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Weebs have their favorite pick with Shonen, and for me, it’s Naruto. The series was a true self-discovery for me in several ways. The characters, events, and story are all so compelling and engaging. But like most series, it faltered majorly, even in one of its best arcs.

Konan in a still from Naruto Shippuden | Credit: Studio Pierrot

What we fans thought was the best arc was made redundant by one of the worst traits. Yes, some memorable moments and instances shaped the characters, but this one trait ruined a key element of the series. This is precisely why I hope Oda doesn’t pick this trope in his series, One Piece.

Naruto’s best arc was turned redundant by this move

People often complain about how Naruto is full of bad writing, especially with certain arcs. Well, this also goes for characters, including villains and the supporting cast.

We’re often told that things don’t go as they’re planned but Masashi Kishimoto overturned this whole notion in his series Naruto. It’s a mix of both planned and unplanned arcs, which is what makes it so interesting. But there is one such instance that ended up working in the mangaka’s favor.

Team 7 prepares to seal off Kaguya in Naruto Shippuden | Credit: Studio Pierrot

In other words, the mangaka had already planned on including a battle scene in his work. Little did we know that it would be one of the most epic fights in the series. It also highlights the theme of rivalry, which runs parallel within the story.

Masashi Kishimoto’s epic pre-planned battle for the manga

Masashi Kishimoto will go down in history for giving us one of the most memorable ninja stories. We all grew up witnessing the blonde knucklehead and his transformation into the legendary shinobi.

Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is a universe filled with eccentric battles, powerful shinobis, complex jutsus, and some gigantic creatures that help the shinobis in their battles. These gigantic creatures are divided into different categories and are thus a unique addition to the storyline, making them quite popular among the Naruto fanbase.

Naruto Anime Series | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Most of these creatures and monsters are called into the Naruto storyline with the help of a summoning technique called Kuchiyose no Jutsu or Summoning Jutsu. It is indeed one of the most powerful jutsus in Naruto, and not every character can use it and call upon a monstrous summon that could help them win their battle against their opponents.

Kishimoto once revealed why he created the summoning jutsu and what was the influence behind the creatures that were summoned using this. The Naruto mangaka expressed his love for Godzilla, the prehistoric monster,...

From fillers to fudgy animation, Masashi Kishimoto’s series Naruto has its fair share of criticisms. But nothing beats the good old bad writing critique. Yes, the series is phenomenal the way it shaped the idea of a ninja and whatnot. But it dug its grave in wasting one of the finest female characters.

Sakura’s Strength of a Hundred Seal jutsu in the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Surprisingly, it isn’t Sakura but yet another legendary Shinobi who deserves all the praise. Her mastery of kekkei genkai was commendable, yet the series did a major disservice to her. The sequel is no different, considering how both mangas treated this character. Why, you ask? Let us find out.

Another day, another powerhouse wasted in Naruto

Naruto lives up to its title of one of the Big 3 of Shonen. It isn’t a bog-standard ninja story but something that stood out during the 2000s.

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.

Kaguya Otsutsuki in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

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...

Naruto accomplished his dream of becoming the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, but he also obtained something he never had while growing up — a family. Naruto is a loving husband and father in the Borutosequel series, and most of his family members are strong ninjas who are loyal to the Leaf Village. Many of them are Jonin, but some can easily be considered Kage-level, even though they are incredibly young.

All of Naruto's family members possess an ocular kekkei genkai, primarily the Byakugan, which provides x-ray vision and a near-360º field of vision around the user. By some stroke of luck, Naruto's family is filled with dangerous taijutsu users, and his children now have the power to take on an entire village and miniature versions of the Ten-Tails. His distant relative can theoretically destroy the Earth if he is at full power.

Hinata Has Mastered Some of the...

In anime series of any genre, it's essential for the main characters to get major development so they can keep growing as cool, compelling, and heartfelt characters. Plenty of prominent anime characters get rich and meaningful development as the story continues, but others fall well short of that goal. Unfortunately, some notable anime characters had iffy growth arcs and weak development that made them less interesting in the long run.

Bad character development can take a few forms, such as a character changing their mind or viewpoint for unclear reasons, their development being slow or meaningless, or the character becoming less pleasant and likable over time. Bad development will rob a character of their potential and make their growth stall out, which is a real shame for anime fans who liked them and wanted them to become someone amazing.

Yamcha Got Redeemed, Then Did Nothing Important Yamcha Was Better Off...

Weebs have that one anime that is a treasure trove of memories and Naruto is one such example. The series was a true rollercoaster with its own highs and lows. Like every Shonen anime, it was laden with criticism but the mangaka wasn’t someone to back down in any case, especially with this scene.

