One of Naruto’s most iconic stories should never have happened.
According to an interview with series author Masashi Kishimoto, the mangaka was staunchly opposed to writing the tournament part but was coerced by his editors at Shōnen Jump. Kishimoto’s original plan for the series was supposed to be slower-paced and unconcerned with the rest of Naruto’s classmates, an approach the creator still wishes he could follow. However, Shōnen Jump wanted faster storytelling and larger battles that brought fighters from multiple villages together, leading to the proposal of a tournament round. Despite Kishimoto’s claim that writing one would kill him, his editor told him to “do it even if it kills him,” and so the Chunin Exams born.
The Importance of the Chunin Exam in Naruto
The Chunin Exams feature some of Naruto’s most memorable moments. They introduced some of its most famous characters, from Gaara and Hidden Sand Village to Orochimaru and Hidden Sound. It’s hard to imagine the series without it, given how integral it has become, with the format also serving as the basis for the Boruto movie and one of the most critically acclaimed spinoffs. . The Chunin Exams also resulted in the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, paving the way for the introduction of characters such as Tsunade and Jiraya, who, beloved by fans and readers alike, may have taken the damage that Konoha has to suffer in this part. That said, given Kishimoto’s track record, it’s likely he’ll find a way to tell the story fans know and love in a different yet engaging way.
Although some fans have lost faith in Kishimoto’s abilities with the release of Boruto, the film has been creative since its debut, but even the most critical have changed their opinion. in recent weeks with developments seen in the latest manga chapters. Readers have even called Chapter 79 “better than My Hero Academia and One Piece combined,” which may be deliberately exaggerated but shows that, over time, Kishimoto remains one of the storytellers. best by this means. Mangaka will prove this once again with the upcoming Naruto one-shot focusing on the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Naruto’s father came out on top in a fan poll to determine which characters would get their own manga, beating Kishimoto’s personal choice of Kurama, the Nine-Tails.
The release date of the Minato one-shot has yet to be announced, but fans can check out the latest Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapters through the North American publisher, VIZ Media.
Source: Comicbook.com
