Naruto is a top-rated series with some of the best storylines in anime, including ninjas, monsters, and many references to Japanese mythology. Throughout its publishing run, the series has sold over 100 million copies. But did you know that Masashi Kishimoto’s original pitch for Naruto was instantly rejected?
The story we read underwent several changes and edits before it became available to readers. When Masashi Kishimoto first outlined the plot of Naruto, it did not have ninjas and had a completely different backstory, which was so underwhelming that it got rejected instantly.
What was the reason for the rejection of the script presented by Masashi Kishimoto?
Naruto, a well-claimed manga series by Masashi Kishimoto with over 700 chapters, was once rejected. Masashi Kishimoto pitched the first storyline, which was highly different from the final product.
The main reason for the unaccumulated success of Naruto was its story, which involved various undefined concepts such as demons, seals, gods, and ninjas.
But the first pitch did not have ninjas and had a very basic storyline, which got the script rejected instantly. The first draft was based on Naruto, who lived with a ramen guy, and they both used to clean stuff.
Masashi Kishimoto changed the plot of the storyline three times before his pitch was finally accepted, and it was one of the best decisions made that altered the entire anime fandom.
Due to all the changes in the story, the audience loved it, making it one of the most well-known and successful stories of all time while establishing Masashi Kishimoto as one of the most legendary authors.
How many times was the pitch changed before it got approved?
It took three different pitches before it was accepted and started publishing. The first was very blatant and needed more references to attract readers.
In his second pitch, Masashi Kishimoto added the concept of demons, known in the series as tailed beasts. The tailed beast serves as the source of power in the story.
The concept of ninja was introduced at the very last, and it was decided to integrate all the pitches, which resulted in the Naruto, which we all know today.
It is interesting to think about what would have been the storyline of Naruto without the involvement of ninjas and demons. Luckily, the script underwent changes that altered the path of manga, making it a globally acclaimed franchise with millions of fans.
Source: The Gamer
