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Narutohas its fair share of controversial and problematic characters. From Orochimaru to Madara, the series redefined evil. This, however, also extends to other characters in the manga.
While the characters may not necessarily be evil, they represent failure in most aspects. The animated series worsened the character’s reputation. And there’s more to it.
In a recent Reddit thread, fans couldn’t help but point out major discrepancies between manga and animated series. Interestingly, the animated series vilified the character to a great extent. This further reflects the gross misrepresentation of Kishimoto’s storyline by the animators.
Redditors respond toNaruto’scontroversial character
From villains to heroesNarutohas a unique way of representing layered characters. This is attributed to Masashi Kishimoto’s writing. The mangaka brings out pure unadulterated emotions in the series.
From rage and pain to loneliness, the series peaks in its portrayal of complexities. The profundity is another aspect that makes it different from its contemporaries. And there’s more to it.
Kishimoto’s series isn’t a bog-standard ninja story per se. It highlights the tortuous realities of life. From war to trafficking his manga represents the human horrors. But most importantly, it brings out the dark aspects of political systems.
The twisted notions of bravery andsuicide missionsare problematic. What’s even more ridiculous is the lack of accountability of leaders including Hokage. This especially includes the Third Hokage. He is one of the most hated characters in the series. But there’s a catch to it.
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ARedditthread had users discussing the Third Hokage’s flaws as a controversial character. And this is how most of them reacted.
While the comments pointed out the discrepancies between both manga and anime, one thing is certain. Hiruzen Sarutobi failed miserably in more ways than one. This further points to the problematic glorification of the painting culture of Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and his problematic sainthood
It is a known fact that Masashi Kishimoto plays favorite on most occasions. The Third Hokage is no exception to this despite his shinobi prowess. Like most Hokage, he is hailed as a saint in the series. Hiruzen’s vilification, however, doesn’t negate his gross mismanagement as a Hokage.
His failure to stop theUchiha clan massacreand halt Danzo is an example of this. While most fans pointed to the discrepancies, one thing is certain. Both manga and the series romanticized the village leaders. This also applies to their questionable policies.
From Tobirama’s prejudice to Hiruzen’s incompetency, the series celebrated the Hokage’s failures. That, however, is not all. Third Hokage’s failures aren’t attributed to his misrepresentation. He cannot also halt Danzo and his actions.
The Root and its mere existence is a threat to the village in most aspects. From questionable servitude to brainwashing, the organization is highly contentious. As the God of Shinobi, his character was also the victim of nerfing. And there’s more to it.
“It’s just annoying… if you don’t have the strength to fight against them”: Masashi Kishimoto’s Worst Naruto Blunder Has Made Multiple Boruto Characters Obsolete
Even in his prime, Hiruzen is considered formidable. As one of the unparalleled shinobi, he was able to thwart his student’s attempts. While he was caught up in war and betrayal, it doesn’t negate his controversial role. Despite his status as a Hokage, he proved to be a failure in more ways than one.
Narutois available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
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.