Minato bids farewell to Naruto in the Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Shippuden gave us an underrated yet impactful scene that would shut out blatant criticism regarding the series. It is intense and complex but on the whole, it screams peak fiction in every sense. This is precisely why this particular arc stands underappreciated for the most part.

Naruto’s underrated scene screams peak fiction

Naruto is all about the vibes be it battles or loss. The mush of strength and vulnerability makes it wholesome especially with characters. It is a universal fact that characters...

An epic tale of personal vengeance, a quest of light-hearted adventure, a struggle to save a ruined world — these plots, and more, populate the world of martial arts anime. With fist-pounding, senses-shattering action at the heart of any good martial arts story, solid martial arts anime needs to balance the popcorn entertainment with a story that’s as strong as its heroes. Action for action’s sake is fine, but it’s even better when there’s a heart beating behind it all.

There are countless martial arts and kung-fu anime out in the wild, and it can be tough to figure out what to watch. The best kung-fu anime are considered the most exceptional for their impact on the genre, their faithfulness to their source material, or their sheer entertainment value. The best kung-fu anime emphasize hand-to-hand combat, so as such, more samurai-centric series have been omitted.

Tekken: Bloodline...

Anime series are regularly known for having a lot of episodes compared to traditional television series. That said, several of the longest anime are also the most popular. One Piece began airing in 1999 and won't be ending any time soon. The beloved anime series now has over a thousand episodes.

Much longer anime series aren't completely linear and can easily jump between storylines. Crayon Shin-Chan follows the antics of Shinnosuke Nohara as he manages the day-to-day of child life. Surprisingly, this concept has spanned over 1,267 episodes. Several prominent anime have the most episodes of any televised series, but some aren't worth the dedication it takes to finish them.

Sgt. Frog Is The Perfect Balance of Action & Weird Comedy Anime Streaming on Crunchyroll

Sgt. Frog has a lot of episodes. Yet, this number doesn't seem so great when considering the anime isn't linear. Fans of the series do not watch the series for the plot,...

Shigeki Awai, one of the foremost animators and directors of Japan’s massive anime industry unfortunately passed away on March 19th, 2025. Awai was 71 at the time, and he left behind a legacy of hundreds of the industry’s most famous anime series to his name.

Shigeki Awai contributed to Naruto: Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot

From industry headliners like Naruto, One Punch Man, Boruto, Black Clover, Attack on Titan, and many more, Awai has left his impression on pretty much every series anime fans have come to appreciate over the years.

Interestingly, what many don’t know is that he also helped create an anime that remains to this day one of the most underappreciated series in the industry. When honestly it should have been talked about much, much more.

Shigeki Awai helped create Bungo Stray Dogs into the shonen mammoth it turned out to be

Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa...

Although Naruto is one of the world’s biggest anime and manga series, its sequel spin-off, Boruto, fell short of its predecessor’s popularity and fame. And while there were a lot of reasons behind this, for me especially, it was the inability to create an enticing narrative, that not only connected to the past storyline but also brought some new elements.

Boruto Anime Series | Credit: Studio Pierrot

I was quite excited when Boruto was announced, but as the story went on, it lost the essence that made it a part of the Narutoverse and thus, was destined to fail sooner or later. However, with the recent developments in the ongoing Boruto storyline, my hope within the franchise has been renewed as they have brought back the iconic Mangekyou Sharingan through Sarada.

While Sarada unlocked her Mangekyou Sharingan before the time skips, it wasn’t used at all and thus...

In an exclusive interview with Cbr, esteemed creators, Goro Taniguchi and Yukio Takatsu, spoke out about their impressions of Japan's anime industry and how it can best keep up with recent worldwide changes involving technological developments like AI and NFTs. As they carried out their most recent project, an anime based around the breakout Nft brand Azuki, they kept these advancements in mind.

Goro Taniguchi is known for his work on One Piece and Code Geass, while Yukio Takatsu contributed to Naruto Shippuden, Persona 3, and Monogatari. Both of these skilled creatives brought their talents to the Enter the GardenAzuki project, taking anime in a completely new, groundbreaking direction.

Anime Creators Explain the Need For Constant Innovation in the Industry As Taniguchi and Takatsu Pursue Nft-Related Projects, They Understand the Necessity of Advancement

The Azuki anime took the form of a three-part trilogy entitled Enter the Garden,whichdebuted its first segment,...

