Naruto has always held a big place in many fans’ hearts and a big reason for this is Masashi Kishimoto’s descriptive storytelling. While there are some characters who got the short end of the stick, many were able to show themselves in ways that could only be possible through a thorough understanding of them by the author.
The series takes its time in establishing the characters and their relationships with others. It helps improve their depth and make them seem more realistic. It also puts focus on highlighting the growth of several characters. However, to achieve this efficiently, the setting becomes very important. Growth can be shown best in a setting that expects it out of you, such as one, of a school. Interestingly enough, that almost didn’t happen.
Masashi Kishimoto Had Different Ideas
During the Kobayashi interview (via Naruto Fandom), Masashi Kishimoto talked about how making a school setting for Naruto and the other characters wasn’t his initial intention. Had things gone according to his plan, Naruto and the others would have journeyed along other villages and conducted missions. Through this process, he would be able to introduce new characters.
According to the interview, “Originally he intended to focus on various missions that Naruto went on, meeting 4-man cells from other villages.” Moreover, it would have changed the complete pacing of the series. Not only would it have been much slower, but then it would have also consumed the fans with captivating action sequences.
While his editor was against the idea, wanting to introduce everyone all at once through the Chuunin Exams Arc, Kishimoto wasn’t inclined towards it. He wanted to take his time in adapting the story, even if it meant to stretch out a manga. Constantly going from one mission to another would have definitely taken its time, but it would have also taken away something great about the series.
Some Things Are Meant to Be
While the initial idea that Masashi Kishimoto had sounded like something that could have been explored, it certainly would have come at a cost. Action-oriented as it may be, constantly going from one place to another would take away the chance to properly grow characters. The provided setting of a school gave room for the growth of many characters like Hinata, Rock Lee, and Shikamaru.
Without the possibility, they would have been in the background with no grand role to play when it came to the grand scheme of things. The very fact that it was based on a singular setting allowed many different characters to be fleshed out, especially Naruto’s classmates. It was only because he wasn’t going on rapid missions that room for development even came into the picture.
The protagonist alone doesn’t make the series brilliant, but every other factor including the background and side characters combined do. The amount of skill and understanding put into these characters came to fruition, all of which fans were found enjoying.
Naruto is available to watch on Netflix.
