Naruto is a popular manga/anime about a boy, Naruto Uzumaki, who got a powerful demon fox, Kurama, sealed inside him when he was just a baby. Because of this unique story, people worldwide love both the manga and anime series.
Surprisingly, the original plan by the creator, Masashi Kishimoto, was different. Initially, Naruto’s dad, Minato Namikaze (also known as the fourth Hokage of the leaf village) who sealed the nine-tailed fox in Naruto, was supposed to be the demon fox himself.
Minato Namikaze Initially Intended to Be the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon
In the initial concept of the Naruto series, creator Masashi Kishimoto had a different plan for the main character, Naruto Uzumaki. Originally, Naruto wasn’t a regular human ninja; he was intended to be an actual fox spirit and the son of the nine-tailed fox, Kurama. This idea was presented in the original Naruto, published in 1997 in Akamaru Jump.
In this early version, Naruto’s father wasn’t Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, but rather Kurama, the same fox spirit that had attacked the village on Mount Oinari. Despite Kurama being defeated by nine powerful ninjas (and taking down eight of them in the process), the village chief, Hiruzen Sarutobi, felt compassion for the baby Naruto. Instead of punishing Naruto, he decided to bring him to the village and teach him ninja skills.
According to the story, this non-ninja baby Uzumaki then grew up as a mischievous human boy, seeking friendship – a different take compared to the Naruto we know from the official serialized series.
Naruto’s Original Form: Contrasting His Father’s Use of Demon Fox Powers To Harm Others
Naruto’s first form in the original version was really different from the main series. He appears as a playful nine-tailed fox, reflecting his fox spirit heritage.
The initial portrayal strongly emphasizes his connection to a fox spirit. Unlike his father, who used fox powers for harm, Naruto employs them to catch villains and deliver justice. This early depiction sets the tone for themes in the series.
It’s interesting to imagine how the story might have changed if the original idea had been kept. If Kurama, the fox, were Naruto’s father, it would have significantly altered the series.
Despite its brevity, this overlooked one-shot contains memorable moments and introduces themes later explored in the main series. Naruto and Kurama’s story continues in the ongoing Boruto manga.
