Naruto is considered one of the best anime and manga series in the history of the anime world. The series created by Masashi Kishimoto has enchanted the audience with its out-of-the-box storylines, inspiring characters, and entertaining battles. One of the most important arcs of the series is the Chunin Exams arc. It is an arc from the first part of the series. This arc sees Team 7 enter the Chunin Exams, as well as the debut of characters such as the Rookie Nine, Team Guy, the Three Sand Siblings, Orochimaru, and many more. It contains chapters 34 to 115 of the manga and episodes 20 to 67 of the Naruto anime, spanning volumes 4-13. The arc holds great importance as it introduces some of the most important characters of the series.
However, although this arc holds great importance and is loved by fans a lot, it may not be the favorite arc of the creator Masashi Kishimoto. He has admitted to the fact that he never wanted to make it.
Masashi Kishimoto Never Wanted to Make The Chunin Exams Arc
According to Masashi Kishimoto, the mangaka was fiercely opposed to creating a tournament arc but was compelled to do it by his editors at Shonen Jump. In an interview, the creator revealed that his initial Naruto tempo was intended to be slower, but his editor forced him to ramp up the pace during the Chunin Exam arc. They wanted to bring out all the personalities and communities at once, thereby coming up with the tournament idea.
Kishimoto, on the other hand, believed that doing a tournament arc would be too stressful and would eventually kill him. But the editors insisted on continuing with the plan even though it killed Kishimoto, and thus the Chunin Exam was born. Although Kishimoto had no intention of writing it, he acknowledged that the tournament arc made the series more popular.
Importance of Chunin Exam Arc to the Story
Tournament arcs, which are now a fixture in every major shonen action anime, provide an excellent opportunity to introduce or re-establish the identities and strength levels of various characters, as well as their relationships – particularly those of rivalry. Some of Naruto‘s most memorable moments occurred during the Chunin Exams. From Gaara and the Hidden Sand Village to Orochimaru and the Hidden Sound, they introduced some of its most well-known characters. The plot also contributed to the development of Naruto‘s and his friends’ personalities, giving them greater depth and nuance.
Naruto fans know that the Chunin Exams contain some of the series’ most famous moments, perfectly establishing numerous characters who would eventually become fan favorites.
Read More: Naruto isn’t Masashi Kishimoto’s Only Masterpiece: 3 Lesser Known Hidden Gems You Need to Know
Source: ScreenRant
