Naruto: Kishimoto Reveals His Struggles With Sasuke's Character

This article contains spoilers from Naruto’s Final Saga.

Summary

Sasuke’s complex design and facial expressions gave Kishimoto trouble early on in Naruto.
Kishimoto’s struggles with Sasuke’s character arc led him to eventually make Sasuke his favorite to draw.
Despite difficulties, Sasuke remained one of the most compelling characters in Naruto’s series until the end.

Masashi Kishimoto has created numerous captivating characters throughout his writing career. It can be confidently stated that Kishimoto’s tale stands out as one of the finest stories in recent memory, and its widespread acclaim underscores this fact. At the core of Kishimoto’s narratives are intriguing ninjas, with Naruto Uzumaki, a spirited yellow-haired boy, serving as the main character, and Sasuke, a quiet yet equally adored figure, acting as his primary adversary.

Indeed, composing every single character can be quite intricate for any writer. Interestingly, this was particularly challenging for Kishimoto when it came to crafting Sasuke’s persona. He faced additional hurdles in this regard, which he later discussed in an interview.

How Kishimoto Struggled To Draw Sasuke

Sasuke Gave Kishimoto Design Headaches
Sasuke Became Kishimoto’s Favorite

In the early stages of creating Naruto, I, as a fellow enthusiast and artist like Masashi Kishimoto, found myself grappling with Sasuke Uchiha’s design due to its intricate complexities. Compared to other characters, Sasuke sported a notably complex outfit that posed a challenge. Moreover, I struggled to convey the right emotions through his facial expressions because I wanted to portray Sasuke’s unique feelings distinctly.

Early on in the series, I made it a point to give Sasuke significant moments so fans could understand his importance. Though I eventually managed to create a design that worked for Sasuke, over time, I simplified it by reducing the number of lines used in sketches. However, when it comes to Sasuke’s face, I have yet to find an easy solution, as it is incredibly complex to draw and one of the most challenging in the Naruto series. According to Kishimoto himself, Sasuke’s face remains a difficult task that requires great precision and skill.

As I observe Sasuke, it’s challenging to decipher his feelings, for he often maintains an unwavering calmness that masks any direct display of emotion on his face. As Kishimoto puts it, “Sasuke is a character who hides his true emotions beneath a stoic facade.

Initially, this is the initial depiction of Sasuke that we’re presenting here. Over time, his appearance hasn’t undergone significant changes, except for one major alteration: the removal of the item hanging around his neck. This phenomenon applies to all characters; as we continue drawing them, more and more details are added – accessories, lines, etc. With a main character, there’s an excitement that often leads to adding even more elements. Later on, I pondered, “Is it feasible to maintain a character with so many intricate details in a weekly series?

So I reduced the amount of lines and made Sasuke’s image closer to that of Naruto.

From my perspective, it’s challenging to depict Sasuke’s features and expressions in my manga, as they tend to come off as too mature if I’m not careful. Moreover, the distinctive eyes he possesses are not typically found on child characters in my work, making it particularly difficult for me to draw them accurately.

Among all characters, he’s the one I need to handle with the utmost caution, which might be why he’s my preferred character. (Kishimoto)

Initially, Kishimoto found it challenging to depict Sasuke accurately in his manga. Specifically, he recognized a need to focus more on Sasuke’s facial expressions, as they were essential for conveying his character’s thought processes clearly. However, Kishimoto admitted that he was struggling to express the right emotions through these facial expressions. Eventually, his editor intervened and made him redo Sasuke’s facial expressions multiple times until they were satisfactory. Kishimoto acknowledged this as a tough task for him. Similarly, Sasuke wasn’t the only character that posed difficulties in terms of facial expressions. Sakura, who would later marry Sasuke in the Naruto series, was also particularly challenging to draw in this regard.

In the narrative, Sakura and Sasuke both caused Kishimoto to redo numerous panels due to their frequent appearances. Similarly, Kakashi posed a significant challenge for Kishimoto, as his mask made it challenging to depict his facial expressions since only his eyes were visible. Nonetheless, Kishimoto had to express Kakashi’s reactions effectively despite the limited visual cues available.

Kishimoto Didn’t Know How To Proceed With Sasuke’s Character Arc

Sasuke’s Character Arc Gave Kishimoto Trouble

For Masashi Kishimoto, Sasuke’s character arc posed significant challenges beyond just his design and facial expressions. Initially, Kishimoto had a general plan for Sasuke, giving him a target to kill – revealed later as Itachi Uchiha – to fuel his growth and ambition. This led to Sasuke departing the village, with Naruto attempting to lure him back. The climactic confrontation between Naruto and Sasuke, which occurred near the end of part one, was particularly vexing for Kishimoto when Sasuke decided to leave Konoha.

As he progressed with the storyline, Kishimoto found himself uncertain about how to guide Sasuke’s personal development further. Despite this, the central conflict involving Sasuke and Itachi remained, but the finer details of Sasuke’s character growth were unclear to Kishimoto. Regardless, he skillfully navigated these uncertainties and developed Sasuke into a truly captivating character. Even after Sasuke departed from the village, his storyline remained thrilling and engaging. When Sasuke finally achieved his goal of confronting Itachi, he continued to be one of the most intriguing characters in Naruto, right up until the very end. In many ways, Sasuke could be considered the standout character in the entire series, making him truly remarkable.

Sasuke’s Difficulties Made Him Kishimoto’s Favorite

Kishimoto’s Heart Is Set On Sasuke Uchiha

Over time, Sasuke became Kishimoto’s most cherished character to create, often surpassing even Naruto Uzumaki in his affection. While Hidan from Akatsuki was also admired, it’s clear that Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto rank high among Kishimoto’s favorites. The extensive attention given to these two characters throughout the Naruto series underscores this preference.

Kishimoto has a strong affection for the character Sasuke, which is evident to fans. This is demonstrated through his extensive work on Sasuke’s intricate storyline and striking character design. Indeed, Sasuke Uchiha is a remarkable creation that is likely to be fondly remembered for years to come.

You can find Naruto manga on MangaPlus and Shonen Jump app for reading. By reading it there, you’re not only enjoying the official version but also supporting its creator.

2025-01-07 01:04

Naruto: Kishimoto Reveals His Struggles With Sasuke’s Character