Masashi Kishimoto has never hesitated in bringing out the best of each character in Naruto. Each and every character has a sense of individuality whether by design or personality. Uniqueness is not something Naruto is short of and that shows from every angle. Even the characters that may not be as popular or often disliked are recognizable because of one or the other unique features.
Despite making such visually and emotionally appealing characters, there are moments when the mangaka falls short. While it is understandable to not be able to focus on each and every character because of the sheer number of them, it becomes questionable when one of those characters also happens to be one of the main ones.
Masashi Kishimoto Couldn’t Prioritize Sakura
During the Jump Festa 2010 (via The Naruto News), Masashi Kishimoto took into regard the character of Sakura Haruno and how she felt more like a side character than a main one. When asked about the character’s future in the series, he found himself jesting slightly about her importance or lack thereof.
“Honestly, from the standpoint of showing a female-like disposition, she hasn’t been much of a heroine. You could even say that Hinata’s more of a heroine than her.”
The mangaka admitted that it felt more as if she wasn’t a heroine at all. In fact, he added the comparison of Hinata, stating that her role in the manga was of more importance than that of Sakura. She has never been seen as more than just a secondary character in the series despite being part of Naruto’s team since the beginning.
Kishimoto wasn’t able to use the character to her best potential and thus she became a stagnant part of the series waiting to be unleashed.
Sakura’s Diminishing Importance
Back in 2009, when the interview was conducted, Masashi Kishimoto also promised that things would change eventually. After claiming the lack of importance that Sakura held, replacing her with Hinata, he had more to say. Kishimoto stated that the story would not sideline her that soon.
“But since as we know, Sakura is a heroine deep inside, she’ll show that side of hers from now on.”
He justified that despite her untapped potential, Sakura was still a heroine on the inside. Taking this idea into consideration, he promised back then that there would be much more of her. Sakura’s character has always been criticized for the lack of a background given to her story. Despite her strength, she gets minimal chances to rise.
So the fact that Kishimoto gave such hope to her fans, claiming that her heroic side would be put more on display was certainly a breath of fresh air.
Naruto is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
