Naruto’s hold on pacifism is something he has been constantly following since the Pain arc. While there are many protagonists who would resort to violence the moment they get the opportunity in order to solve a problem, Masashi Kishimoto made sure his main character wasn’t like that. For a story that has been going on for so long, one that entails a lot of fighting, Naruto’s pacifism could have proven to be an obstacle.
Kishimoto took into consideration his ethics and morals, making sure that even though the villains became more and more difficult and devious, his own footing was untouched. Using the power of compromise and conversation, Naruto became a hero who chose to talk things out instead of fighting. This wouldn’t always work and the mangaka understood that, finding instead a loophole to work through it.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Double-Purposed Villains for Naruto
During the Fourth Shinobi World War arc, Masashi Kishimoto introduced the heavy usage of the Edo Tensei Jutsu. It brought about shinobi from the past, a familiar face to fight against and fight alongside. Naruto found himself reuniting with his father Minato. It was an entire event of some of the most famous people in the world of Naruto coming back to life in a distorted, half-dead-half-alive form.
While the entire arc itself was filled with a roller coaster ride of characters, Masashi Kishimoto, in an interview with Fuji TV (via Naruto Fandom), revealed that these undead shinobi, Akatsuki and Jinchiriki held a purpose purely for Naruto’s benefit. It wasn’t simply to fight against the shinobi and gain power over them but so much more. They especially targeted Naruto’s biggest obstacle to unleash his full strength, his pacifism.
Ever since the Pain arc, his need to fight and conclude matters through violence changed drastically, helping him create a small sense of morals.
Masashi Kishimoto Twisted Morals
A character with strict morals is just as important as one without. A part of Naruto’s growth as a character was his strong sense of pacifism. What was important in his morals was how firm his beliefs were. This made him more assertive as a character, proving to the audiences that he knew what he wanted and that his aim to gain peace would not be through violence but through pacifism.
To counter this rule, Masashi Kishimoto introduced the undead of the Edo Tensei. They weren’t necessarily alive and they had long since been dead. This meant that while Naruto’s rule stood firm for the living, it held no standing in front of those who had already died.
There came the enemies Naruto could defeat with the potential he kept buried within him, constrained by his own morals. Constant discussions to keep from choosing violence could easily get very boring and the Edo Tensei Jutsu became the exact change of pace and loophole the fans needed.
Naruto is available to watch on Netflix.