Goro Taniguchi has always had two eyes on the global stage, never allowing country borders to determine creative ones. This is perhaps best seen in smash-hits like Code Geass and One Piece Film: Red. The desire to bring anime to the global stage spurred Taniguchi's decision to lead Azuki's new series, adapting the Nft brand's dystopian worldview and vast catalog of anime-inspired character tokens to the small screen, scoring millions of views while doing it.

To cement his vision of a global worldview, Taniguchi recruited acclaimed creative Yukio Takatsu, known for anime openings in Naruto Shippuden, Monogatari, and the Persona 3 game, and whose work is personified by geometry, his roots within graphic design, and a similar unrestrained inspiration that even spurred him to take up residency in Paris, France. In an interview with Cbr, Taniguchi and Takatsu explore their creative journeys, processes, and inspirations for Enter the Garden Episode 2: Fractured Reflections,...

Of all the clans in Naruto, the Otsutsukis are overpowered in every sense. They are the progenitors of chakra and jutsu, as seen in the Shippuden anime. From Dojutsu to Nature Release, an ordinary ninja would be no match for them, which precisely explains this cursed technique in the series.

Kaguya Otsutsuki in a still from the Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

To put it simply, an overpowered jutsu in the series is a curse in disguise, especially with its limitations according to this theory. The reason behind its weakness has more to do with humanity. But does that mean this jutsu is futile in every sense? Let’s find out.

This overpowered jutsu is an Otsutsuki curse in disguise

The Otsutsuki clan, as we all know, is one of the strongest clans in the series. They are the creators and forebearers of chakra and ninshu, which was then passed down to other shinobi.

In the world of Naruto, the tailed beasts or biju were the strongest beings. They defined ultimate power with their immense chakra and boundless strength. The strongest characters could barely compare to them, and a single strike from them was equal to death. Even Hokage-level shinobi ended up sacrificing their lives against tailed beasts.

Considering that, it doesn’t make much sense for someone like Suigetsu to escape a full-fledged battle against Killer Bee alive. Killer Bee was the Jinchuriki of one of the strongest tailed beasts, and even attacked Suigetsu with his strongest attacks.

Sasuke meets Suigetsu for the first time in Naruto Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

So, how come Suigetsu escaped that fight alive? There are some reasons that could explain Suigetsu’s luck, especially when we consider his powers. However, it’s still hard to deny that plot armor played a huge role in that entire fight.

How else do you start an album than with an Attack on Titan quote? With their opening track “The World is a Cruel Place… And It Is Also Very Beautiful” Europe’s Ankor proves that there is no better way. With brutal breakdowns, intricate storytelling, and catchy choruses, the band’s exciting rise has seen them take the metalcore world by storm, culminating with the release of their Shoganai mini-album in 2024. I got to chat with vocalist Jessie Williams and guitarist David Romeu about how anime permeates into their music, remixing some of their newer songs, creating their own story world, and of course their love of Attack on Titan . Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? What is your favorite anime series or movie of all time? Jessie : There was a...

Naruto and One Piece have several commonalities. Both share the title of the Big 3 of Shonen Jump along with Bleach. But other than that, the series has an impressive cast of voice actors who made their mark in the industry. One of them is Showtaro Morikubo whose recent update has fans in disbelief.

Team 7 during the Fourth Shinobi World War | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Morikubo is a seasoned voice actor who has worked in Eiichiro Oda as well as Masashi Kishimoto’s series. His retirement was hinted through the recent updates but one thing is certain. This doesn’t diminish his pivotal role as a Va in the anime and video game industry, especially with his impressive roster.

Naruto voice actor hints at retirement

It isn’t uncommon for voice actors to work in a top-notch franchise and Naruto is no exception. From Junko Takeuchi to Toshiyuki Morikawa, the series...

When Solo Leveling began, Jinwoo Sung was the weakest Hunter in the world, but after being granted a second shot at life by The System, he has become stronger than most S-Rank Hunters. Jinwoo mainly uses daggers during combat, but he can wield other weapons if needed. Solo Leveling offers plenty of powerful weapons, but there are several weapons from other anime that would also make Jinwoo stronger.

Most of these anime weapons are blades that can wipe out multiple opponents at once. One weapon, in particular, is entirely elemental based. Another weapon might seem unconventional, but it can kill anyone with a stroke of a pen. All of these anime weapons are dangerous, but certain weapons would give Jinwoo the power to destroy anything.

Naruto Shippuden's Sword of Nunoboko Would Give Jinwoo World-Ending Power Stream Naruto Shippuden on CrunchyrollImage via Pierrot Studio

The Sword of Nunoboko made its first...

Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden have 720 episodes of character-focused plot, but a few characters still have mysterious backgrounds, inexplicable power or unexplained absences. Most of Naruto is, naturally, focused on Naruto and the main cast. Like the Kakashi side story, most filler and backstory arcs explain fan-favorite characters' mysterious skills, relationships and personality traits. But what happens to the other characters that fall through the cracks?

A long-running franchise like Naruto naturally invites inconsistencies between canon and non-canon stories, backstories and the sheer number of adventures. The Naruto franchise was good at keeping its facts straight for the most part, and there aren't many unexplained mysteries. But it may come as a surprise that even some of the most popular characters, like Naruto himself, have mysterious aspects of their character despite reappearing throughout the anime.

Updated on March 13, 2025, by Natasha Elder: Naruto has a plethora of characters, which understandably leads to some gaps in their histories.

Naruto has been praised for really digging deep into some heavy themes, making it stand out from a lot of other Shonen anime. The show tackles some big ideas like the cycle of hatred, the power of friendships, and the whole argument about hard work versus natural talent.

Sakura’s journey is way more inspirational than Naruto’s. | Credit: Studio Pierrot

What’s really cool is that at the core of these themes is the idea that your fate isn’t set in stone, a point that totally gets challenged during the Chunin Exam Arc when Naruto goes against Neji’s bleak way of thinking. However, as the series progressed, Naruto diverged from this underdog narrative. However, one character stood as a true testament to self-made success: Sakura Haruno.

Sakura vs. Naruto: The real underdog

Naruto’s journey, while inspiring, was greatly aided by forces beyond his control. His bloodline...

Naruto remains one of the most popular anime franchises today, with many episodes being memorable long after their first viewing. Much of this impact comes from the shonen anime series’ expert use of plot devices, especially cliffhangers. Some of its biggest reveals, like Baryon Mode’s introduction, are perfectly timed at the end of an episode to keep fans on edge.

Like many hit shonen anime, Naruto thrives on sudden twists. Shocking moments, like Kaguya’s reveal as the final antagonist, leave viewers eagerly anticipating what happens next. Many fans were stunned when Madara was abruptly replaced, proving how effectively the series uses cliffhangers to build suspense and seamlessly transition into the next episode.

Granny Chiyo Displays a Mysterious Jutsu to Save the Kazekage Naruto: Shippuden, Episode 31, "The Legacy"

Granny Chiyo might not be the most popular character in Naruto, but her actions lead to the safety of the Ninja World.

Sasuke Uchiha is one of the coolest and strongest characters in Naruto. This is something fans would agree upon considering his feats in the series. From mastering dojutsu to clan techniques, he is only second to his brother, Itachi. However, a moment in the series might contradict this.

Madara Uchiha in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

To be specific, this has to do with his Mangekyo Sharingan as some fans pointed out in a discussion thread. Not only did they compare him with his brother, but it made one thing certain. His character in Shippuden is truly foolish. But is he? Let us find out.

The cold hard truth about Mangekyo Sharingan in Naruto

There are indeed several inconsistencies in the power system in Naruto. It is interesting nonetheless, especially considering the kekkei-genkai. Now, initially the first kekkei-genkai or the bloodline jutsu we were shown is the Sharingan.

It's not easy for any anime series or movie to rank among the greats, even when things are narrowed down to a single demographic like shonen. In particular, shonen is home to some of the most popular, deepest, and most intriguing anime of all, making it a competitive field. For any shonen anime to be a masterpiece in the face of so much competition, an anime needs something truly special.

Some of the legendary greats in shonen anime simply do what most shonen do, but with better and more consistent quality, and other shonen masterpieces have a more unique angle or theme to make them worth any anime fan's time. Masterpiece anime also tend to have excellent production quality for their animation, sound, and voice acting, though even then, some anime take those production values to the next level even when compared to other masterpieces.

One Piece Tells a Lengthy Story of Freedom,...

Naruto is inarguably one of the most popular anime and manga series of all time, and for good reason. Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus takes fans on a fantastical journey of a little boy’s story of growing up in a world where people seem to detest him on sight.

A still from Naruto Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Things get more convoluted as more and more details emerge about the protagonist Naruto, and the people around him, which only adds to the story’s appeal to new fans even now after years of its conclusion.

As such, a sequel to such a masterpiece should have been met with open arms by the fandom, right? Well, that was exactly the case until fans realized how little the sequel actually had to offer. As such, what followed was a constant barrage of trolling by the fans that seems to continue even in the strangest situations.

The entire anime community and their mothers know how hated Sakura Haruno from Naruto is. Some genuinely hate her, while some just hop on the hate train. However, after years of unnecessary backlash, fans are noticing it might not be Sakura’s character to blame nor entirely Kishimoto’s writing.

