Over the years, the Naruto franchise has become the most recognized anime of all time. Even seven years after the shōnen anime’s final episode, Masashi Kishimoto’s work continues to captivate many new viewers. The story follows the protagonist’s journey and his ambitions to become a Hokage.
Despite being seen as a threat from childhood, Naruto continues to work on his goal and change villagers’ opinions towards him. As all the pieces come together at the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto becomes the only ray of hope for all five main villages. Indeed, Kishimoto did a fascinating job in world-building.
Not to forget, the boy who was seen as a threat became the sole reason for everyone’s survival. Although the mangaka deserves immense praise for his work and depiction of the Fourth Ninja War, Kishimoto always had a perfect ending map out for his audience. Surprisingly, the mangaka planned the anime’s ending even before the anime production began.
Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Epic Conclusion Kishimoto Planned from the Start
Masashi Kishimoto was able to captivate a vast audience thanks to the iconic rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke showcased in the series. The fandom first witnessed the epic clash between the two at the end of the classic Naruto series. Both characters were struggling with immense trauma which ultimately turned them against each other.
At the end of their battle, Sasuke abandons the Leaf Village and leaves our protagonist alone at the Valley of End. For those who don’t remember, Valley of End is the same place where Hashirama and Madara’s final battle also took place. This epic rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke back when they were just kids captivated many fans. Furthermore, it kept viewers anticipating for the final clash between the two in Naruto: Shippuden.
However, after witnessing Sasuke’s involvement in the Fourth Great Ninja War, many fans lost hope of seeing the long-awaited battle. However, it was all planned by the visionary mangaka from the start. Back in 2014, Kishimoto revealed in an interview that he desired to conclude the series with an epic showdown between the most beloved characters.
When I first met the editors, I only knew one thing about my manga: that I wanted Naruto and Sasuke [his rival since childhood] to end the work with a climactic confrontation.
This revelation only highlighted Kishimoto’s testament to his manga and how deeply invested he was in every character’s development. He mentions that he wanted his audience to have a cinematic experience. With the final showdown, the mangaka beautifully showcased the characters’ contrasting ideologies and beliefs.
He even brought the entire story full circle by designing the final battle taking place at the Valley of End. Owing to Kishimoto’s splendid narrative, Naruto and Sasuke became one of the most iconic rivals in anime history.
Masashi Kishimoto reveals that Sasuke Uchiha’s character was inspired by another great character
In the interview for Naruto’s tenth anniversary, Kishimoto revealed the truth behind the creation of Sasuke Uchiha. Not many fans are aware that the mangaka struggled with a lot of inspiration during the initial design phase of our beloved manga.
He disclosed that he’s been a big fan of Yoshihiro Togashi’s work, the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter X Hunter. While complimenting Togashi’s work, Kishimoto shared his love for most of Yu Yu Hakusho‘s characters, especially Hiei.
The mangaka revealed that Hiei acted as an inspiration for the series’ most beloved antagonist, Sasuke Uchiha. Both characters display tons of resemblance to each other. From their traumatizing past to their immense powerful eye abilities, Kishimoto was deeply inspired by Togashi’s work.
You can read Naruto on Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
