Naruto Creator Reveals Biggest Post-Pain Arc Struggle

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This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.

Summary

  • Naruto pursued true peace post-Pain Arc.
  • Naruto refused to kill adversaries in battles.
  • Kishimoto struggled post-Pain Arc due to less combat.

Masashi Kishimoto’s renowned masterpiece, “Naruto“, stands as an eternal tale for a valid reason. The caliber of this narrative is simply extraordinary, and readers recognize that Kishimoto dedicated immense effort in crafting the story from its inception to its conclusion.

On my journey, I noticed that Kishimoto encountered several challenges, and one particularly significant hurdle emerged following the culmination of the Pain Arc. It was during this phase that Naruto Uzumaki underwent substantial growth and ultimately uncovered numerous truths about the world. As Naruto evolved, Kishimoto found himself compelled to alter the narrative’s course substantially. He divulged these alterations in an interview he conducted some time ago.

How the Pain Arc Changed Naruto Uzumaki

  • Naruto Embarked On The Quest For True Peace
  • Naruto Refused To Kill His Opponents

I’ve found myself consistently impressed by the Pain Arc, a standout within the Naruto series that resonates with both dedicated Naruto fans and anime enthusiasts at large. This arc presented an unparalleled challenge for Naruto Uzumaki, pushing him to evolve following the tragic demise of his mentor, Jiraiya.

How about the matter of your suffering, Naruto? Your family, your friends – all lost during a conflict instigated by Konoha.

Simultaneously, Kishimoto delved into themes such as war, truce, vengeance, and animosity within this arc, masterfully addressing each one. These elements ultimately transformed Naruto Uzumaki from a dream-driven boy into a man driven by compassion to aid others and seek genuine peace. As Kishimoto stated, Naruto underwent significant growth in this phase, grasping the world’s truths, maturing substantially.

Naruto vowed to Pain that he would assume the mission to seek genuine peace, similar to how Nagato did before him. He intended to be the hero of Jiraiya’s book and demonstrate that ninjas can indeed trust one another deeply, and that real tranquility is attainable. This challenge, which neither Jiraiya nor the Fourth Hokage couldn’t solve, was an enormous undertaking for Naruto, but he embraced it wholeheartedly and ultimately succeeded in the end.

Why Kishimoto Struggled After The Pain Arc

Kishimoto Felt Too Much Talk Killed The Mood

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but rave about the spellbinding Pain Arc! Yet, it was no walk in the park for Kishimoto. Though he nailed what many consider an extraordinary arc, the road ahead proved to be a steep climb for him. In an interview, he admitted that the challenges posed by what followed the Pain Arc were relentless, mainly due to Naruto’s new mission: defeating his foe without the intention of taking a life. Instead, our hero chose dialogue over destruction, and even in combat, he fought with a will to live.

It’s still not too late. Stop running and come back and join us, Obito. — Naruto Uzumaki

To Kishimoto, it was crucial to emphasize the action-packed, shonen-style elements in his story. Consequently, he felt compelled to follow this narrative path. Yet, Naruto is also a combat manga, and thrilling battles are essential for the success of the story. Kishimoto found Naruto’s constant dialogue dull, which led him to incorporate characters like Zetsu and Edo Tensei into the series. With adversaries such as these, Naruto Uzumaki could annihilate them easily, and even inflict lethal damage without fostering ongoing hatred.

Looking back, choosing Naruto’s journey towards lasting peace was a brilliant move, and while it would’ve been thrilling to see him fight with even more vigor at times, Kishimoto’s introduction of the captivating Edo Tensei and the embodiment of evil like the Otsutsuki made up for any perceived shortcomings.

You can find Naruto manga on both MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump application. Reading it there not only allows you to access the official version, but also helps support the author financially.

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2025-04-15 22:44