Sakura Haruno from Naruto. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]

Studio Pierrot houses many iconic Shonen titles, like Naruto, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Black Clover. While fans have complained about the animation quality, the studio has committed an even bigger offense.

Several scenes of Sakura Haruno were changed, deliberately making her look bad. The notion that her character adds nothing to Naruto, especially as a Team 7 member, was Studio Pierrot’s fault. It’s vastly different from her real character arc in the manga where she’s much kinder and selfless.

Sakura saves Naruto a lot in the manga, whereas the anime doesn...

Several burning mysteries in Masashi Kishimoto’s series are yet to be solved. But more than that, there are unseen battles that are mere fables in the series. Power scaling is a big issue as most fans have pointed out from time to time but there is a battle so epic it deserves to have its own prequel.

Hashirama Senju in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

To be specific, Kishimoto gave us a mere glimpse of a Kage vs Kage battle in his series. The fabled showdown would be nothing short of legendary if it were to be animated. It could outrival Madara and Hashirama’s duel, even proving that Og characters are Op in the best way.

The goated Kage vs Kage fight in Masashi Kishimoto’s series

What makes Masashi Kishimoto’s series so great are the characters, worldbuilding, and of course, the fights. It...

In the world of Naruto, the Sharingan is considered to be one of the strongest dojutsu abilities that can literally perform miracles. From altering the opponent’s vision to changing reality, the Sharigan can do it all. And one of the most dangerous Sharingan users in the entire series is Itachi Uchiha, the character who contributed a lot to the success of Naruto.

Itachi Uchiha in Naruto | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Itachi was a world-class shinobi whose skills, even at a young age, were on a level that had never been seen before in Konoha’s history. He cleared the Chunin exams at the age of 10, became an Anbu captain at the age of 12, and massacred his entire clan at the age of 13. The level of maturity, talent, and strategy that Itachi showed at such a young age was nothing short of extraordinary.

Itachi’s talent helped him master Izanami, one...

Goodbyes are difficult, and for anime fans it hits different, especially with Naruto. The series kickstarted back in the 2000s and remains a cherished piece of our childhood. But, endings are necessary and it left us teary-eyed. With Junko Takeuchi, it took a different turn altogether.

Sakura Haruno in a still from Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

We process endings and beginnings differently and the voice actor is no different. She was hesitant and had mixed feelings about her character’s closure, which is understandable. It further reflects on the bittersweet journey from childhood to parenthood in Masashi Kishimoto’s series.

Junko Takeuchi’s mixed feelings about Naruto’s ending

Other than Mamoru Endo (Inazuma Eleven) or Gon Freecs (Hunter x Hunter), Junko Takeuchi has worked on a diverse range of roles. Some of these include Noel (Claymore) and Rin Natsuki (Yes! Precure). Her breakthrough role as the knucklehead ninja overshadows other roles.

Anime is no stranger to having long arcs. Plenty of long-running series, like My Hero Academia or Dragon Ball, have plenty of arcs that run for dozens of episodes at a time. Normally, this would be fine as long as the stakes are consistently engaging. Unfortunately, there are also examples where an arc runs far too long, and only drags the anime down with it.

Longer anime arcs can suffer from plenty of problems. A slow-paced arc where it feels like the stakes don't matter can bring whatever momentum the anime had to a screeching halt. Similarly, an arc that's over-stuffed with events, and they're all happening at the same time can leave viewers feeling more confused than excited. As a result, fans of the anime series can end up tuning out in droves and seriously hurt an anime's reputation.

Bleach's Bount Arc is Notorious for Having the Most Boring...

Masashi Kishimoto is known for giving his characters some edge, be it character designs or god-tier jutsu. From Nagato to Rock Lee, the series has some of the coolest characters with broken abilities. However, nothing beats the original, especially when it comes to this power-up.

Naruto’s Sage Mode in the Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

It is a known fact by now that Naruto no longer has Kurama sealed within him. But die-hard fans know the truth and it only makes sense for the Hokage to get a power-up in the future battle. This theory proves why his next upgrade would be formidable for his enemies, so lets find out.

Naruto’s next god-tier power-up is insane on every level

There’s one thing that makes Naruto a top-tier shonen series and that is the power system. The series has some of the coolest and broken jutsu. From healing to offense,...

The anime-manga medium presents creators with boundless possibilities as to what could happen. Masashi Kishimoto made great use of this expansive scope in Naruto. Fights that defy the laws of physics or teenagers who are capable of doing things far beyond their age, Kishimoto pushed boundaries where he could.

