Kishimoto’s Toughest Challenge: The Hardest Naruto Arc Revealed!

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This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.

Summary

  • Naruto’s Fourth Great Ninja War arc was one of the most challenging for Kishimoto due to the need for Naruto to experience war.
  • After the Pain Arc, Kishimoto found the Chunin Exams arc difficult to draw despite creating new characters.
  • The Fourth Great Ninja War arc, while solid, had both best and weakest moments, including the pressure for Naruto not to kill enemies.

Masashi Kishimoto’s “Naruto” collection continues to be one of the most recognized anime and manga series a decade after its ending, demonstrating an enduring popularity. A significant part of this longevity can be attributed to the profound effect that Kishimoto’s skillful storytelling had on its fans.

As the narrative unfolded in Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto aimed to surpass each storyline he had previously created, keeping viewers engaged all along. However, some arcs proved more troublesome than others for Kishimoto. In fact, he has openly shared which arc presented the greatest challenge when it came to illustrating it.

The Hardest Arc For Kishimoto To Draw In Naruto

  • After The Pain Arc, The Story Became Challenging
  • The Chunin Exams Arc Was Also Very Difficult

One challenging narrative arc that Kishimoto found particularly tough to write was undoubtedly the Fourth Great Ninja War. He admitted as much in one of his interviews, noting how drastic the story’s shifts were after Naruto Uzumaki’s battle against Pain. From then on, Naruto underwent significant personal growth.

Those who don’t understand true pain will never understand true peace. — Pain in Naruto

Pain pointed out that Naruto hadn’t witnessed war, making it inappropriate for him to judge whether Nagato’s actions were justified or not. For Kishimoto, the War arc served as an ideal platform for Naruto to face the reality of war firsthand. This significant part of the narrative was essential because it allowed Naruto to personally endure war and form his own opinion on how to establish lasting peace.

Based on Kishimoto’s perspective, Naruto’s actions during the Pain Arc made it impossible for him to retreat from initiating a war where Naruto played a crucial role. Given that Naruto Uzumaki couldn’t take lives, this situation presented a significant challenge for Kishimoto. To address this issue and make the concept more palpable, he employed Zetsu and Edo Tensei in the conflict to provide Naruto with adversaries to conquer, rather than relying solely on dialogue. It seems plausible that Kaguya entered the narrative with a similar thought process.

The Chunin Exams Were Also Difficult For Kishimoto

Despite having contrasting motivations, the Chunin Exams arc presented a significant illustration hurdle for Kishimoto. This was mainly because he initially had no intention of drawing this arc at all. The task of depicting a tournament while simultaneously creating new characters from various villages spontaneously was an immense struggle for Kishimoto, a challenge he confessed would likely prove fatal when his editors requested it. However, true to form, Kishimoto overcame the challenge and produced an arc that remains memorable to this day.

You will draw it even if you die. — Kishimoto’s Editors on Drawing Chunin Exams

Did The Fourth Great Ninja War Live Up To Fan Expectations?

The Fourth Great Ninja War Had Some Of The Best Moments

The Fourth Great Ninja War plays a crucial role in the Naruto series, boasting many unforgettable scenes and character development for Naruto Uzumaki unlike any other arc. This particular storyline is unique because it brings together numerous characters, making it particularly special. However, it’s important to note that this arc isn’t without its flaws – the Kaguya conundrum and certain aspects of the war are less engaging compared to other parts. Despite these weaknesses, the Fourth Great Ninja War still stands as a strong narrative with some truly iconic Naruto moments.

You can access Naruto on MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app for reading. By doing so, you’re not only enjoying the official version but also supporting the author financially.

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2025-04-15 01:44