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Masashi Kishimoto’sNarutohas some of the coolest and badass fights in the series and these were pivotal in unpacking the growth and development of the characters. While these are well-written and conceived, there are cons to them as well.
This is true for one of the major arcs in the series that highlighted the hero’s progress during a power-packed battle. It stands as one of the legendary moments in the series. However, the fight may have sidelined one of the key aspects of storytelling in doing so.
The depth and consistency, in particular, are essential to any storyline to maintain a thread. This isn’t to say that every story needs to be linear. Rather, it should be conclusive in the manner of its conception and writing. In this case, the mangaka may have rushed the hero’s edginess.
This seemingly fits well with a rinse-and-repeat pattern in series regarding villains. Most villains are merely used as plot devices and nerfed away in the end to pave the way for the “good guys.” As a result, they are rendered into a complete mockery of all sorts.
A “rushed” moment of badassery inNaruto
Narutohas some of the finest arcs that are incredibly well-written from top to bottom. The plot twists and reveals, along with character growth and development, are what make it so engaging for both readers and viewers. But the fights and showdowns take the cake in terms of their intensity and choreography.
To be specific, the Kazekage Rescue Arc is underappreciated in the series for many reasons. This is also relevant toSakura Haruno’s progressas a multifaceted shinobi. As a medical-nin, she saves Kankuro’s life and proves herself a worthy kunoichi in her duel against Sasori.
But what tops the chart is the epic showdown between Team 10 and Kakashi versus Hidan and Kakuzu in the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc. A key moment in this fight was the knucklehead ninja’s signature jutsu, Rasenshuriken. Although this was truly iconic, it seems rushed in every sense.
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Onr/Naruto, Redditors were bummed out by Kakuzu’s abilities being dumbed down in this scene.
Truly, this scene is disappointing considering both viewers and readers’ emotional investment in the series. This, however, isn’t the first time the mangaka grossly underplayed some of the important characters. It is a rinse-and-repeat strategy to outline the hero’s prowess and strength.
Masashi Kishimoto’s rinse and repeat for nerfing villains
Masashi Kishimotowrote some of the most overpowered villains in his manga. But he does a major disservice to some of them in terms of their aura, stakes, and overall build-up in the story. Such is the case with Kaguya Otsutsuki and Madara Uchiha, who are deemed unparalleled in terms of their power.
To this date, fans won’t forgive the mangaka for grossly nerfing and underplaying his daunting villains. His writing of overpowered antagonists ultimately fizzled out their potential in the end. Be it Kakuzu or Konan, the Akatsuki members werereduced to fodder charactersin the end.
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To sum it up, the fight between Kakuzu and Team Asuma was nothing short of a spectacle. It served as a hook for many readers and viewers but was ultimately wasted to spotlightNaruto’sfeats.
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.