Shikamaru after his fight with Hidan in Naruto Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

As a result, we got the thoroughly enthralling experience of Naruto. However, there was one time when the mangaka was particularly concerned about the wrath of the censor board. He spoke about the subject during an interview explaining exactly what it was that concerned him.

It was a scene from the iconic arc where Shikamaru takes his revenge against Hidan, and here’s everything you need to know about it.

Masashi Kishimoto was concerned about the censor board with this scene

Shikamaru is a fan-favorite character from...

What makes Naruto so great are the characters and this holds for the villains as well. From Sasori to Pain, Masashi Kishimoto outdid himself in writing some of the complex villains in his story. The backstories and their eventual fate in the series are well put out, but he may have fumbled in one aspect.

Obito Uchiha in a still from Naruto Shippuden | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Most specifically, his writing of Madara’s character and his ending betrays the purpose. This is true for the character’s redemption, which follows along the common thread of banality. In this case, another character tops the chart by being one of the finest villains in the series.

Masashi Kishimoto diluted villainy through redemption arcs

When we think about villains, Masashi Kishimoto gave us some of the top-tier antagonists in his series. But with the mangaka, the villains aren’t necessarily portrayed in a binary.

Naruto has some notoriously badly-written female characters, but none are hated more than Sakura Haruno. Even after years of analyzing and picking apart her character, the anime community continues to loathe her. It’s become abundantly clear it won’t stop unless they somehow rewrite history.

Sakura Haruno from Naruto: Shippuden. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]

What fans fail to notice, however, is the distinction between how Masashi Kishimoto wrote her in Naruto and Studio Pierrot’s additional scenes that created this terrible reputation.

The main complaint about her character is how bossy she is, all of which were included in Pierrot’s version of Sakura. She isn’t nearly as hot-headed in the manga nor is she very callous with her words. Unfortunately, her character isn’t the only female character they’ve butchered.

Studio Pierrot might be to blame for Sakura’s reputation in the Naruto fandom

Sakura Haruno deserved better writing and that is a fact.

Madara Uchiha is, undoubtedly, one of the strongest characters in the entire Naruto universe. As the leader of the legendary Uchiha Clan, Madara was an exceptionally talented shinobi, the likes of which could only be matched by Hashirama Senju during their era. Although Madara was already strong, his thirst for power saw him craft an elaborate plan that would ultimately lead to him becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

With tremendous power at his disposal, including Hashirama's own wood release style, few could've possibly stood against Madara in battle and even fewer could've defeated him. Madara could easily vanquish almost any shinobi who challenged him, but not even he was truly unbeatable. With the right justsu and tactics, there's a small handful of Naruto shinobi who could trounce him.

Updated on Feb 18th, 2025 by Ari Night: With the hierarchy of power in the Naruto universe changing drastically with recent chapters of Boruto: Two Vortexes,...

Fans’ hatred for Danzo Shimura runs deep and, quite honestly, it is valid considering his vices. He committed several atrocities in the series which are rather unpardonable. It is understandable why there is a general disdain toward the character, however, he deserves some respect and here’s why.

Uchiha clan in a still from the Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Often, there are bound to be differences in opinion and his ideology is no exception. His methods and approach highlighted a twisted sense of patriotism toward Konoha. But what makes him kage-level is this biggest feat in the series that most fans tend to overlook.

Danzo’s overlooked yet potent Kage-level abilities

Danzo Shimura is arguably one of the most hated character in Masashi Kishimoto’s series and there are several reasons for it. The Uchiha clan massacre, Sai’s torture, you name it and he’s done it. He...

Masashi Kishimoto wrote some of the finest villains in Naruto. They are deeply flawed and complex in terms of their motives and backstories. From Pain to Sasori, the series gave us well-written and layered antagonists that embodied a menacing personality.

However, Kaguya Otsutsuki is an exception to that, especially with how she was introduced. Her being overpowered is one of the criticisms that is often thrown around like confetti. Fans, however, may have been too quick in their judgment of her character’s origins.

Team 7 during the Fourth Shinobi World War | Credit: Studio Pierrot

More often than not, people tend to overlook Kishimoto’s brilliance, and they might have done the same in this case. Fans may have ignored the foreshadowing aspect of the series, which makes the character’s path more coherent.

Kaguya’s foreshadowing in Naruto

From Jiraiya to Tsunade, most characters in Naruto draw inspiration from Japanese folklore.

The legendary shonen anime Narutopacks plenty of action, drama, worldbuilding, and comedy in each major story arc, but if anime fans focus entirely on the battles, then some arcs are definitely stronger than others. Anime fans will agree Naruto has excellent fights by any standard, but even so, not all Naruto arcs are truly equal to each other. Filler arcs might not even be counted by some fans, for example, and some arcs in Naruto Shippuden were surprisingly forgettable in the long run.

