended to hail from Konoha. Instead, they were planned to be distributed across the entire ninja world.

This approach could have enriched the narrative significantly, offering a wider scope for world-building, and giving fans an opportunity to delve deeper into the various villages of the Naruto universe, beyond what was presented in the primary storyline.

Originally, Masashi Kishimoto intended for there to be specialized four-member teams scattered throughout the Naruto universe, with these squads being led by formidable ninjas who would serve as rivals to Kakashi. The protagonist, Naruto, and his team would traverse the ninja world, encountering these four-person units at various instances. This design would not only introduce fans to Kakashi’s rivals but also ensure that Kishimoto could allocate appropriate screen time for them. Regrettably, Kishimoto’s editors rejected this conceptualization, as it was deemed unsuitable for the series.

Based on what’s been shared, The editor felt the story’s pace was too slow and wasn’t suitable for the early stages, especially given Naruto’s lesser popularity at the time. Instead, they suggested a tournament-style plotline. Initially, Kishimoto resisted this idea, finding it too demanding, but eventually agreed. It can be inferred that Kishimoto was pressured to handle the Chunin Exams as he did, though it ultimately proved to be a successful decision. However, Kishimoto still feels he had his own unique concept in mind for the story.

It proved quite challenging for Kishimoto to conceive an engaging side plot within a short timeframe. Consequently, he sought advice from his editors. Kishimoto’s editors played a crucial role in guiding him on character design and numerous other aspects. Thus, the Chunin Exams arc of Naruto was developed as a result, and it undeniably became extraordinary. Indeed, this arc is what captivated fans and left no doubt that Kishimoto’s editors had a keen understanding of what would resonate with readers when they proposed this storyline.

Initially, Might Guy, one of the supporting characters, was meant by Kishimoto to hail from a different ninja village; however, as fans are aware, Guy and Kakashi were portrayed as rivals. Kishimoto envisioned them as rivals from distinct villages. But after brainstorming with the editors, it was concluded that having Kakashi compete against an in-village rival rather than an outsider would be more coherent to the storyline.

Would Kishimoto’s Original Idea Have Been Better?

Kishimoto’s Idea Would’ve Given Naruto A Broader World To Explore

It’s challenging to determine if Masashi Kishimoto’s original concept would have been superior in the long run or not. However, one point is certain: Kishimoto’s idea could have led to a richer world-building experience and a more varied cast within the Naruto universe. This is because it would have prevented the series from discarding its secondary characters as extensively as it did during the later stages of the story.

From another perspective, initiating the series with a tournament-like format was instrumental in boosting Naruto’s fame, a fact acknowledged by its creator, Kishimoto, who confessed that his passion for the story flourished during this stage.

You can find Naruto manga on both MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app for reading. By choosing this platform, you’re not only enjoying the official releases but also contributing to the author’s success.

2024-12-22 01:04