Why Naruto’s Eight Inner Gates Were Underused

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Summary

  • Eight inner gates made taijutsu cool & hyped, but was ultimately underexplored.
  • The narrative scope of Naruto shifted to unique powers which led to taijutsu techniques being sidelined.
  • Eight inner gates could have been utilized more creatively if combined with other ninja techniques.

One of the most thrilling aspects of the early Naruto series were the eight inner gates techniques. Despite shinobi displaying tailed beast monsters within them and flashy jutsu, this ultimate taijutsu technique proved just as effective in combat styles. The excitement leading up to the eight inner gates techniques peaked during Rock Lee’s battle against Gaara. This was the first time we witnessed a fight that seemed more reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z than Naruto, due to its intense and swift nature.

The excitement surrounding these techniques was further validated by comments from characters such as Kakashi, who hinted that mastering the eight inner gates could grant a power level surpassing even the Hokage. However, it’s disappointing that the eight inner gates and taijutsu techniques were not delved into more deeply throughout the series. Yet, one might wonder why this was so considering the show had no qualms establishing these chakra-amplified skills earlier on?

The Story Scope Changed After The Beginning

How A Need For A Grand Narrative Ruined Some Aspects of the Show

As the narrative progressed, some simple methods that were initially applicable got overlooked because the story’s perspective broadened significantly. Initially, the plot was centered around a compact band of genin climbing up the ninja world hierarchy, with the aspiration to become Hokage serving as the apparent final destination.

My approach is always striving for more strength today than I had yesterday. If necessary, I aim to be stronger than just a few hours ago, or even just a moment ago!

As the narrative progressed, it began to grow in scope, transitioning from a narrow focus to encompass the entire history and creation of the world. This transformation gradually emphasized the idea that possessing unique powers was crucial. Characters who were once ordinary individuals learning ninja skills now needed to have command over extraordinary, one-of-a-kind abilities to match the escalating power levels and complexity of the storyline. Consequently, characters were often depicted as descendants of powerful clans, linked to historical figures, or hailing from otherworldly realms.

In simpler terms, the plot didn’t leave much space for common fighting styles like taijutsu and the eight inner gates since both Naruto and Sasuke were key characters with a prophetic role, being descendants of Ashura and Indra. This was made more challenging because these techniques, particularly the eight inner gates, were initially considered the pinnacle of forbidden taijutsu skills, but later became almost exclusively used by Might Guy. As a result, the hidden lotus style was redesigned to make it unique to Might Guy, keeping pace with the other distinctive powers in the story.

What Could Have Been Done Differently

How The Eight Inner Gates Could Have Worked

In the anime series Naruto, over time, hand-to-hand combat (taijutsu) and illusion techniques (genjutsu) became less prominent compared to ninjutsu demonstrations on screen. If this trinity of skills had continued to develop further, we might have witnessed some intriguing combinations with the eight inner gates. For instance, imagine if certain ninjutsu could acquire unique abilities when merged with the eight inner gates.

A failure will win even at the cost of their own life!

Regrettably, incorporating the eight inner gates into practice was justifiable only for those who specialized solely in hand-to-hand combat (taijutsu). In contrast, numerous ninjutsu techniques, possessing comparable power levels, came with significantly reduced costs. Although some advanced techniques shown in the series have exorbitant costs, the storyline consistently circumvents these expenses. It’s disappointing that a solution to lessen the cost of the eight inner gates was never presented, as it might have expanded their practical uses.

Naruto can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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2025-04-14 16:05