Some arcs in Naruto certainly have the biggest and most explosive battles, but scale alone does not make any story arc's battles rank among the best in the anime. Naruto fans also look for essential factors like the character drama or themes involved, clever and smart moves, unique or creative exchanges of jutsu, and personal stakes involved. The combination of all helps even some of the smaller,...

Although it is an iconic ninja story, Masashi Kishimoto’s series Naruto is ridden with its fair share of disadvantages. There are upsides and then there are downsides, especially when it comes to characters. The mangaka had every opportunity to overshadow the Marineford Arc, but he fumbled big time.

A reanimated Itachi says goodbye to Sasuke as he fades away | Credit: Studio Pierrot

To be fair, every Shonen series has its drawbacks, yet the manga garnered major flak from viewers as well as readers. The fumble is tied to the recurring plot inconsistency in the series. But it leaves us with a pressing question: Are stakes that low in the manga?

Masashi Kishimoto’s fatal fumble in the series

As we all know, Masashi Kishimoto has had his fair share of highs and lows with his series. It is a rollercoaster ride when it comes to the good, the bad and the ugly.

A new playable character is available for Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker as a free update today. The latest to join the team-based brawler—which has been kicking around since February 2018—is Sasuke Uchiha (Young Ver. Final Battle). The new Dlc also adds a pair of new Ninjutsu—Chidori Layering (Ranged Type) and Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu (Ranged Type)—the Cursemark Second State (Ranged Type) Secret Technique and various young Sasuke-inspired Avatar Parts. Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker Young Sasuke Trailer Related: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Trailer Shows Off Dragon Ball Daima Dlc Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC and is compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Here's how Bandai Namco describes it: Developed by Soleil Ltd., Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker lets players team up with their friends in high-octane battles. Players can go head-to-head in 4-versus-4 online battles,...

The Final Saga of One Piece is predicted to have the most large-scale battle of pirates going directly against the World Government. Now that we’ve entered the Elbaph Arc, fans are also waiting for one Straw Hat Pirate to die by sacrifice or otherwise.

However, Oda doesn’t have the best record of letting his characters who seemingly died stay dead. Perhaps it’s a Shonen curse and the authors are afraid that fans will react badly. This is exactly where Naruto fell short when the protagonist saved Might Guy after his near-death state.

Might Guy from Naruto: Shippuden. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]

Guy had achieved his dreams when he defeated Madara Uchiha. He gave his all opening the Eight Gates and it should have cost his life. Then comes Naruto who magically learned how to heal his fatal injuries. It was a lazy cop-out from Kishimoto, and now people are...

Naruto is a story that is perfect for children. It has themes of friendship, affection, and kindness. At the very beginning, we have wars and the massacre of the Uchiha clan. What if this was an example of a darker reality?

The Uchiha brothers in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Hidden beneath the battles and struggles for growth was a much darker message that pointed to the core issue, one that showcases the hypocrisy of how history defines its heroes and villains.

This can be clearly seen from the comparison between Minato Namikaze and Itachi Uchiha. Why does Itachi get so much hate? Even Obito was forgiven, so why not Itachi who did what he had to for the greater good? Let us delve into and understand the roles of Minato and Itachi and why they became famous (or infamous).

The paradox of heroes and villains

From the beginning of the series,...

The Uchiha clan from Naruto still has the ever-growing fandom in a chokehold. Although both the manga and the anime concluded long ago, the series continues to attract new fans every day. The Uchihas, and especially Itachi Uchiha, are a big reason behind that.

Itachi Uchiha in Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto Shippuden | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Hailed as one of the greatest ninjas, Itachi was one of the most dynamic characters in the series. This was as much because of his demeanor as it was because of his abilities. More importantly, he was also one of the strongest Genjutsu wielders in Naruto.

Interestingly, while Itachi’s ability had stumped many top-level ninjas, there is one ninja who had seemingly worked out the elusive method to get out of it. As it stands, fans might finally have an explanation as to why and how that is.

Itachi’s fellow Akatsuki member Deidara...

In the world of anime, there are very few moments that are as big as the 4th Great Ninja War or the Fourth Shinobi World War from Naruto. It is one of the, if not the, greatest moments in the history of the series and one of the main reasons why Naruto still sits at the top of the list in terms of the most popular anime and manga series of all time.

Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto | Credit: Studio Pierrot

The creator of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, has talked about the war and the idea around it multiple times. He has even explained how the war was conceptualized after the Pain arc, which makes it even more interesting. However, what many Naruto fans won’t know is that the Fourth Shinobi World War lasted for around two days in the series.

Considering the long hours fans have spent watching the iconic war,...

Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has long been blamed for his handling of romance within the series. Fans often argue that romance within Naruto is rushed, not fully developed, or even completely ignored in favor of world-building and action.

Shikamaru and Temari’s bonding shows Kishimoto can excel in romance. | Credit: Studio Pierrot

While talking about this topic, Kishimoto himself once revealed in an interview, that he felt shy when writing romance and so did not depict it extensively. The comment was shocking to many fans because some of Naruto‘s relationships are really great, demonstrating Kishimoto’s skill in writing great romance.

Kishimoto can write romance: He just didn’t prioritize it

During an interview session with the Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, Masashi Kishimoto revealed why in his original work, the depiction of full-blown love did not appear. When asked by the interviewer whether it was difficult to imagine?...

Naruto is known for its top-tier jutsu, and Senjutsu is one of them. Not only is it daunting, but it gives the characters a certain edge over the others. We all saw how the knucklehead made it way cooler than Jiraiya by mastering it within a brief period. But he might not be the Og God in any case.

Naruto Uzumaki’s Sage Mode in the Shippuden anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

According to this fan theory, a certain someone learned the jutsu beforehand but it isn’t what makes it special. From fluency to usage, the character’s feats make it rather legendary. However, it only proves why Masashi Kishimoto should have expanded and unpacked the domains of Sage Mode in the series.

The Senjutsu God in Naruto

In the beginning, we were introduced to different types of jutsu in Naruto mainly ninjutsu, taijutsu, and dojutsu. Then there is kinjutsu...

Bleach has a great cast of female characters who are more than capable of holding their own on the battlefield. Among these characters, there’s Orihime Inoue with her mysterious set of powers. Everything we know about her powers comes from how other characters perceive her. Her abilities were never explored fully, which is a shame.

Orihime heals Ichigo in Bleach | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

Indeed, there were some situations where we could see her true potential. However, these scenes were altered in the anime, resulting in a more toned-down version of Orihime. The way Naruto anime dealt with Tsunade’s powers and capabilities was the ideal approach that Bleach should have followed with Orihime.

Bleach anime forgot about Orihime’s potential

Orihime was somehow a master of all trades including attack, defense, and healing. This way she could assist her friends in battles, defend them, or even bring them back to life.

Since 1997, Toonami has been one of the few television blocks solely dedicated to animated action series. While it's featured Western series new and old, like Justice League and Invincible Fight Girl, it's most famous for its contributions to the meteoric rise in popularity of anime in the West in the late 90s and early 2000s. Hosted by Tom, whose own adventures contributed to the charm of the block, Toonami introduced millions to Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Naruto, and so much more.

For nearly two decades, Toonami has been dwindling in popularity and relevance, largely for reasons outside its control. Fewer people are watching television, and watching anime legally has never been easier. As a result, Toonami feels like it's living on borrowed time. With licensing the most popular and relevant anime getting more expensive, and disasters like the airing of Uzumaki occurring, it's doubtful that the block will be...

The following contains spoilers for various manga series.

Every great manga series must end with a strong, impactful story arc to serve as payoff for all the buildup from earlier story arcs. For some popular manga, like Berserk and One Piece, the ending remains to be seen. For others, like Sweat and Soap and Fairy Tail, the manga had weak or forgettable endings. That's why manga readers love a series with a solid final arc to entertain them and leave a lasting impression.

Different genres and stories will call for different things in their final arcs, from a thought-provoking open ending to a cathartic "happily ever after" or even one last shocking twist to keep readers guessing until the very last page. Some of the best final arcs are controversial among fans with unwanted developments, but even those controversial moments don't stop certain final arcs from ranking among the industry's best.

There is one thing common between Sasuke and his brother Itachi and that is their genius. Both Uchiha brothers are considered child prodigies in Naruto. It is interesting how Masashi Kishimoto brings out the binary of hard workers versus geniuses in his series. Yet there is a genius who is often overlooked.

The Uchiha brothers in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Surprisingly, this mastermind isn’t a Konohagakure ninja in any case but one thing is certain. It doesn’t diminish his relevance in any case. This does, however, point to the problem of glossing and overshadowing which stripped the characters away of their deserved glory.

The uncrowned genius that isn’t Sasuke or Itachi

In all honesty, Masashi Kishimoto’s series isn’t about mere glazing of ninjas and their edginess. Yes, they’re cool and bada** but it often comes at a cost of collateral damage be it wars,...