Masashi Kishimoto took the time to introduce and establish every single character in Naruto. Regardless of their importance to the story, they came and went. Overstaying one’s welcome would become a pain considering just how many characters the series actually has. This tedious yet patient process came to fruition with characters who were liked by the fans unanimously.
The variety of characters all stand uniquely and individually in the powers they use, how they look, and even their personalities. It can take a lot of effort to come up with so many different varieties of people and still make sure they stand out. One such character, who also happened to be liked by fans a lot, was Shino Aburame. However, his fate wasn’t so kind, not tragic, just unkind.
Naruto Puts Aside a Character with Big Potential
Shino Aburame is one of the most well-liked side characters of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto. Using his insect-based skills, he finds himself both unique in his techniques and pushed forward to in potential. Being part of the Aburame clan, there is a lot more to him than just a man who is secluded from social interaction.
If you’re going to going to put somebody in there, at least do something with him.
During an interview with Temple of Geek for Anime Las Vegas, Derek Stephen Prince, the English voice actor for Shino Aburame, talked about his character making his way from Naruto to Boruto. In a series that already focuses on so many generational new characters, Aburame stands as their teacher, but is also a former member of Team 8.
What disappointed Prince, however, was the lack of focus on his character. It was as if he simply existed in the background with no impactful purpose to play in any character’s journey except to teach them. That is not to say that teachers aren’t valuable, but more so that his potential could have allowed him to become much more.
Potential Isn’t Everything
Someone like Shino Aburame, a shinobi with so much potential got left behind while everyone else progressed one way or another. He stayed at the Ninja Academy as a teacher. When fans first see him in Naruto, he is secluded to himself and quiet, but that doesn’t exactly mean that he is lonely. He is surrounded by people who can push him forward to achieve his very best, even so making him a very likable character. So what went wrong?
Aburame’s purpose may not have been little but it gradually declined as the story progressed from Naruto to its sequel. What did not sit well with fans was how and why a character like him would even choose to sit in the sidelines. While Aburame is a man of potential, he is also part of a clan, thus making it possible for more versions and better versions of him to also exist; making him somewhat disposable and replaceable.
He had always been one to go into heavy detail in explaining what he was doing and why he was doing it, making it a trait similar to that of teachers. Seeing that he had the knack for it, while the rest of his teammates found other ways to help Konoha, he took to the Ninja Academy.
Naruto is available to watch on Netflix.
