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Decades back, Masashi Kishimoto gave us one of the most iconic arcs inNaruto. After Pain’s Assault Arc, the Fourth Shinobi World War outlined some of the most iconic battles and showdowns.
Everything about the duels screamed top-tier in most aspects. Regardless, the series wasted and grossly underutilized one of the most legendary characters.
From her kekkei genkai to her story, the character’s significance went by the board in most aspects. And it is truly disheartening considering her skills and potential in the series.
This, however, isn’t the first time the series wasted its side characters and their potential. Despite their well-written backstories and trajectories, Kishimoto has numerously failed his characters.
Narutofrittered away this kekkei genkai user’s potential
Narutois one of the finest anime in the Shonen genre for many reasons. But mostly it has to do with its unique power system and characterization. Kishimoto left no stone unturned in fleshing out his characters throughout the series.
But there is a caveat to that as well, especially with his treatment of side characters. From Tenten to Rock Lee, Kishimoto sidelined some of the pivotal characters in the series. That is not all considering his treatment of one of the greatest kekkei genkai users in his manga.
Not many fans know of Pakura of the Sand mainly because she appeared in one episode. That, however, doesn’t negate her pivotal role in the series. As a Sunagakure shinobi, she was a force to be reckoned with in her prime.
Additionally, she wielded one of therarest kekkei genkaiin the series. Her Scorch Release is by far, the most lethal ability that incapacitated several shinobi during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Most fans however have reduced her character to fanservice.
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Some Redditors had adistasteful approachto her character design and others seemed to not remember who the character is.
In retrospect, Pakura’s story encapsulates loyalty and betrayal. It is nothing short of heartbreaking considering her love for the Sand Village. While her character design is grossly objectified, one thing is certain.
Her story feels like an afterthought considering Kishimoto’s conception of kekkei genkai users and other side characters. This, however, also circles back to the age-old debate regarding bad writing criticism.
Is Masashi Kishimoto’s writing of characters an afterthought?
Masashi Kishimotois often labeled as a bad writer by most haters in the fan community. But that isn’t the case, especially with his conception of characters in the manga. His writing outlines brilliance along with a spectrum of emotions which he brings out beautifully.
Above all, it reflects a multitude of perspectives enmeshed with realism. From war and tyranny to violence, his series brings out gut-wrenching realities of the ninja world. And while he redefined villainy through his antagonists, his failure to charter his characters remains incorrigible.
One of the perfect examples of this is Might Guy and his fate. Most fans to this date prefer the character’s death over his crippled state. Their arguments are valid considering his pitiful fate and aftermath.
While the character deserved glory, he wasstripped of his death. Likewise, Kishimoto’s killing of Neji Hyuga seems inconclusive for the most part. It was one of the most baseless and undeserved deaths of a beloved character.
‘Kishimoto whitewashed them’: Sasuke Becoming the Shadow Hokage Isn’t the Worst Crime in Naruto When Mass Murderers Were Pardoned by Konoha
In conclusion, Kishimoto gave us impeccable and remarkable villains in the shonen genre. However, his treatment of his side characters is indeed an afterthought, considering their fate in the series.
Naruto: Shippudenis 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.
