Naruto is a cult classic when it comes to Shonen anime. The series holds a special place in our hearts but that doesn’t mean it is spared from criticism in any case. This is true for a twist that ruined the series’ ending for real and this had more to do with a character.
Fans called it the worst thing to happen to the show and their reactions are valid. The character screwed the pooch and the plot but that isn’t all there is to it. This move did another great character dirty in every single way and we wish Masashi Kishimoto handled it better and here’s why.
The character twist that ruined it all
What makes Masashi Kishimoto’s story great is his unorthodox approach to writing ninjas. It isn’t merely a tale of a blonde knucklehead and his journey to become the Hokage but so much more. There’s friendship, loss, betrayal, and grief within the folds of political intrigue.
Yes, there are political undertones within Kishimoto’s series. The war and conflict take a gruesome turn at times. Then there are child soldiers and live-sacrifices which highlight the morally corrupt systems within the Shinobi world. It is horrifying to the core but these aren’t for shock values per se.
A large part of this has to do with the plot twists and reveals in the story. Like every other Shonen series, Masashi Kishimoto’s manga is laden with revelations. Both Naruto and Sasuke being the reincarnations of Indra and Asura is one such case but there is a revelation that ruined it all.
It isn’t merely Kaguya Otsutsuki’s introduction as a final villain but Black Zetsu’s plotting that screwed the ending. This is something that most fans on r/Naruto would agree upon.
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The “prey being the predator” trope didn’t work out well in this case. Indeed Black Zetsu is a cunning and scheming character but this revelation was slipshod. It was at this moment fans would want to flip tables but there’s one thing we should know.
It is fleshed out but it isn’t pieced well. It doesn’t align with the plot mainly because it stands inconclusive. Yes, Black Zetsu and his motivations make him a rather strong character but it makes other villains look dumb. More precisely, it was a major disservice to Madara, and here’s why.
Naruto series did Madara Uchiha dirty
All the buildup for Madara Uchiha’s glory in the Naruto series was for nothing it seems. This is especially true for his foreshadowing in Part-1 where we see both Naruto and Sasuke battle it out at the Valley of the End. Throughout the series, there was hype surrounding the character’s prowess but that isn’t all.
Through Kaguya’s introduction, Madara’s hype and aura as a villain including his feats were reduced to a mere joke. To be manipulated by Black Zetsu made him look like a total fool. It does, however, absolve Uchihas of the hatred since Black Zetsu was the one responsible for catalyzing the Curse of Hatred.
To sum it up, it was the nerf as well as this retcon that ultimately destroyed Madara’s aura and hype as a strong character. It also reduced other characters to mere pawns. Kishimoto could have done it better in the sequels and fleshed it out so that it aligned better with the story.
Naruto: Shippuden is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
