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Masashi Kishimoto’s opusNarutois anything but a run-of-the-mill ninja story for several reasons. The shonen manga stands as a bestseller for its blend of history, mythology, and folklore, along with both modern and traditional elements.
It is a prime example of fine storytelling in the manner of its depiction of war and society. Other than cool jutsus and edgy ninjas, the series underlined some of the most unsettling and jarring moments and realities of war. But there is an interesting story behind it.
Like most mangaka, Kishimoto took inspiration from real-life incidents to unpack the brutalities of war and strife. His writing of Konoha as a martial society is one such example. But he simply overturned the cliche portrayal of war in his story for a very good reason.
This, however, did not deter him from exploring the different facets of war and espionage in his story. From child soldiers and orphans to human experiments, the manga is outstanding in its representation of the unprecedented horrors of war.
Masashi Kishimoto’s inspiration for the Fourth Shinobi World War
Of all the arcs inMasashi Kishimoto’sseries, the Fourth Shinobi World War shattered both readers and viewers. It featured some of the best fights and showdowns, as well as massive character development. Truly, it was a visual treat in every sense for most fans.
On top of that, it introduced iconic villains and comebacks in the best way possible. Be it Madara or Sound Four, the war became center stage for side characters to showcase their strength and finesse. This applies to Rock Lee, Tenten, and other characters who were mostly sidelined in the series.
Amidst the fights and the glory, however, the arc also outlined heartbreaking deaths. Hands down,Neji Hyuga’s tragic deathhad most fans tearing up in the worst way. To this date, most fans believe that his death was unnecessary. But Kishimoto’s portrayal of war was rather rooted in reality, as he revealed.
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In aninterviewpublished in Weekly SHONEN JUMP Alpha, Kishimoto revealed his inspiration for war. He said:
There are a lot characters who are involved in the current war in the world of Naruto. I want to pay a lot of attention to every character while drawing them, but I have to omit some points. So it is difficult to make a judgment on what to omit and what to show.
War is a difficult theme to write about. I grew up in Okayama, which is right next to Hiroshima. My grandparents went through the terror of war, and I know from their stories that the war was built up on people’s grudges.
We all know how the Hiroshima incident scarred Japan for decades and continues to do so. And while the series didn’t showcase the same rawness, it stood out in every sense. Rather, it captured the essence of the horrors and brutalities of war perfectly through its characters.
Unprecedented horrors and brutalities of war inNaruto
Child soldiers, medical experiments, orphans, and suicides inNarutohave one thing in common. That is, they represent the sheer reality and horrors of war in one way or the other. It sure is unsettling for the most part but does that mean the mangaka would refrain from representing it? Probably not.
There are bound to be differences between the manga and the anime. In anime, the events are glossed over and skimmed through in every form. With the manga, however, the panels and visuals are nothing short of a terrifying nightmare.
Theaftermath of warand unrest is far-fetched from ideal, and so is society. Be it ANBU or Chunin exams, the ninjas are exposed to a life filled with death and loss. The reality is so dark and bitter that it would have most readers brooding and pulling their hair out.
With kids being orphaned and soldiers unaliving themselves, the series brilliantly andsubtly showcased PTSDas an aftermath of war. In Kakashi’s case, it was more potent as he lived with it each day. His father, too, succumbed to the ostracization of the Konoha society.
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As for orphans, the Ame trio and Sasori’s fate in the series is gut-wrenching in every sense. The glory and bravado of ninjas came at a hefty cost of stripping away love and joy from someone else’s life. While it isn’t the ideal portrayal of war, Kishimoto notched it up with his well-written characters.
Naruto: Shippudenis available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
