Naruto: Kishimoto Reveals Why Naruto Never Became A Jonin

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This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.

Summary

  • Naruto jumped from Genin to Hokage due to his god-like status, skipping Chunin and Jonin ranks.
  • Kishimoto revealed Naruto never became a Jonin because he went directly to being Hokage.
  • Naruto’s lack of interest in exams and his personality led to his quick rise to becoming Hokage.

Naruto Uzumaki is a pivotal character in manga literature, adored by fans for embodying courage, determination, and an unwavering spirit. Known for his relentless pursuit of dreams, Naruto managed to achieve his grand objective by the series’ conclusion, astonishing everyone along the way.

Naruto Uzumaki was nothing short of extraordinary throughout his story in Naruto, always adhering to the ninja code and never breaking a promise. Though his path to achieving his dream was unexpected, he skipped several ranks to become Hokage directly from being a Genin, without first becoming a Chunin or Jonin. Now, it turns out that Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, has explained why this occurred.

Naruto’s Journey From Genin To Hokage

  • Naruto Graduated From The Academy After Multiple Failures
  • Naruto Never Got The Chance To Become A Genin

In Naruto’s days at the Academy, it was evident right off the bat that he didn’t possess any significant natural ability for ninja work. This truth was not lost on those who held Naruto dear, like Iruka, and it was one of the factors leading to his failure in the Academy exams, initially preventing him from becoming a ninja. However, Naruto’s hidden potential surfaced later on, making it clear that he too harbored the capabilities for greatness as a ninja. Eventually, Naruto became a Genin and was teamed with Team 7. From this juncture, he had the ability to rise through the ranks and potentially achieve the rank of Chunin or even Jonin.

I want to fight all the strong ninjas that have assembled here. – Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto proved himself to have immense power, along with the growth in wisdom needed for such high-ranking roles. During the Chunin Examinations, Naruto stood out among his peers as an exceptional ninja. Though Shikamaru was the one who ultimately became a Chunin, Naruto surpassed him in terms of raw strength and determination as a ninja. What Shikamaru had that Naruto lacked was maturity and leadership skills – qualities which earned him the title of Chunin at the end of the exams. It’s worth mentioning that Kishimoto, the creator, initially intended to conclude the Chunin Examinations with Shikamaru emerging victorious, despite not fully knowing how he would accomplish that feat at the time.

Despite Shikamaru becoming a Chunin, Naruto, along with many others, didn’t pass the exam. After this incident, Konoha fell into turmoil. Sasuke decided to leave the village, and Naruto joined him in an attempt to prevent him. Since he failed, Naruto realized he needed to get stronger. This period of about two years marked the start of his intense training. When Naruto returned to the village after two long years, most of his peers had already achieved higher ranks. Many of Konoha 11 were now Chunin, Neji even reached the rank of Jonin, an impressive feat. His friends from other villages, like Gaara, had already risen to become Kage by this time.

Regarding Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, their situations were distinct from each other. Sasuke hadn’t been labeled as a renegade ninja yet, but it was understood that he no longer belonged to Konoha, making it impossible for him to be listed as a top-tier shinobi. In contrast, Naruto was engaged in training with Jiraiya and couldn’t participate in any exams. Upon returning to Konoha, it seemed he missed out on the chance to join the Chunin Exams, explaining why he never achieved the rank of a Chunin.

Certainly, if Naruto didn’t manage to reach the rank of Chunin, it was impossible for him to advance to becoming a Jonin. This uncertainty among fans about how he could eventually become the Hokage, given that it would involve bypassing several key steps, was not unwarranted. However, Kishimoto had his own valid explanations for this.

Why Naruto Never Became A Jonin

Kishimoto Finally Gives Fans An Answer

In the narrative, it’s evident that Naruto never really had an opportunity to advance beyond the rank of Genin (Jonin). He missed out on the Chunin Exams arc, and under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have qualified for the Jonin Exams either. Post-timeskip, the conflict with Akatsuki escalated swiftly, leading straight into the Fourth Great Ninja War. After the war ended, Naruto was already a revered figure, the world’s savior, and titles like Chunin and Jonin held little significance for him. Although the anime portrayed Naruto participating in numerous exams before becoming a Kage, the canon manga does not support this narrative. According to Kishimoto, Naruto progressed directly from being a Genin to Hokage, and he clarified why it played out that way.

Regarding Naruto, we know that he eventually became Hokage, but what was the timeline for him taking the test to become a Jonin?

Kishimoto: Instead of becoming a jonin, Naruto ascended to the position of Hokage while still a genin. Unlike Naruto, Sasuke hasn’t achieved the rank of either Jonin or Chunin – he has become a nukenin since leaving the village. (Chuckles) However, I found it entertaining to imagine him leapfrogging ranks from genin straight to Hokage in a way that was characteristic of Naruto.

Based on Kishimoto’s explanation, Naruto’s transformation from Genin to Hokage aligns with his character traits, which amused the author and led him to include it in the narrative. This may seem an unconventional reason, but it makes sense given that Naruto was not the type to excel in academic exams requiring extensive study. Similarly, it would be inconsistent for Naruto to participate in battles as he was almost a divine figure at the story’s end, making such contests unnecessary.

Given all the times Naruto rescued them, it’s only fair that he became the Hokage of the village. Moreover, considering his dynamic personality, it seems appropriate that he ascended to the top position without going through many intermediate steps. In essence, Kishimoto making Naruto the Hokage straightaway was a brilliant move, sparing him from numerous exams, though these exams could have been quite engaging, indeed.

You can access Naruto on both MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app, giving you a chance to read the authentic version. By reading it there, you’re not only enjoying the story but also supporting its creator.

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2025-01-10 01:04