Naruto has plenty of moments that are controversial even today. From child soldiers to clan massacres, the anime unpacked some dark and disturbing facets of the manga. To say the least, the protagonist wasn’t exempt from this either, especially with the “evil” things he did.
There is but one moment that is the bone of contention within the fandom. Although it is controversial, it might have been blown out of proportion especially when it concerns the mangaka. The fandom may have gone too far to treat the mangaka as well as an important character as scapegoats.
Naruto’s controversial wrongdoing in the anime
Naruto as a series is spectacular in the way it blends fiction and reality. From missions to Chunin exams, the ninjaverse is ridden with chaos. We’re talking about kids as little as 13, who are raised to be the protectors of villages. It is only recently that fans have started discussing nuances present in the series.
Wars, conflict, and terrorism in the series involved not just shinobi but innocent citizens and kids. The hero himself is a great example of that. His journey from pain and loneliness to self-discovery is something we cannot help but marvel at. But there is a catch to that as well.
Despite his suffering, the hero shouldn’t be spared from his share of wrongs. He caused trouble to many, including his peers as well as the Third Hokage. Defacing the Hokage Rock and teaching Konohamaru the Harem jutsu is outrageous.
But there is a moment so atrocious that fans cannot help but point out. This is especially true for the scene when he impersonates Sasuke. In that very scene, Sakura leans forward and tries to initiate a kiss but it is cut short. While the scene is problematic, the fandom may have blown it out of proportion.
Redditors, however, had different reactions to the controversial scene.
What’s the most “evil” thing Naruto has ever done?
byu/hawke05 inNaruto
The impersonation was done out of his curiosity to understand Sakura’s feelings. Her response to this was equally problematic in the scene. But what isn’t okay was the knucklehead lying blatantly to his friends. This is something that fans often ignore while scapegoating the mangaka and Sakura.
Kishimoto and Sakura’s scapegoating by the fandom
We can all agree on the fact that Masashi Kishimoto faltered along the way with Sakura’s character. Her obsession with Sasuke hindered her growth, but ultimately Studio Pierrot is to be blamed for their misinterpretation of the character. For decades, the fandom hated her in the worst way.
The mangaka bore the brunt for Pierrot’s blunder where most would call him a bad writer. Indeed, writing female characters isn’t his best suit. But Sakura’s misrepresentation wrote her doom as a character. From useless to manipulative, she became a scapegoat in the series.
Despite her growth in Shippuden, fans continue to discredit her character. She is flawed and fallible, yes. But she is far-fetched from selfish and fans better know that. From punches to poking, her gestures toward Naruto is all but a facade to protect him.
Fandom’s hate toward Sakura is unprecedented and unwarranted. But what is even more disappointing is that their acceptance of flawed characters boils down to the double standards which needs to change.
Naruto is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
