“Kishi pulled the trigger and did this too early”: Even the Best Naruto Arc Has a Minor Criticism from Fans That Might Not Have Happened if Eiichiro Oda Wrote It

Masashi Kishimoto was destined for greatness after his Shonen series, Naruto became a massive hit among the fans. The show featured an ensemble cast that featured a gripping narrative, unforeseen plot twists, epic battles, and deaths that would shatter your heart.

Though the overall storyline of the show had been penned down in multiple arcs, the most legendary and most renowned arc would be the Pain Saga, which played a major role in altering the overall story of the title. The saga could not be any more perfect as the prior arc set the stage for an explosive and emotionally-charged saga.

Despite the entire storyline of this saga being 10 out of 10, fans of the title feel there’s one grievance that feels like a pebble in the show. Interestingly, fans feel that this issue would have been easily avoided had Eiichiro Oda worked on the story.

Naruto’s Best Arc Features One Issue That Fans Can’t Ignore

If one were to ask, “In Naruto: Shippuden, which arc was the turning point?” There would be only one response that practically all admirers of Masashi Kishimoto’s masterpiece would have: the Pain Arc. The narrative showcased every noteworthy element of the program, especially the element of breaking the cycle of hate.

From a high-stakes battle to an emotionally driven narrative, it featured some fascinating aspects of the show that would compel the viewer to embrace its greatness. The storyline featured Pain as the primary antagonist of the arc.

The Leader of the Akatsuki launched an all-out attack at the Hidden Leaf Village, where one of the biggest names featured in the show, Kakashi Hatake, was murdered alongside the villagers of Konohagakure.

It was during this saga that Naruto Uzumaki defeated the Member of the Akatsuki, where he not only became the hero of the village but also became the rightful successor of The Toad Sage, Jiraiya.

However, fans are criticizing this notion on r/Naruto, where they feel that all the deaths shown during this storyline felt meaningless. When all Nagato Uzumaki had to do the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu to revive all the casualties of Konoha. Hence, the mangaka made a complex theme like death just too comfortable, as if it’s something reversible.

Fans believed that if the same arc had been written by Eiichiro Oda, the outcome would have been different. This is because the creator of One Piece would postpone the return of many characters, including Sabo and Bartholomew Kuma, who were long believed to be dead. If Masashi Kishimoto followed a similar path, then the emotional resonance among viewers would have made them teary-eyed.

Naruto Fans Water Down The Greatness of The Pain Arc

When a fan shared a post on Reddit stating the Pain Arc is the greatest story in the Shinobi series, some were quick to criticize it with valid points, where a tragic and irreversible idea of death was showcased so casually.

The primary theme of this arc was forgiveness and breaking the cycle of hate. However, reviving everyone right after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki managed to change the heart of Nagato just ruined the essence of the storyline. This notion also resonated with fans, who left comments that criticized the ending of the almost perfect arc.

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Despite minor inconveniences, this saga remains one of the most popular storylines in all of the series, which fans can’t get enough of. The arc featured some of the most iconic characters, as well as giving us the tragic death of Jiraiya, who died at the hands of his former student and did not receive the love of Tsunade Senju.

Naruto: Shippuden and One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.